Watching "Inside Job." So. Horrified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When this scandal erupted I remember reading about a family (mom was a cleaning lady, dad worked in construction, and they had one child) leaving in a self-storage unit because they had lost their jobs and the roof over their head. They were living STEALTHILY IN A SELF-STORAGE UNIT for fear of being discovered and "EVICTED." Shortly afterwards, the NYTimes published an article about the head of derivatives trading at AIG and the death threats his family had received, and quoted him as tearfully saying that "there are children involved in this, you know", meaning, "my poor children don't deserve to be put through this."
But I guess it's ok for other people's kids to become homeless because of him, as long as his kids' sensibilities aren't offended. All people are created equal, but some are more equal.

I understand your larger point, but this comment makes no sense. They lost their house because they lost their jobs. That's terrible, but likely would have happened no matter what kind of mortgage they had. Not sure how it's the mortgage company's fault.

And here's a good rule of thumb - any time you find yourself minimizing death threats (to kids, no less) as "offending sensibilities," take a step back and reasses. You've lost perspective.

I don't understand what you are saying. No one ever said that specific event was a mortgage company's fault. They lost their jobs because the economy went into a tailspin. I don't even remember if they owned or rented, according to the article.

As for the death threats, the guy had a pretty substantial security team to protect him and his family (don't know if it was paid for directly by AIG or out of the fantastic bonuses he was making while--and continued to make after-- destroying the livelihoods of millions of people). I think if you equate him being made to sweat for a few weeks while the storm blew over so he could go back to making millions (remember, they said they couldn't renege on AIG's bonuses, or fire anybody, because they were contractually obligated and they need to retain all that "talent" around) to millions of people losing their jobs and their homes, possibly dying because they no longer have healthcare, not knowing where their next meal is going to come from--you're the one who has no perspective.

[Anonymous]

No one ever said that specific event was a mortgage company's fault.

But you said,

But I guess it's ok for other people's kids to become homeless because of him

If you're not saying it was his fault, why bring it up?

As for the death threats, are you really saying that death threats are no big deal, because he has security, and other people are worse off? Sorry, that's nuts. People have no healthcare, people can't but food - what on God's green earth does that have to do with sending death threts to kids?

You really need to take a deep breath and calm down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No one ever said that specific event was a mortgage company's fault.

But you said,

But I guess it's ok for other people's kids to become homeless because of him

If you're not saying it was his fault, why bring it up?

As for the death threats, are you really saying that death threats are no big deal, because he has security, and other people are worse off? Sorry, that's nuts. People have no healthcare, people can't but food - what on God's green earth does that have to do with sending death threts to kids?

You really need to take a deep breath and calm down.

No, it's pretty clear that it was these (and many other) people's fault, but I guess you're right. At the end of the day, I'm financially savvy enough and comfortable enough that none of this affects me, really. I bought and sold two houses during that time, one of them as late as last year, and both at a nice profit, so this bubble has been good to me. I don't know why I keep getting so mad about poor people getting screwed. I think I'll try to relax and enjoy the next crisis, for a change.

[Anonymous]

No, it's pretty clear that it was these (and many other) people's fault, but I guess you're right. At the end of the day, I'm financially savvy enough and comfortable enough that none of this affects me, really. I bought and sold two houses during that time, one of them as late as last year, and both at a nice profit, so this bubble has been good to me. I don't know why I keep getting so mad about poor people getting screwed. I think I'll try to relax and enjoy the next crisis, for a change.

You're completely incoherent. First, it's that guy's fault. Nexy, you say, "no one ever said it was his fault." Then, "It's clear to me that it's his fault." This'll be my last post on the topic, because I have no idea what point you're trying to make anymore, and this has gone a off on an unnecessary tangent that is disrupting an otherwise interesting thread.

Once again, though, because I feel obliged to address this: It certainly is right and proper to be angry about the crisis, and angry at those who caused it. No one's saying that you shouldn't be. But, and I can't stress this strongly enough, when you start rationalizing death threats to families, you've crossed the line from righteous indignation over fiscal and housing policy, and strayed into slightly deranged individual territory.

Oh, and congratulations on your financial acumen.

[Anonymous]

Obama and Rahm "never let a good crisis go to waste" Emmanuel really f***d up by wasting a year on Obama-care when action on the economy was crucial. They are fools and morons who have no idea of what is going on in the country and believe in childish economic fantasy that leads to poverty.

[Anonymous]

Having to health care DOES lead to poverty. It's a leading cause of bankruptcies.

[takoma]

Anonymous wrote:Having to health care DOES lead to poverty. It's a leading cause of bankruptcies.

I think that was meant to say "having no health care".