They never wanted to give us our money back, that $7,000 or $14,000 or whatever it is per homeowner or renter, because they couldn't trust us to spend it. They thought we would just pay down debt, or save. Not good enough as a stimulus.

No, they gave our money to the banks, who would then loan to us and then we would spend it.

But the banks didn't. They paid down debt, saved it, or made acquisitions within the industry.

They could have given it to us instantly, by stopping federal tax withholdings in an amount equal to a credit on 2008 taxes. Then we could have saved it or paid down debt, in either case giving money to the banks which they could use to free up credit (or whatever they are doing now) to now more-creditworthy borrowers. And taxpayers could spend some of it, which is supposedly the best goal.

I'm no expert. But clearly the experts are not, either.

Now they are going to "free up" credit markets.