who don't travel abroad much, the fall of the dollar relative to other currencies would evoke a yawn and a "So, what?"

And yes, for manufacturing and exports and our trade balance, the decline in the dollar probably does have an upside. At least, for now.

The thing that probably has those who should worry about such things losing sleep are the ugly possibilities that oil exporting nations start demanding payment in Euros and that the Chinese, Japanese and Saudis get tired of holding on to our incredibly shrinking dollar.

Imagine the shock all those yawning Americans would experience if they went to bed one night and awoke the next morning to find the price at the gas pump had doubled or that Wal-Mart's everyday low prices ceased to be so low.

Uhm, yes.

Given that the recent slide of the dollar has been fueled by concerns over the nagging issues around the subprime loan market the upside of a boost to tourism or corporate profits made from foreign economies is scant relief.

There is always some money to be made somewhere, it doesn't mean that in aggregate the patient is improving.

Hi P-G,

Sometimes I think Dan would find an upside to the Great Depression. I like your medical analogy