A workable solution...

This will be brief, as I'm writing from my iPod, but a workable solution to some (admittedly very few) of the problems plaguing our stressed and rushing societies might well exist; it would need absolutely zero government money, would require very little private money and it might just make all forms of shopping/consumption/business a little more enjoyable:

What if everywhere, every single business sold inexpensive (1$) coffee? From behind the cash (not from a machine). Imagine walking into a tailor's (or a clothing shop), looking for a last minute suit to wear to some social function and, instead of killing yourself with worry about how late you are in undertaking the task and kicking yourself in the ass over your procrastination, you're calmly perusing the selection, steaming paper thimble of coffee in hand and calm in your heart.

I think it'd help.