Crisis! Blame! America! Mortgage Brokers! Consumers!

I was in the kitchen the other day and while I was washing some dishes I heard my youngest daughter crying outside. I stopped for a moment and went out side and instantly my son pointed at my oldest daughter and my daughter pointed at my son. I did not even get the chance to ask what happened. In fact, I had no intention on asking what happened because I knew the answer that I was going to get. After a few moments of consoling my youngest I had a chance to ask each of the culprits to tell me their story.........................WOW!

Finger Pointing came fast anf furious but I assured each one of them that they were not going to get in trouble. I just wanted to know the root cause of the problem so that we could Circumvent this happening in the future. I wanted to offer a solution. I found out after a little poking and prodding and yes Interrogation that they were all playing a little rough and unintentionally she was bumped and knocked down. Yes, it was the oldest who bumped into the littleest but it was Mr. medium who did the pushing. The bottom line was if they were not playing rough it wouldn't have happened.

I have read a lot about who is to blame for the Crisis that we are in today and my answer has always been the same America. We cannot help but be the problem. We are the land of opportuntiy and we are full of bitter people that feel like they did not get a fair shake at things. The glamour that comes with being a huge Coporate Attorney, Pop Star, Basketball Player, Business Owner, Actress and any other big time job in the eyes of America has caused many to feel like they have failed in their chosen carrers. If you work at the grocery store, own a home free and clear and have over 300K in retirement you have failed. Have you? That is how many felt. Even those that we would label as the ultimate success had the need for more because they could and they needed to be number one.

Along came the opportunity. The Real Estate boom created an opportunity for the Raley's worker to leverage the home he owned to buy another for 650K. He could not afford this home but got a Negative Amortization loan and was able to borrow 500K for $1500 a month. Hold for two years and the price will have doubled. I can sell then move back into my home and take the 650K I made and put it into my retirement. I will then have a MILLION BUCKS and a home free and clear. I can then retire quite nicely. The plan could have worked. If he had bought in 2003 instead of late 2005.

There was nothing wrong with the position that this character had created for himself. Society told him that it was not enough. He felt like he failed those around him and had to take a risk. He is not a risk taker but this was a no brainer. I am sad to say that this somebody now has a forclosure and a home leveraged to the max. He still has some retirement but now plans to work to the last day.

We have taught from the day that people are children that you want to be successful. You can't just play on the team you have to be the best on the team. It is never enough. Do your best and then do a little more. It is taught in the school systems, work environments, it is coached in athletics and it is plastered on the walls in corporate America. I threw away all my #1 in the company trophies for 2004,2005,2006 and #2 in 2007 the other day. I realized that I had to hurt a lot of people to get those trophies. My eyes were on the prize and not the people. The sad part is I could have done things differently and done better. That was not what my Mentor taught me. I left that mentor and continue to do what I do best. Help people acheive the dream of homeownership.

America Created the Crisis and America is to blame. The need for a scapegoat for this situation is only another political platform position or an illusion created by David Blaine. We always want someone to take the fall. In this case was it the investors, wholesalers, banks, Federal Reserve Chairman, Realtors, Brokers or Consumers. It was all of us that live in America. We were all trying to reach that point of comfort. That point where we no longer have to worry. The problem is that point is never ending. As soon as you get there another peak presents itself and there is no time for being satisfied. America encourages debt and consumerism. If everyone were to pay there debts we would all be free but that would not be AMERICA. We have to keep up with the Jonses!

So like my children noone wants to take the blame because we do not want to get in trouble. The trouble is here and we are looking for the solutions. We are all to Blame. America is great and I love living here but I have learned the hard way to prioritize and the debt and consumerism that is pressed upon us from the day we are born is the trap amongst the opportutnity. Jason Sardi was right Greed is the solution. Greed to pay off our debt, Greed to be in control of our lives by owing noone. I understand what my Grandpa was saying to me when I thought I knew it all. He was saying that you don't need to keep up with the Jonses. You need to be comfortable being you and in control of that so temptation never rears it's head. He said to me "who are the jonses? Have you ever met them?"

I just want to say to my Grandpa, Thank you for another life lesson. We should all learn from our more wise elders and realize that there are no jonses. They live in our mind. Do away with the greed and start enjoying what we have been given.

As Always Thank you for Reading!

Matt Freeman