Well, they've seemingly tried, although I think the inflation we've seen to date is garden-variety government-growth-covering inflation and not the hyperinflation that would be necessary to cover the debt. The hyperinflation would necessarily lead to the crack-up boom. This won't happen as long as the Fed wants to pretend it has any political independence whatsoever.
Why can't they inflate it away?
Well, they've seemingly tried, although I think the inflation we've seen to date is garden-variety government-growth-covering inflation and not the hyperinflation that would be necessary to cover the debt. The hyperinflation would necessarily lead to the crack-up boom. This won't happen as long as the Fed wants to pretend it has any political independence whatsoever.