Dumb question for the Fed guy: Every time the Fed acts to increase liquidity, it's by lowering interest rates, in effect giving away money to bankers in the hope that some of the liquidity will "trickle down" to consumers. Ever thought of, say, lowering the $3 ATM surcharge, or even subsidizing ATM surcharges for a year? That would put $33B directly in the hands of consumers.

Or the Fed could buy 10,000 homes (take mine, please) -- Mr. Bernanke could buy the first one -- thereby giving a symbolic message that it's OK to buy homes.