Even today the three biggest lies still hold true.  Although number two and three change over time, number one has stayed the same:  "I'm from the goverment and I'm here to help."

I'd like to take the opportunity to personally yell at all those responsible for the current credit meltdown.  To blame one individual would be irresponsible.  But let's put blame where it needs to be. 

• President Clinton:  This was your program.  It was your administration that started this mess.  You got the ball rolling.  Like Prometheus, you gave investors fire.  Initially the Investment Gods told you it was a bad idea to loan money to high risk individuals, you didn't listen.  Eventually the Investment Gods came on board, because they saw the opportunity to line their own pockets.  
• Congress.  It was your actions forcing lenders to give loans to people who can't pay them back.  You also left enough loopholes so people could leverage their primary residence on margin to buy more homes as investment property.  Didn't you guys learn about the problems of buying on margin back during the stock crash of the 1987?  
• President Bush: You and your cabinet new what was going on.  But you liked the fact your administration could claim high home ownership rates.  (Note: Since posting this, additional research has proven President Bush attempted to do something about this potential problem back in 2002 but was shouted down.  I still blame him for not going to the bully pulpit to make his point and get his way.)
• Warren Buffett:  You kept money cheap despite the indicators.  You had inside info to the credit markets yet you pushed on.  Fannie and Freddie needed the cheap money.  You basked in the glory. 
  
• Financial CEOs:  Just like President Bush and Congress, you guys knew the facts behind the economic boom since 2001.  But you lined your pockets and bailed out.  As long as the money came in, you guys didn't have to make hard choices.  For some reason you guys stopped screaming when the money got good.  
• Senator Chuck Schumer:  You and you alone caused the melt down of IndyMac.  Our economy was still able to hold its own until that bank failure.  You made the comment they could be in trouble and it's investors panicked and ran.  That was the start of the avalanche.  
• Any of the CEOs and board members of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  You took federal subsidies and cooked the books.  What you all did was actually criminal.  You are lucky you aren't in jail.  The profits you made based upon lies are nothing less than fraud.  
• Those of you who flipped houses to get rich.  I personally know three people in this category and have already given them a piece of my mind. Between them, they owned more than 20 homes (individually more than John and Cindy McCain).  Well actually the banks owned them.  They had enough trouble making payments on their primary home.  They abused the system legally, lined their pockets, and got caught, a little bit. They didn't lose it all, but they did lose a big portion of what they had.

So far the only solution presented is to bring back a version of the Resolution Trust Corporation.  Those of us old enough to remember that debacle have a good idea of how this one will end up.  The news media suggests congress will adjourn and leave this problem to simmer.  Like the gas price issue, you would rather do nothing until after the election than help a nation who hired them to do a job.  It is too bad we the taxpayers don't have any recourse, such as withholding pay to you and your staff until crisis solved.  It probably doesn't matter anyway.  You guys have gotten rich of our money for far too long. 

I'd like to thank the hand full of responsible journalist who kept talking about the potential problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  You at least tried to warn us of the problem before it became too big.  Unfortunately your colleagues didn't take up your drum beat. Between you and John McCain, at least you guys tried to prevent a melt down.  Unfortunately people higher up in the food chain did their very best to keep your screams down to the level of a church pew whisper.  

Why am I so mad?  The reason is simple.  I've watched for years as my health care costs have gone through the roof.  I seldom go to the doctor, but I know many people who do and understand their plight. It hit home when a very dear friend became seriously ill and I had to rush them to the hospital. The impediments I endured trying to help my friend helped me find a solution to his problem.  Today I'm on the brink of developing a new product that will guarantee to lower health care costs.  My biggest problem, there isn't much money left for me to borrow.    I'm just a working class stiff with a wife, dog and mortgage.  I can't afford the lawyers I need to protect and patent my idea.  I need money to develop the prototype.  I need cash to pay the people who will help me develop it.  Banks want collateral.  The equity I had in my home is now gone because of the housing crash.  Venture Capitalists will take more than 50% of the idea just for funding it.  Since I don't have the money to hire lawyers, they would almost assuredly want most of the remaining shares, leaving me with about 10% of the original idea.  

I agree with one Presidential candidate the fundamentals of our economy are strong.  There are just too many forces working against us.

Could government please get out of the way and let us at least try and walk.  For those walking, please keep to the right, some of us want to run.