Comment Re: Good for greece (Score 3, Insightful) 1307
You should. The Federal Reserve Act specifically mentions loans to individuals. I think it was the Populists who got that put in; William Jennings Bryant wanted a Federal Reserve Bank at every crossroads, lending to ordinary people. That can easily be incorporated into the Federal Reserve's operations.
My proposal: have the Fed fund a basic income at zero cost to taxpayers. The Fed could structure it under Section 13 (13) of the Federal Reserve Act, as loans to individuals with negative interest. Thus, people would be paid to borrow. Give everyone who wants it, a basic income of $20,000 per year.
Indexation of all incomes to price rises eliminates any potential inflation tax. If incomes rise in lockstep with prices, your debit card can keep track of your money in units of purchasing power, which will not decrease.
The point about the Fed's unlimited swap lines is that they worked to keep their targets afloat. Now the Fed should apply that power of creating unlimited liquidity to improve individuals' lives, instead of only helping corporations.