I for one believe we have made a huge step forward in the US by electing an intelligent, thoughtful leader looking to gather ranging opinions in a more open environment. I'm going to have some faith in my leader for at least a few weeks ;) It will not be easy to get us out the greed induced mess.

John, Denver, USA

Firstly Roosevelt did not pull the US out of the Depression. The world depression ending sooner and the US Depression only ended with WWII. Secondly the problem now is big government and this will create much more government. Thirdly most of the projects proposed are useless waste. This will destroy

Mark, chesterfield, USA

For all those asking where all the money is going to come from, it's simple. Obama is just going to print all that money. The loss of value of the currency is only going to hurt those nations which have huge savings in dollars, something that US does not have.

Roy, Montreal,

If they would lower the price of groceries and utilities, the economy would boom. Older people cannot buy groceries, pay utilities and medicine and have any money to live on.

Barbara Caniff, Flatwoods, United States

I'm against the whole program but I have to ask -- what's in it for NON-WORKING families, retired in my case?

Al Schmoldt, Glenrock, US

Obama’s “tax cut" is nothing more than a simple giveaway. As it stands right now, roughly one-third of income earners pay no federal income taxes. Many actually receive payments from the income-tax system — these payments total 3.8 percent of all federal taxes paid. Simple arithmetic holds that if one-third of earners don’t pay income tax, it’s impossible to cut taxes for 95 percent of earners.

JENNIFER, CLEVELAND, USA

Obama’s tax plan is exactly the opposite of the supply-side economics that Reagan adopted, which produced the astounding boom of the 1980s. That boom, in fact, lasted 25 years, from 1982 to 2007, as Art Laffer and Steve Moore discuss in their new book, The End of Prosperity. Laffer and Moore explain that more wealth was produced during those 25 years than in the previous 200 years of American history.

JENNIFER, CLEVELAND, USA

"The greater the power the more dangerous the abuse." Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

JENNIFER, CLEVELAND, USA

The USA now have their own Blair - all style and no substance.

Roger Slade, winchester,

Obama has the right idea to bring US economy around and I might add, other economies as well, since they depend on exports to US.
the depression 30's truly ended when WW2 broke out and millions of jobs were created to support the war. I dont advocate the start of war to revive the world economy!

m., toronto, canada

This plan will be a disaster for the US. Obama is a great orator and could make any plan sound like a great idea. Unfortuantely all the good will in the world cannot change economic reality and make Socialism work. Socialism will impoverish the US as it has all who've tried before.

Chris, Bristol,

95% of "working families" will get a $1,000 tax cut.
Sounds good, but as unemployment levels are the highest for 60 years and rising, not many will benefit from this ! I would have thought he should spend this money on helping those without jobs, not those fortunate enough to have one.

Mike, Dunstable, England

And wheres the money coming from??

Does the US government have $775,000,000,000 just free and kicking around - i doubt it, i suspect its borrowed to be repaid in the near future!

Peter, Aldershot, UK

$1000 Tax cut = $0 spendable money in *MY* pocket.. thanks.

Charlie, San Marcos, USA

I think Claire Elizabeth and the many like her are easily sucked in by the cult of personality that is Barack Obama, lets have a touch of realism and let us not assume that everything will be perfect now that the knight in shining armour; Barack Obama, is here.

Adam Baker, surrey, uk

It is alarming that spending is the focus being proposed to manipulate the economy of the USA. A total revamp of the financial system including government would and should be a good start for President Obama. The incompetence and insensitivity of govenment sytems is a major issue needing action also

Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia

I hope for the sake of America that 'socialism is just around corner' or at least that European style social democracy is. It's the only credible way out of this huge and catastrophic crisis of international capitalism. Even 'Red' George Bush has nationalised the banks.

Alan Goldwater, Valencia, Spain

The free market economy practiced by Bush was designed to reward the wealthy, in the basis that money would trickle down. it has been proved, in a spectacular way not to work. Get the US middle class working again and once they feel prosperous, they will spend and the rest of the world will benefit

Nic, Fort Myers, Fl, USA

this massive spend will reflate the economy but also cause runaway inflation. Interest rates will then rise significantly and US gilt holders will suffer huge losses. The economy will crash again due to high interest rates and our children will inherit debt which they cannot fund.

Nastya Polker, Moscow, Russia

So we will look forward to a similar package from Mr Brown. The only difference being Mr Brown could never bring himself to give us a tax cut it's totally alien to him, after all he’s spent the last 11 years thinking of ways to extract every penny from us till the pips squeak.

Dave Bridge, Southport, U.K

Government spending and regulation got us in to this mess, so.. government spending and regulation will get us out.. Amazing.. Socialism will save us!

Idiotic. Deregulation, repealing taxes and ending the IRS will get us out of this mess.. government will not

Jim, Columbia, Dixie

I have more faith in Barack Obama than the clowns in the UK at the moment.
He will achieve great things as he has the people behind him.

Claire Elizabeth, London, UK

What is so firghtening about socialism? Has'nt capitlaism done enough damage? What the US needs is a massive cutdown in its armaments and "security" spending and diverting of saved funds to more productive and economic socially relevant areas

Toninu, Valletta,

In this difficult times for America, and indeed the whole world, Obama is determined to remain a centrist. It behoves all Americans to rally round and pull her out of the economic morass. This is no time for sceptism. Americans can do it. The dream should not die...

Johnson Edu, Woolwich, London, UK

History's going to have to be the judge on this one I think.

Gerald, London,

But if all that money will be loaned on interest to the US from the Federal Reserve, who is going to pay for the interest? Not the taxpayer or through war mongeriing, right?

Alex, London,

Same old song and dance that Mr. Obama has been speaking about. Until it is spelled out exactly what is going to happen to my hard earned money, I do not trust the Goverment. It "seems" with all the Goverment loans being given out to banks and corporations, socialism is just around the corner.

Kevin, Tatum, USA

Obama's plan look so good on paper.He is a great speaker and can talk up a storm.Unfortunately he won't be able to achieve even 10% of his plan. The reason is very simple:US is broke and other countries will stop lending to it. Where is the money going to come from for all these "great" Obama ideas?

Marc, Hackettstown, NJ,

Brilliant. Why did we not think of it earlier. Just one thing - how are they going to pay for it? USA is already in debt up to its eyeballs.

Chris, Chipping Norton,

Was there any other option? ..... nope!

jayil, london, uk

Obama is right. It is so logical that over the past decade that bankers and the financial industry have used greed and power to the point that they had to use virtual money. The problem now is that it has gone so far it cannot be beaten with known procedures. More realistic money has to be used.

Derek Harrington, Mazarron, Spain

Sounds good. Look forward to seeing this little scheme in action. If it does what Obama says it will, that would be incredible.

Dean, Leamington Spa,