If there is some small gain to be had from current economic circumstances, it might be a lesson in what the dollar is and what it is not. Just a few months ago, the idea of the "strong dollar" was almost ubiquitous, scarcely any shaky economic commentary could be found without mentioning that as the trump to the upside. It didn't matter if consumers were seemingly stingy, the dollar defied that potential and supposedly meant that even financial markets had finally relented from the "fear bubble." Now, a matter of only a few months later, the "strong dollar" has disappeared from service, an apparent apparition that no longer serves to bolster those weakened by crashing reality. As if a switch were flipped, the dollar is now the accursed along with everything else that somehow continues to be classified "unexpected." Read more