And he has enlisted the help of a group of "ordinary Americans", in his latest attempt to identify and treat the country's economic ills.

If President Bush hopes to achieve constructive results from his 'economic forum'... he should reconsider his plan to hear from only those individuals who support the current economic agenda

Dick Gephardt, House Minority Leader

In place of the usual corporate heavyweights, Mr Bush will be advised by - among others - a delivery van driver, a rubbish collector and the head of a small dry cleaning firm.

Opposition Democrats have jeered the half-day event as a gimmick designed to protect Mr Bush and his Republicans from voter economic concerns and the fall-out from a series of accounting scandals.

One party

Over the weekend, Mr Bush stressed that this gathering was wholly serious in tone, part of an ongoing attempt to take the temperature of corporate America.

The president said on Saturday that he would seek "a wide variety of suggestions on strengthening the economy".

"After a recession that was beginning as I took office, the terrorist attacks of 11 September and the corporate scandals that have recently come to light, the American economy faces challenges."

Although members of Mr Bush's cabinet will attend, no Democrat politicians have been invited - leading to accusations of bias.

"If President Bush hopes to achieve constructive results from his 'economic forum'... he should reconsider his plan to hear from only those individuals who support the current economic agenda which is doing little to create long-term growth and economic opportunity," House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt said.

Good intentions

Although the Waco summit largely represents a party-political event, its proponents argue that it will fulfil a valuable purpose.

So far, they say, all focus tends to be on the bigger economic players - politicians, central bankers and the heads of the biggest businesses.

The recent series of corporate scandals has demonstrated, however, that such people do not always have the best sense of right and wrong.

Steve Forbes, a former Republican presidential candidate, said the summit could achieve something, if it managed to steer clear of cheerleading.

"If that's a prelude to some substantial policy changes, whether it's with taxes, the Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund, if they come out with a gung-ho, positive, pro-growth economic program, then I think it'll be a very positive thing."