Followup on this thread. Economist Philip Verleger cites the weak U.S. dollar as one of the causes of high oil prices in the U.S., but, apparently, as a cause about which nothing can be done. Can anything be done?
Raise the interest rate. 
Essentially noting really…the dollar will eventually recover on it’s own. The US has already started to produce goods and services on the world market at an increased rate due to the falling dollar making our products more competitive. Eventually this and a strengthening economy will cause the dollar to start to climb (IIRC, it actually has started a modest climb already, but I might be mis-remembering).
I know it’s hard to understand for some, but sometimes you don’t need the government to take a hand in such things to ‘fix’ them…and in fact, sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all.
-XT
Didn’t we just have a thread about the dollar? Ah, yes, here it is: Fixing the Declining US Dollar.
A weak US dollar is what we need to fix what ails us.
Use a polymer substrate like the Australians do. Makes 'em last longer, you can wash them and if it helps bring down the price of oil, it’s all good.
They put funny pictures on their money though…
(Also, they won’t be able to buy Fallout 3 when it ships…so what good is their money?!?)
-XT
You don’t think Andrew Jackson and Abe Lincoln look strange? Not to mention that pyramid with a eye on the top: I have no idea what that means.
All seeing eye of providence…and what’s wrong with Lincoln and Jackson’s pictures???
Ok, fair enough. Still…there is the Fallout 3 angle, no?
-XT
Yes, it’s a bit like Americans not being able to buy Cuban cigars – not the same reasons, but reasons just as silly.
But seriously, the US probably needs a weaker dollar, to reduce imports, increase exports, and reduce the real value of the national debt. That means the average American being able to buy fewer imported goods, but being more likely to find a good job in an export industry.
Yeah, I agree. Every time the dollar is weak, you get people bemoaning its weakness. Then when it strengthens, we here the moans about how we can’t export stuff. There is nothing inherently bad about a “weak” currency. Sometimes it’s a good thing and sometimes it’s a bad thing.
It means the Illuminati really run America!
Sheesh. I thought everybody knew that. 
That’s what they want you to think!
- Making people think the Illuminati run America.
- ?
- Profit!
Actually, I was thinking of a different episode.