"certain design principles may be helpful"

Here's Bernanke this morning. I have to say that I agree with him here completely:

"Should the Congress choose to undertake fiscal action, certain design principles may be helpful. To best achieve its goals, any fiscal package should be structured so that its peak effects on aggregate spending and economic activity are felt when they are most needed, namely, during the period in which economic activity would otherwise be expected to be weak. Any fiscal package should be well-targeted, in the sense of attempting to maximize the beneficial effects on spending and activity per dollar of increased federal expenditure or lost revenue; at the same time, it should go without saying that the Congress must be vigilant in ensuring that any allocated funds are used effectively and responsibly. Any program should be designed, to the extent possible, to limit longer-term effects on the federal government's structural budget deficit.

Finally, in the ideal case, a fiscal package would not only boost overall spending and economic activity but would also be aimed at redressing specific factors that have the potential to extend or deepen the economic slowdown. "

So, here are some principles for the stimulus:

1) Time to coincide with worst part of downturn.
2) Given to people and concerns that will immediately spend it.
3) Given to the right people or concerns.
4) While you're doing this, remember the budget deficit. Don't go overboard, in other words.
5) Given to people causing the downturn.

I would add:
6) Given to people or concerns as an investment with expected future returns or which solves future problems.
7) Make sure to help the needy during the downturn.