What are the fastest ways to inject money into the economy?

[hedgehog]

The problem with building a new energy system based on wind power is that it will take a year or more to get things moving. We need to get money moving through the economy yesterday! Giving it to the banks didn't work - they just stuck it somewhere and jacked the interest rates to protect their stock holders.

Here are some suggestions:

Immediate grants to anyone who installs an energy efficient furnace, new windows, insulates the house, even for weatherstripping existing windows!
On the positive side, this saves energy. On the negative side, this will take time to get money out there and will bring every scam artist in the country out of the woodwork.

Expand Americorps big time and do things like hiring people to paint houses for retired people, shovel walks, provide daycare, whatever needs doing.,
On the plus side - outs people to work. On the negative, maybe puts other people out of work and there is always the argument that some people don't deserve to have their house painted, walks shoveled, etc. Plus it would still take time to ramp up the program.

Raise the minimum wage to $15/hr by Feb1, 2009.
Plus side: boy, would that put money in the pockets of people willing to spend it! Minus side: Prices would go up faster than wages (wait a minute - isn't that what we've been living with for years now anyways?) Also, some families would find that one bread winner was sufficient for their needs, so a certain number of people would drop out of the work force, meaning wages would be forced up for those remaining.... Plus some jobs would be lost. After all, who can afford to pay someone $15 an hour to stand on the corner holding an advertising sign?

Raise the Social Security checks starting in February.
See above for pluses and minuses. Some of those 75 year olds are really lazy and will quit their jobs today if they had the money!

Buy up all outstanding student loan and drop the interest rates to cover handling fees. Issue student loans to existing students at cost.

What are your suggestions?