Two quick and easy (and economical) ways to create tens of thousands of new jobs that build new job skills, while simultaneously building infrastructure, saving money on energy and reducing greenhouse emissions:

First, retrofit thousands of Federal office buildings across the country to reduce their energy usage and emissions, creating not only construction jobs, but promote businesses that produce solar panels, insulation, building materials, insulated windows, etc.

At the same time, contract thousands of hybrid postal delivery vehicles that only American automakers (who are struggling right now) can bid on. Not only will the vehicles use less gas and produce less emissions, it will help U.S. automakers put in the infrastructure needed to start building hybrid vehicles that can compete with imports and be sold around the world.

Under the Clinton Administration, opening up the Internet... a government project... to the public created an entire new industry that resulted in tens of millions of new jobs, demonstrating the power of using the government to promote new industries. Benefits we are still reaping today.

All of this can be done for less than the cost of bailing out one big Wall Street firm, with a FAR greater impact on the Main Street economy.