In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson's economic/social policy, the Great Society, came up against a counterforce and competing claim few in public policy circles at that time had expected: Lyndon Johnson himself.

Johnson, in a decision that would alter U.S. society and the cultural landscape, chose to escalate U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, and vastly increased government defense spending. The spending, when combined with spending for the Great Society, posed the question: "Could the U.S. economy tolerate increased government spending for defense and for social programs without an increase in inflation?" This is known in economics circles as the "guns and butter" question.

Here's a brain teaser for investors: What enabled the United States to ascend to superpower status?

Was it the inherent genetic superiority of Americans? Perhaps it was the nation's work ethic? Was it the vast and ample nature resources, or generally favorably climate? Or perhaps is was the nation's location, bordered by two, large oceans that discouraged many who had thoughts of launching an assault?

Well, while ruling out the first variable (there are a lot of smart people in the states, but no, Americans aren't genetically superior to others), the remaining variables played a role in the nation's ascendancy. But there was another pivotal factor.

President-elect Barack Obama has provided the outline for his 2009 fiscal stimulus package, and a legitimate question for investors is: "Hey, how am I going to benefit from the plan as an investor?"

I'll systematically review the Obama plan as individual programs are specified, but for an overall critique, read an article by my BloggingStocks colleague Peter Cohan, who provided a good axis by which investors can evaluate the merits of Obama's stimulus plan. Cohan argued for stimulus components that serve as investments, as opposed to those that are just costs.

For example, most investors are aware of the poor condition of the nation's roads, highways, and bridges, not to mention its inadequate (and in some cases dilapidated) mass transit systems. Infrastructure work is a top priority in the Obama stimulus plan, and one can see how better highways, roads and transit systems will enhance commerce by making travel faster and safer. Further, electric grid and solar/wind power work also is included in this category: most know that the electric grid must be expanded, and made smart to meet the needs of our growing, dynamic nation, and that alternative energy source development will make the U.S. less-dependent on foreign oil.