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PrintLaying blame for this current financial crisis on the American people who have failed to pay their mortgages, bought houses they could not afford or even "toxic" mortgage-backed securities is ignorance ... bordering on hubris. For every person who defaulted on a mortgage they could not afford, there is another person who lost his job. For every homeowner who gambled on a variable rate mortgage to "flip a house," there is a snake of a lender who sold snake oil.
Not everyone is a whiz at math.
This crisis is far more complex than mortgage defaults. This is about software nerds, financial geeks, Harvard MBAs and Congress' college buddies playing derivative poker ... and losing. They were winning big and got drunk with money, but then the odds caught up with them. The current situation can be described with one word ... risk -- risk that is factored into every program run by every failed bank's back-office platform, and it was ignored. To borrow a quote from Justice Louis Brandeis, the subprime mortgage fallout was the "sunlight," said to be the "best of disinfectants." It woke up some of the people responsible for policing these precarious practices, but it was too late. Not for them.
They walk away with their pockets stuffed with money. We, on the other hand, foot the bill.
Wall Street was vacationing in Vegas and eventually it lost ... everything. The problem is it was not playing with its own money. The money was yours and mine.
ERIC WILTROUT
Lawrenceville
Stop GOP insanity
Please somebody help me ... help me to comprehend how anyone in his right mind could even consider voting Republican in this November's presidential election ...
To continue economic policies that have produced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the largest gap between the wealthy and the rest of us in history and insufficient funds for basic welfare needs of the most needy in our society.
To continue foreign policies rooted in lies and deception, which have resulted in becoming bogged down in two wars with tragic loss of lives: American, Iraqi and Afghani. (And don't buy the success of "the surge," people; the tide of the occupation of Iraq has changed due to the Sunnis becoming fed up with al-Qaida's presence there.)
To continue an environment of elitism and arrogance in the executive branch of our government that has resulted in what some consider blatant violations of the Constitution.
This election is not about the experience of Barack Obama or whether John McCain is a "maverick." This election is about restoring sanity at the highest levels of our government. The Republicans have gotten us here, and they must go!
MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
McCandless
Hold the conceit
Reading Reg Henry's Page 2 column "Hockey Moms and Joe Six-Pack Rule" (Oct. 8) only served to heighten my disdain for Democratic intellectual conceit.
I have worked in 22 different countries, speak three languages and have a master's degree, but since I support McCain-Palin, I guess I'm just "Joe Six-Pack" to Mr. Henry and know only "as many as half a dozen things." Like a hockey mom, I am truly "exceptional in the dumbing-down department."
I support McCain-Palin because of their strong pro-life position and because I value national security. I have read the Quran in its entirety. Have you read the Quran, Mr. Henry? If not, I suppose it's because your superior mind doesn't need to verify the "facts" it has already presented you. (Wink!)
STEVE BURNS
Upper St. Clair
Attacking by proxy
So John McCain is using Sarah Palin to launch attacks on Sen. Barack Obama? Clearly he doesn't want to attack Mr. Obama himself, as to avoid any question into his poor judgment with the Keating Five.
Still, if John McCain can't face Sen. Obama head on, what does that say for his ability to take on Kim Jong Il or Vladimir Putin?
CLAUDIA NEELY
Churchill
Speaking of radicals
Since Sarah Palin has decided to dredge up the tired, old business about Barack Obama's past association with William Ayers and Rev. Jeremiah Wright, then I think it fitting and proper to delve into Ms. Palin's own past radical affiliations.
For several years, Sarah's husband, Todd, was a member of the Alaska Independence Party. The AIP is apparently a bunch of latter-day, frostbitten Confederates who think it would be a good idea if Alaska were to secede from the Union. And while Ms. Palin herself was never a member of the party, she did attend at least one of their conventions and as recently as early this year sent a videotaped greeting to their convention.
In light of these facts, I would like to see Ms. Palin answer the following questions: Do you and the "first dude" think the United States so imperfect that you would like to see Alaska sever its ties with our great nation? And, if so, then why do you want to be the vice president of our great nation?
MICHAEL PASTORKOVICH
Oakland
Electioneering joke
When I heard on the radio that the Republicans intend to enforce the "no electioneering" law by challenging anyone with a campaign T-shirt, button, hat or whatever at the polling places, I almost drove off the road. I will try to be civil: what a big, fat, stupid joke.
I lived in Wisconsin for many years where these laws are strictly enforced. Electioneering there is prohibited within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place and this is taken very seriously. When I returned to my native Pittsburgh three years ago, I was shocked to see the outside of polling places plastered with huge campaign signs and posters. What's more, at my own polling place at Neville and Centre, people routinely pass out campaign literature inside the door. Where have these same Republicans been all these years?
Citizens, leave your T-shirts at home and come out and vote! Newly registered voters, bring ID! Allegheny County, we need sensible electioneering rules and strict enforcement.
JANET ARONSON
Oakland
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