Interesting to note that in the end, it wasn't the federal reserve, the treasury, the congress, or even FDR that solved the Great Depression. It was an external variable. WAR In terms of a jolt to the economy - a major war has no equals. Debts get wiped out, manufacturing skyrockets, global nemeses wiped out, and in the end - there is A LOT OF REBUILDING TO DO with a brand spanking new monetary regime.
We have Hitler to thank for getting us out of the depression. It might take another event like this to accomplish the same. A full, escalated war in the Middle East perhaps? Bush always said history will be his final judge. Maybe Bush laid the path to prosperity back when he wanted to get Saddham?
It won't be in the middle east; no one poses such a menacing threat - not even Iran. It will be a Sino-Russo thing, most likely, if it happens. Russia is flexing right now, and they are still very leery of NATO and their former satellite states align now with the U.S., which ring Russia. The Russia-Georgia skirmish was a very ominous sign of what may come.
Funny how we often forget failed economies need to be purged of over-production and consumption before they can regain momentum and productivity. The New Deal(s) might have provided jobs, but it sure did slow down the recovery. Too much Keynesian.
Bush started TWO wars and it's 8 years since the first one started How did it help? Old tricks don't work now as economy is very different from what it was
Russia has enough power to end the USA in 1 hour If they touch Russians in any major way the recovery will have to start from the stone age