I re-iterate

No one had a problem when Bush was dropping billion-dollar bombs on this country, which, ironically, led it into financial ruin (see Bush tax cuts, No Child Left Behind, Bush tax cuts part 2, Iraq War).

Why is it such a big deal now that we're throwing $900 billion at our most recent economic catastrophuck? So, there might be some differences about how best to prevent our economy from going the rest of the way down the toilet. I'd say, right now, we're hanging on for dear life as our lower two-thirds are getting to see what the inside of pipes look like. As someone who finds much good advice in the mistakes that have been made in the past by my brethren in the human race, I suggest not doing the following:

Don't Raise Taxes. FDR tried it a the beginning of the Great Depression. Did not go over well.

Don't Try to Balance the Budget. Also a FDR boo-boo.

Don't Cut Taxes for Rich People. Bush the Retarded One took this avenue to turn a budget surplus into a massive budget pitfall. Which is one of the reasons spending so much money now seems, at face value, to be a bad idea. We didn't have the money to begin with because of the original cuts.

Don't Spend $11 billion a month fighting a war. I haven't checked to see if it's still that high. Basically, get out of Iraq ASAP. That was a waste of time, money and the lives of far too many people. I'd like to say get out of Afghanistan as well, but much like Iraq, we created that shitstorm by not doing our due diligence to not fuck up. Thus, we need to stay for a little while. I'm not one for quitting in the middle of something. Unless it involves my own success.

I'm sure there are others, but my economic history is limited.

Looking at history, and common sense, the following might not be the worst things to try:

Establish a WPA-like Program to Rebuild Infrastructure. Bridges collapse, NYC subways are a dump, cities nation-wide are cutting service and raising fares, and I own stock in a compressed natural gas distributor. Repair bridges and roads. Fix transit systems. Make some new transit systems, (more than two subways connecting Queens and Brooklyn anyone?). Build a high speed train that goes from Boston to LA. Switch all city buses and taxis to compressed natural gas (reduces carbon emissions and other icky toxins). Why am I the one coming up with this stuff? Also, retrofit buildings with better insulation and other energy efficient things (40% of carbon emissions come from buildings). 

Invest in Green Technology. It's clear we have a carbon emissions problem. It's also clear we have a global warming problem. Kill two birds with one stone. Subsidize the development of cleaner sources of energy until they're competitive. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to actually subsidize something productive for once. But make sure to stop the damn subsidies once the shit is affordable. The last thing we need is permanent subsidies for any more industries. (I'm looking at you, Corn, Sugar and Dairy!)

Stop Saving Every Company that Fucked Up. Last time I checked, this was a capitalist country. In capitalist countries, companies that don't operate properly go out of business. I realize that some of these financial boehemiths can't go out of business without the world exploding. Fine. But some of these smaller banks that are getting "capital infusions" are run so poorly it makes your head spin. Let the bastards fail. They deserve it. If I start a business and can't turn a profit, I go out of business. That's how it works. Stop wasting my money on people who can't run a profitable business. Dark times call for tougher competition. Innovate or die.

Stop Using the Word Draconian. I'm just tired of reading and hearing it. There are other words in the English language. Use those instead.

Give Tax Breaks for People to Buy Homes that Are Already Built. A big one, too. The problem started with housing. It will end with housing. Once home values recover, the financial products tied to those home values will recover, and everyone can go on there merry way being rich and irresponsible again until the next bubble bursts in our faces. (I realize that I said tax breaks won't work. Trickle down tax breaks won't work. Tax breaks on wealthy people's income won't work. Conditional tax breaks that are targeted at the root of the problem are a whole different story.)

That's all I can think of for now. I'm no economist, but I just put Congress to shame. Wisen up, assholes. This is some serious shit you're screwing up. Millions of us jobless folk are depending on your handouts.