The Mortgage Crisis and the Blame Game

By Nicole Simmons

The mortgage crisis, foreclosures, eviction notices—all of these are characteristics of the current economic crisis, one that I find many are bitter about.

“Blame the mortgage companies!” “Blame the home owners!” “Why should I have to pay for other people’s stupid mistakes?!”

I hear many reactions such as these when the current crisis is brought up. However, there is one major problem in pointing the finger and pinning the blame: while people are arguing about who is at fault, countless people are suffering the embarrassment and horrific loss of their homes.

The bottom line here folks, is people are homeless and regardless of who takes the blame, the American people are still left to pay the bill.

So, why not address the real issue—how to deal with the homeless?

I find myself asking this question over and over again as I drive by yet another construction site for the next friendly suburban development. With so many people being affected by this mortgage crisis and being forced out on to the streets, aren’t we just being greedy?

Just stop and think about it—is the common good being served? I argue no.

Everyday people are being forced out of their homes in numbers higher than we have ever seen, and yet that’s not enough for people to say, “Hey, enough is enough. Instead of making people’s lives miserable, let’s cut them a break.”

I’m not saying let everyone go free, but let’s get real. I don’t want to see masses of homeless people on the streets when I’m walking to work. There’s no excuse for it, especially when houses are still being built and countless are still unoccupied.

At least one person sees the madness and was willing to do something about it. Marilyn Mock, a small business owner from Texas, reached out in a surprising way to Tracy Orr, a fellow Texan and former postal worker who had lost her home. Mock simply saw the pain in Orr’s face as she saw her house going up for auction, and did something. The charitable Mock bought Orr’s house for $30,000 and gave it back to her in an agreement that Orr would pay her back in amounts more sensible than that of the mortgage company.

Finally, someone sees what’s going on!

The mortgage crisis is more than just an issue of finding who is to blame. Yes, we need to find the culprits and fix the system so it doesn’t ever happen again. However, we also need to find out what can be done about the current situation and deal with its consequences. Fellow human lives are at stake. Basic rights are at stake. How about we think of that the next time we try to pin the blame?