The thing that gets me mad about all this is this stupid bailout.
The idiot banks who gave out loans to some people knowing how high risk they were get bailed out. The people who took those outrageous loans and can no longer afford the house get bailed out....
But what about those hardworking families that didn't try living beyond their means but are struggling day to day just to make it. Where's the help for thwm?
Trust me the banks were forced to do the wrong thing in some cases as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac forced open some lending practices that were not good business all in the name of Equal Housing and other laws. Not saying we should not take the blame also. But who signed the docs, I never once held a gun or threatened anyone. I did the best I could to truly explain the benefits and detractions to every deal.
I do however take offense to these people taking advantage of the situation and playing the system. Nobody is giving me a free hand out or making me richer for the losses I took in the stock market. I measured the risk, I took the gamble, and I loss. I am indeed responsible first and formost for what I do and my family !
I believe loans should be modified to fixed loans, I believe terms should be extended to make payments affordable and that likely means 40 / 45 / 50 year terms. I then believe the owner has the responsibility to measure the decision to move on in home, foreclose, or short sale as possible. Their credit should be heavily scrutinized for the next 10 years for any new or additional credit. It should not be so easy to go get a new 50 TV from BB while in the midst of a foreclosure !
If you lose you job thru no fault of your own, the lender should see the hardship and move 6-12 payments to the end of the loan. It costs them little to modify the deal, and gives you the power to find new employment and keep your family in home during a crisis.
I guess we make it to easy to walk away and chalk it up to a bad choice. Unfortunately our children will pay the brunt of it with high taxes for years to come while we print money at an alarming pace.
Responsibility is not something were given, its something we are taught and a trait far to often walked over in the name of greed and irresponsibility. It is ashame those of us that have tried to be responsible, worked hard, lost jobs, and came thru it by sheer determination watch those sitting back and using the loopholes to further themselves.
(Off Soap Box)
