This article from the NYTimes examines how different types of tax cuts would affect job creation. While it would have some drawbacks, I have to say that I like the idea of cutting the employer part of the payroll tax. That would certainly create jobs, and could be offset financially by NOT extending the Bush tax cuts...

The Tax Cuts That Matter in a Struggling Economy

The first three paragraphs allude to the obvious. Government has been so conditioned by 30 years of Reaganism that the only acceptable tool for every problem is a tax cut.

It's politically impossible to do the right things to fix the problem, so which politically possible action will do the least harm?

Wanna put people to work? Then hire them to do stuff. Duh.

Wait... hiring people to do stuff gives them jobs? How confusing..

$10b spent in Tax cuts to the rich in a pointless attempt to cajole them into hiring people for nonexistent work = sensible stimulus.

$10b spent hiring people to build trails/roads/schools/green energy = socialism.

Needed repeating.

One of the biggest frustrations to me during any major economic crisis is the lack of instituting WPA-style programs.