Comments on: Divining the 2010 market

By: Comrade Nom Deplume

Comrade Nom Deplume — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:46:45 +0000

Like we didn’t see this one coming????

“By RACHEL BECK, AP Business Writer Rachel Beck, Ap Business Writer – 2 hrs 14 mins ago
NEW YORK – The government shouldn’t reward liars. But that’s the effect of changes to the Obama administration’s failing program to help homeowners modify their mortgages.

Until recently the rules were clear: if you grossly understated your income to qualify for the program, you had to restart the loan modification process. It made sense. After all, we got into this housing mess partly because too many people were dishonest about how much they made.

Fast forward to today. The federally funded Home Affordable Modification Program was aimed at getting banks to rework mortgages for homeowners in order to slow the pace of foreclosures. The government set a goal of modifying up to 4 million mortgages over the next three years.

The program isn’t working like it’s supposed to. Since March, just 31,000 homeowners have won permanent relief. One big reason why is that lenders are doing what they should have been doing all along — requiring things like proof of income.

How’s the government responding? By letting homeowners who fudge their income numbers off the hook with little more than a wink and a nod.

“This isn’t the kind of person the government should want to help,” said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a left-leaning Washington think tank. . . .”

Memo to Dean: What about being a liberal redistributionist are you not getting???

By: njescapee

njescapee — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:28:45 +0000

Merry Christmas to All from Key West!

By: Mikeinwaiting

Mikeinwaiting — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:06:48 +0000

Merry Christmas!

Pat 200 I love it. I should have pulled that move.

Lost you got mail.

By: willwork4beer

willwork4beer — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:01:31 +0000

Merry Christmas to all. Even bi, Frank and lurkerd. And where has Re101 been hiding? Merry Christmas everybody!

By: lostinny

lostinny — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:21:23 +0000

Dear Sleeping Gods,
Why have you forsaken me?

Merry Christmas all. Have a happy and healthy holiday.

By: scribe

scribe — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:17:30 +0000

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.

Hope Santa leaves many good things under the tree for you and yours!

By: sas

sas — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:23:14 +0000

yeah, figgy pudding, it contains figs.
If made well with the brandy, you can light it like a candle.

we usually light it up, and sing a song or two.

SAS

By: sas

sas — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:21:19 +0000

you mean Freeganism?

SAS

By: Shore Guy

Shore Guy — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:16:34 +0000

“Santa was just tracked by NORAD over Newark. He is on is way up to Boston”

They launched interceptors from Rome or Mass?

By: Shore Guy

Shore Guy — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:15:04 +0000

“figgy pudding”???

I always thought it was friggen pudding. Live and learn. Being from Jersey, it seemed to make sense.

By: yikes

yikes — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:12:46 +0000

merry christmas!

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:59:53 +0000

pat lol I dont blame you for ignoring the bird request, they are too noisy for me.

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:54:44 +0000

My husband and I are discussing the merits of various ways out of this one.

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:53:49 +0000

If the only thing your child asked for is a bird – like in a cage – does it count if you glue some feathers on the cat’s face and then yell at it in the morning when your little one comes down and looks at the pile of presents?

By: sas

sas — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:52:29 +0000

“Merry Christmas, movie house!”

SAS