Legalize marijuana…….it will create jobs,reduce costs for prisons,we will have more control on our streets in ourcountry. It will help in decreasing the violent killings that stem from the mexican cartel. Take the jobs from the cartel and give them to the united states. Our country would beable to pull ourselves out of debt. Obama, legalize marijuana, save our economy , save lives and move forward in your second term as president.

Location: Iowa

The HARP program is a great step in the right direction but it should be available to all home owners, not just those whose loans are owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. If there were a way to extend the benefit of the HARP program to home owners with good to excellent credit whose loans are non-GSE, that would help bridge the gap created by the lack of participation by non-GSE lenders in the Making Home Affordable programs . Every qualifying home owner should be given the opportunity to refinanace into a mortgage with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and that would help extend the value of the HARP program to a larger group of people who are very much in need of help! And in turn those families would be able to participate more in stimulating the economy.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Can this government service which seems to be to bid to fail become a privatized, franchised business venture available to the public to own and operate, as a starter business option for people who need to crossover or change to another vocation or career change. Would this idea avoid the possibilities of national financial chaos in the disruption of mail distribution? Could this be a solution to help create thousands of new business opportnities and millions of more jobs for veterans, the poor, the physically challenged, and college students?

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Every major city in America has large empty buildings that are just taking up space.. Those that used to house manufacturing companies, until they moved out and went to other countries!! We could open them up and begin manufacturing some of the products that are currently being made in China….and lots of other countries!! Hence, putting lots of our people back to work, on good jobs. And then we could once again, buy everything American!!It would solve a lot of our problems. Of course, it would be necessary that the new companies not get taxed to death. I think our president is capable of getting this country back on track but, we all need to rally behind him and help where we can!!…and don’t forget…….YES WE CAN!!

Location: Indianapolis, In.

I’m a big believer in big public works projects that are win-win… projects which provide a much needed community service and provide an economic stimulus.

The State of Texas is in a severe drought. I would love to see a major public works project that brings water to Texas from areas of the country which always seem to have an excess of water… the Mississippi River for example. As a civil engineer, I know that almost any project can be engineered to work, it’s almost always just a matter of money. How about a large cross country canal, preferably, or pipeline project that brings water from the Mississippi to Texas and feeds the Texas River system? This would provide water for areas susceptible to drought and may also be a way to help manage flood prone areas.

Location: Houston, Texas

I think there are a couple of ways to stimulate investments in the U.S. that create jobs.

First is to allow corporations to deduct dividends paid from their income. At the same time, offer an amnesty on bringing foreign profits back to the U.S. This will create capital distributions within the economy as companies should increase dividends paid out significantly. The individuals receiving are taxed on dividends.

Second is to allow re-investment of capital gains or dividends received without paying tax on the capital gains or dividends if the re-investment is made for new construction or investment in start-up companies (or re-invested with companies such as venture capital and private equity firms that invest in start-ups). Reinvestment has to occur within 90 days of receipt of the capital gains.

Location: Chicago, IL

Dear President Obama and or Staff,
I forwarded an email addressing the issue of how the US might lessen the deficit the other day with the thought that persons who save funds on their fuel bills might contribute the balance to a volunteer deficit settlement fund. Another thought that some have said has been mentioned before is the possibility of adding a volunteer donation statement to annual tax forms. Again it is just a thought, however, might be a way individuals and families could help assauage the national debt allowing us to pull the US as a nation out of debt over some years.

Location: Fairfield, Iowa

I will give simple and efficient suggestion to save recession: Govt. can ask 50% of wealth as debt (without interest) from all the rich CEOs, Vice Presidents and corporate big wigs. And promise them that it can pass this wealth to their heirs…if it cannot payback in their life time..

Location: San jose, CA

Mr. President, show us what you’re trying to tell us. Give us something new – technologically speaking – when you speak to us. Bullet it, graph it, chart it, throw some illustrations in there – whatever it takes to get your point across. It’s 2011 and we are at new heights in technology. How is it that the Presidential Addresses to the nation are still presented in exactly the same fashion as they’ve always been: the president behind a podium, reading a speech off a teleprompter filled with vague political rhetoric and no real meat? Not to get too “Inconvenient Truth”-esque here, but instead of standing behind a podium when you address the country to explain your Jobs Creation bill, for example, why not try a graphic presentation? Or on any of your points, for that matter! Show a map of the U.S. and the years under Republican presidencies, for example, and SHOW how historically red states make less yearly income under Republican administrations. Surely your crew in the White House can put on a spectacular presentation for any talking point, but I think even a plain old Powerpoint presentation that my 11-year old daugher can create would be better than the same old same old. Do you truly believe in your Jobs Plan? Show us! Make it understandable to the American public in the way anyone in corporate America would…use the tools of technology to bring a fresh mode of communication to the public. How do you think sales plans are pitched in the corporate world? Standing at a podium and reading a speech? Not in this day and age. If anyone can “change” up the way government communicates with us, it should be you – the president who ran an unparalleled grassroots campaign in large part via the internet. Not only will it help EVERYONE better understand your reasoning, help people put facts and figures into historical context and understanding, but you’ll also be tapping into a goldmine of a voter base: the young voter.

Location: Hartford, CT

With all the money we spend on rebuilding outside the U.S., why not bury all the power lines in the U.S. and not have anymore outages(disaters)? We can drill and dig through anything.

Location: Sparta, NJ USA