Trickle up economics. I use to be against some of these ideas but the positive effect they have
on all of us as a whole changed my mind.
Forgive student loans on unemployed or underemployed graduates. It sounds like giving something to someone that we didn't get or something that future students won't get. That's right. But, since what little money graduates earn in low wage jobs goes to paying debt, their money does not circulate in the general economy. When you spend a dollar that dollar is spent again and again creating demand and jobs. When all your disposable income goes to paying off debt, society is not benefited at all.
Stop foreclosures. Reduce principal owed down to the market value of the house and refinance at a lower interest rate. When houses are foreclosed on and left empty (two in my neighborhood this week) no one pays property taxes on it, and schools and counties suffer. Property values decrease and crime increases. Paying more for a house then it is worth when you can barely afford it tends to make a homeowner walk away leaving another vacant house.
All those foreclosed on need shelter and that drives up rents.
Extend unemployment indefinitely as long as we have a week economy and poor job growth. This money can be borrowed from the Fed at zero interest rates and the income is spent in the economy and creates demand and demand creates jobs. It also increases sales tax revenues for local governments.
Chronically unemployed people create demand for more social services which at a time of recession are cut because if lack of tax revenue to support it. Increase demand for social services in the long run cost more than the cost of paying unemployment.
Spend government money on infrastructure improvement projects to hire the unemployed. The longer the time spent in unemployment the better should your chances be at getting one of the infrastructure improvement jobs. Spend the government money on private firms that hire the chronically unemployed and give them tax breaks to do so.
As many defense jobs as possible should be given to the general public rather than using military personnel. Do not hire contractors but the government directly hires the workers. There would be no need for profit in doing these things.
Have a two teared medical system. One for those who want to pay health insurance and one for those who don't. The government competes against private insurance by providing medicare for all. Anyone wishing to use the government system has to pay into it or does not get care. That way the healthy subsidize the sick.