I've been thinking, recently. Obama hasn't made much progress as of late (mainly due to partisan bickering and August), but he did pass a stimulus. This is probably one of his most criticized actions, but it's the biggest thing he's done. Most would agree that it would be hard, if not impossible, to get a $787 billion stimulus perfect, no matter who's passing it. Some of the programs are actually quite underfunded (high-speed rail and the "smart grid" are good examples, Source: Popular Mechanics), while some are overfunded. Even though there is proof from americanprogress.org that it is working, most of the money will not be spent until a recovery takes place. I've thought about a different, 3-part simpler stimulus that would have also worked, and should be considered next time there's a recession, where we Keep It Simple Stupid:

1 - Legalize pot and other drugs: This would save loads of unnecessary taxpayer dollars on law enforcement. It would also prevent overcrowding in prisons, which is a huge burden on taxpayers, especially in California. Also, it would be possible to tax marijuana, put a reasonable age limit, and stick warning labels on the stuff. Therefore the government would actually MAKE some revenue, instead of burning wads of cash. We'd also create jobs growing and processing, reduce the crime rate, and keep criminals (especially Mexican Drug Lords) off the street. It's a win for everyone.

2 - Covert to Metric:Most people know that the US (and some parts of the UK) is the last industrialized nation to not use the metric system (much like we're the last industrialized nation NOT to have universal health coverage). However, it's an easy fix. Everyone knows what Liters are, now that there are 1-3 liter bottles of beverages. Milliliters would also not be that hard to figure out, like for 350ml cans. It would also be easy for car buffs to figure out. Also, THINK OF THE JOBS! Not only would we have to replace old signs, we'd need entirely new signs similar to the ones you see when entering Canada that say "60=100" (and that is quite clearly simple math) entering the highway. Systems would also need to be updated, for example, instead of "MPG" the EPA would have to measure "Liters/km," which puts it into greater perspective. Industries, especially health care, would also need to update systems, weights, and container sizes, which would take extra effort. Also, there would be a psychological impact. People will feel that they're driving faster and weigh less. The hardest measure to adapt to would be temperature, as in degrees Celsius. Here's a simple solution: if it's close to 30 it's hot, 20 it's warm, 10 it's cold, 0 it's freezing. Also, the greatest benefit of all is that it would benefit our scientists. It would no longer be difficult to discuss results with the rest of our population. Remember: science is the key to a better life.

3 - Legalize Gay Marriage: According to a study by the UCLA, allowing same-sex weddings and tourism in Maine would cause a $60 million increase in spending and would add 1,000 new jobs. The state would have a $3.6 million increase in tax revenue over the next three years. However, there is a Nov. 4 referendum that will put it up to a vote, and if this ends up like Proposition 8, it is likely to have the opposite effect on their economy. If you're from Maine, or would like to contribute, please visit: http://www.protectmaineequality.org for more information. AND THAT'S JUST ONE STATE! In nearly all jurisdictions that have legalized gay marriage, the economic impact was positive. These are real numbers, not something from a book written 2,000 years ago which always seems to have coffee stains on it. It would also make a statement for civil rights, which the United States has been falling behind steadily on. Legalizing it in the United States would make many non-US citizens spend money and get married here, much like Canada benefits from us. This would also boost our economy. There are plenty of ways to legalize gay marriage in the US, but partisan bickering always gets in the way.

So, these three SIMPLE changes would greatly benefit our economy. It would probably cost less, too. True, there is controversy, but unfortunately the economy is the number one issue and cash is king, and the economic benefits far outweigh the risks. If I were in congress, this is something I would consider.

I accidentally shouted on  nrafurs. I thought I was still logged in as  anthroguy101 but instead I used the wrong account! Sorry guys. I would just like to point out that I was NOT speaking as a Democrat there, that it was the personal opinion of me,  anthroguy101, please do NOT consider that a political attack! Yes, I support gun control, but I don't support repealing the 2nd Amendment. I still think people should have the right to own guns and protect themselves. I have a "fur with gun" fetish as well.

For the record, Obama has repeatedly stated that he supports your 2nd Amendment rights. You are safe, and he has not made any laws prohibiting the ownership of a firearm. Biden feels the same way.

Again, please do NOT consider that a political attack. You have your opinion, we have ours. I was not speaking for  dncfurs, I was speaking as  anthroguy101.
Please respect that opinion and treat others the way you would want to be treated.

That is all.