While reading the news online I read an artice by the Associated Press about Alan Greenspan being questioned about the current state of the economy, and he is quoted as saying that our current crisis is a "Once in a Century Tsunami" Really?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,443737,00.html Greenspan said that he felt that the banks would have had more concern for the shareholders and investors then they did. Is it not surprising that even the banks were swept by this Tsunami? I actually think verses the word Tsunami we should replace it with greed. Because wasn't it actually greed that caused this?
My main issue I have with this whole topic is that here they are questioning Alan Greenspan the Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve why are we not questioning the Leaders of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae? Why is it they are not being held accountable for what has happened? When we talk greed, they walked with millions but no one is screaming for justice from them. Yet when Enron happened we sent those men to jail. Is it because Freddie and Fannie were government back enterprises?
Greenspan stated that "there was a flaw in the model.... that defines how the world works." A flaw? I think not I think it is greed. We had banks lowering standard to make shareholders and investors happy because the mortgages were a good money makers. So to make more money they lowered minimum credit scores, they became creative in their lending. We were putting home buyers in homes they could ill afford. We were doing that by interest only loans or No money down loans? Is it any wonder that when they got a rate adjustment on those ARMS and interest only loan home owners got a shock?
Living in a military community I have had the unfortunate opportunity on more then one occasion to go to a listing appt and have to tell the home owner "Even in the beat case senairo you wil have to bring money to the table." It is never a good or comfortable listing appointment and this was all caused because someone put these homeowner into a mortgage that they did not either understand or it was not explained to them in true detail.
As REALTORS we have a responsibility to educated our customers and clients to the best of our ability on all the features of different loan programs. The market says consumer beware but when you have knowledge that will benefit another is it not right to share the knowledge to the betterment of the buyer? Even we as REALTORS got greedy in the market, We stopped doing what we knew was right and we did not always have the best interest of our clients in the forefront of our daily actions. I am not saying all of us but I know of many in our town who only did interest only loans, that was the only program they sold. But I deter from my original point sorry.
So my main question here is?
Where were the head of Freddie and Fannie when s*#@ hit the fan? Where are the men who took so much money from the industry? Why are we not questioning them? Why are we not hearing anything from them? Is there no contrition?
A critical pillar to market competition and free markets did break down," Greenspan said. "I still do not fully understand why it happened." Well let me education you Mr Greenspan. A critical pillar did break down but I am not sure the free market broke down. I think greed was the pillar but I believe free market was the doorway through which the pillar tumbled. By living in a society where we have free enterprise we allow the green eyed monster of greed to take over when we allow it to go unchecked.
So I ask you will there be justice? Or are we afraid to ask the question of those who were key figures in the downfall of this free society? Where are they and why are we asking Alan Greenspan the tough questions but not the heads of Freddie and Fannie??? Inquiring minds wanna know.
