"Foreclosuregate"

     This week I thought I would mosey on over to motherjones.com to do some reading.  As the banks are prepping, yet again, to foreclose on delinquent homeowners, Andy Kroll interviewed author, Michael W. Hudson.  He has just penned, "The Monster: How a Gang of Predatory Lenders and Wall Street Lenders Fleeced America-And Spawned A Global Crisis."
       The sub prime mortgage industry began in the late 1980's in Orange County, CA.  Long Beach Savings and Loan was at the forefront.  Hudson interviewed nearly 200 people in the industry from secretaries to vice presidents.  Exchanges of money, liquor, cocaine, and sexual favors occurred regularly in the mortgage business.
     Hudson has connected Orange County to Wall Street's fourth largest investment firm, Lehman Brothers.  Lehman was very diversified, but in the end real estate dealings brought the company down.  Back dated documents and false affidavits were used to process loans instantly.  Attempts to reform and correct the problems don't really mean a whole lot because they have yet to be implemented.
     After reading this article, one name caught my eye, Long Beach Mortgage.  They were the financial group that I purchased a foreclosed home from in 2004.  Money was loaned for an extended-cab pickup truck with this house as collateral.  Which by the way was owned free and clear.
     With these home loans that went awry, it sounds like most folks fell delinquent after interest rates skyrocketed.  The stock market crash after 9/11, unemployment, and a poor economy also caused issues.  We all need to watch out for number one.  I feel that individuals should always bank where they have banked their entire lives.  When that is not possible, sometimes a smaller, local bank can be more trustworthy.  Don't purchase more of a house than what you need.

Sarah Palin Continues to Hang Tough and Pursue her Dream

     OK Peeps.  Here we go.  I would like to discuss two myths about Sarah Palin.  #1: Palin cost McCain the 2008 election.  Once named McCain's running mate, their fundraising and support improved dramatically.  #2: Resigning as governor was rash.  Once she returned from the 2008 campaign, everything changed.  The political coalition which she was involved with had collapsed, her critics were calling for one investigation after another into her affairs causing financial woes, and every time that she would travel out of state, she would be accused of not caring about Alaska.
     I have always been a registered Democrat.  I am completely open to voting for the best candidate.  I did vote for Ronald Reagan.  Some say that Palin is unelectable but the fact is that she is more popular now than ever before.  She does have many naysayers but she needs to get focused, bring her A game, and and put a strong sense of passion into several issues instead of just attacking the incumbent. 
     This is in reference to an article written by Matthew Continetti for the Washington Post. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/14/AR2010101404794.html?sid=ST2010101404854

"Helping Boost the Economy???"

     Earlier today I read a very puzzling, scary, and I might even call it somewhat of an amusing article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  The story was written by Stephen Ohlemacher.  It tells of how 72,000 dead people were sent stimulus payments.  These were issued by the Social Security Administration as part of the Recovery Act to help boost the economy and bring our country out of the recession.  These payments totalled $18 million.
     Another $4.3 million in payments were sent to 17,000 prison inmates.  These $250 vouchers totalled $13 billion which went out to 52 million people who either receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income.  S.S. spokesman Mark Lassiter reported that the majority of those inaccurate payments were recovered.  Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma stated that the SSA lost $22.3 million in American tax dollars.
     As I mentioned earlier, this is a very puzzling story that caught my eye.  I can sort of understand that the SSA probably doesn't receive immediate updates on deaths around the country.  Even if they would send out notices that would have to be returned, it is likely that many people throughout the country would die before those checks got into their hands.  In regards to the inmates, they were not in prison at the time they were approved for the bonus payments.  Once again for future years, some kind of process to help eliminate such a large number of inaccurate payments needs to be put into place by the SSA.

"Cohabitation"

     Living together with a mate prior to marriage used to be called "living in sin."  Bon Jovi even penned a song and titled it as such.  During the hippie era back in the 70's, it became more commonplace amongst that demographic.  During that time frame, it was said that 1/3 of Americans lived together prior to marriage.  Sociologists originally felt that living together first caused a much higher divorce rate.  They have since changed their logic.  Yet some religions simply will not condone  it.
     This article in Newsweek written by Johannah Cornblatt suggests that unemployment plus a rise in poverty leads couples to live under the same set of shingles.  An analysis from the Census Bureau showed 59% of cohabitants in 2008 were employed compared to just 49% in 2010.  It is said that money, not romance encourages couples to live together.  This trend coupled with the fact that mates get to know each other better prior to marriage has our country's divorce rate at its lowest point in 40 years.
     This article caught my attention because I personally moved in with my girlfriend at the beginning of this semester simply to reduce my expenses during my collegiate life.  Over the years, I have seen divorce totally ruin some of my co-workers lives.  I for one, want to know how every aspect of the relationship feels prior to committing to a marriage.  Some things can only be found out regarding your mate while living together.  It is so important to find these things out.  If something is found out later regarding your mate that is unacceptable, it is either divorce or living the rest of your life unhappy. 

"Please Let Our Family Mourn In Peace"

     Hello Peeps!  It is "Hump Day" and this ole boy needs to write several blogs.  I was in KC this past weekend therefore I thought I would do some reading from the Kansas City Star.  I am going to tackle a big fish today.  This story came from an article written by Laura Bauer.
     It is in regards to Snyder vs Phelps.  The Supreme Court on this very day is taking a look at a situation that got ugly.  It all began when a 20 year old Marine died in the line of duty in Iraq back in the year 2006.  He was laid to rest in the Westminister, MD cemetary.
     On the day of the funeral,, seven picketers from a Topeka, KS church stood 1000 feet from the graveyard and demeaned, harassed, and destroyed the ceremony.  This all came about because the young marine was gay.  The protestors come from a church that believe God killed them as punishment for being gay.  They were claiming free speech.  They initially lost a lawsuit to the tune of 11 million.  During the appeal process, it was overturned stating that the group is protected under the First Amendment.
     So where do you feel the line should be drawn?  They do have the right to free speech but do they have the right to hold up signs, scream and yell, and harass a family that is grieving?  I feel that the Supreme Court should come down hard on the protestors as well as the church that they were representing.  There is a time and a place for everything but not on that particular day at that particular time in that particular location.