Blame, blame, blame...it's all around us! Everyone seems to be caught up in "who to blame for the crisis". Apparently there are some who think we should be on that list (trulia ).
I attended a toastmasters meeting last night for the first time, and the members were asked to respond to various questions about the bailout and who is to blame. I was blown away by the responses! Every single person felt that the consumer was ultimately responsible! One was even asked to defend the consumer and blame someone else. Her response was that she couldn't. That, in her opinion, there was no one else to blame!
Wow! I was stunned! To be in a room full of people who believe we all have personal responsibility! No way! When I got home, I told my husband about it and his "answer" was that "these are well educated people, that's why". Hmmm...which made me thing of the Trulia post that I read yesterday morning (and couldn't even bring myself to respond to!). I recalled that the poster was a Harvard Business grad who claimed that he was "duped" by his Realtor, and that he bought his home based on his agent telling him that it would increase in value. (I've always said that a degree never gave anybody COMMON sense!).
I personally am frustrated too. We all are. I am further frustrated however, by the fact that we all prospered during the economic boom that resulted from deregulation and the push to increase homeownership that created the subprime market. There are many (of all "classes") who benefitted from the "boom". Whether they made money in the stock market, or their 401k. Everyone from the subcontractor to the small business owner enjoyed some benefit of the booming economy that was driven by the booming housing market. Many many people were able to "have the American dream" of owning a home because the subprime market was created. And that was the intention! The subprime market was "created" to increase homeownership among minorities, and others! This created growth and jobs! If there is anyone out there who doesn't think they benefitted in some way, they were either living under a rock, or simply have no concept of how our economy works.
I find it a bit scary that we live in a world where EVERYTHING ceases to "function" without credit availability, but that didn't come to be because of one person, one entity, or one political party. No, even George Bush didn't do that all by himself! Yes, there was greed and corruption. You will find that anywhere! Even in churches! That's called the fundamental law of good and evil (and free will!), So enough of that excuse!
From "the Traveler's Gift" by Andy Andrews: "The words 'It's not my fault' have been symbolically written on the gravestones of unsuccessful people ever since Eve took her first bite of the apple. Until a person hakes responsibility for where he or she is, there is no basis for moving on".
I, for one, say "Let's move on"....
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