Here to help

What can your country do for you? Everything apparently.
A global economic crisis has stressed, and nearly broken, the markets and some would say, the free enterprise system. The people are looking for answers and reassurance. The President has said "we're from the government and we're here to help". Can the government really solve the problem?
Lyndon Johnson launched a war on poverty 40 years ago and we still have poverty. Jimmy Carter created the Department of Education 30 years ago and our nation's educational system still fails many students. Going as far back as Roosevelt, we apparently still haven't gotten electricity to all of rural America, because those agencies are still around.
My definition of solving a problem is 1) identify the problem 2) come up with a solution and 3) implement the solution. After that, the problem should be solved.
For instance, let's say you notice the light is dim in a room of your house. You determine that a bulb in the lamp has burned out. Step one is complete (problem identified). You happen to have a new bulb ready to go and you will replace the burned out bulb. Step two is done (solution). You screw in the new bulb (thus implementing your solution) and the room lights up again (problem solved).
How would the government approach this problem?
First, there would be extensive hearings on whether the issue is really a light bulb being burned out or whether a more comprehensive lighting agenda is required. A task force or commission would be created to report back to the President. Perhaps a light czar would be appointed.
At some point the government might release the study which would conclude that it was shortsighted to merely replace one bulb in the house as eventually new bulbs would be needed throughout. The report would recommend creation of a Cabinet level agency to address the issue. There would be a paragraph in the State of the Union speech.
The head of the new agency would finally be appointed (after the first three choices withdrew because of tax problems) and would announce a goal of lighting the room within ten years.
Legislation would be introduced in Congress. There would be more committee hearings. Senators would appear on the floor of the Senate holding up light bulbs. The final bill would be loaded up with amendments related to other issues. The President would sign the bill and proudly announce that this legislation will light the room.
For another few years however, the lamp will still be dark. Members of Congress will announce that the program was not adequately funded. The agency will get bogged down in procuring the contract. There will be a scandal because the deputy secretary's brother in law owns a light bulb maker and got the contract without competitive bidding. The program will grind to a halt while Congress investigates. We will find out that the infamous brother in law was also a campaign contributor to the President and once attended a fundraiser. A picture of him shaking hands with the President will emerge.
The scandal will eventually die out (by the way, our light bulb still has not been replaced). There will be another Presidential election. The candidates will vow to replace that bulb in their first 100 days. The outgoing President will tout his substantial progress towards replacing the light bulb. The light bulb agency will ask for and receive an 8% increase in its budget. It will order new office furniture and redo the lighting in its offices.
The bulb will still be burned out, but your government is working to solve the problem in our lifetime. Don't worry about a thing.