Life in Paradise: 21st Century Style
2000-2001
The “dot com” bubble bursts
Recession
9/11/2001
America attacked!
Our way of life is threatened
Fear sets in
Financial institutions vulnerable!
Economy in a nose dive
What to do?
Everybody fly the flag from your home.
Save housing - Save the economy!
First, everybody needs a home.
The madness begins.
2002-2003
Create laws to increase minority homeownership
California gives birth to the ARMs* and NINJA** loans
Accounting irregularities at Fannie Mae (FNMA) & Freddie Mac (FDMAC) ***
Doors open for Wall Street to invest in Main Street
Without those pesky government regulations
Homeownership increases
...“After all ever since the Great Depression, home values have ALWAYS gone up
And everybody pays their mortgage ”…
WARNING! WARNING! DANGER! DANGER!
AREN”T HOME PRICES INCREASING FASTER THAN INCOME?
…...“No problem; it only takes a little creative mortgage financing and Wall St loves those high yielding mortgages…..
HIGHER RISK - HIGHER YIELD!
Pension funds love high yield.
Buy more and more....
…...“After all ever since the Great Depression, home values have ALWAYS gone up
And everybody pays their mortgage ”…..
WARNING! WARNING! DANGER! DANGER!
AREN”T PENSION FUNDS ONLY ALLOWED TO BUY AAA RATED INVESTMENTS?
...“Problem solved...banks pay the salaries at the Rating Agencies and Ratings Agencies in turn lower the standards to obtain a AAA rating”...
WARNING! WARNING! DANGER! DANGER!
WHO’S WATCHING THE “HEN HOUSE” WHO’S MINDING THE STORE?
...“Who cares?
Everyone is happy
Millions of new jobs created
Millions of new homeowners
[...] Read more
poem by Nancy Chambers
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