Damn! Why has everyone lost their freakin mind lately? Basically every where we turn the economic indicators are going absolutely insane! Let’s recap some of the horrible things that have been going on lately, shall we? Yes. We shall…

Before we get started, I would just like to send out a big “I told you so” to all the haters who didn’t believe it when I called in the recession on March 10.
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This is sickening. Thanks to Jimbeau for passing along this little piece of financial history. If you wonder why the economy is completely in the crapper right now, well here is a contributor to the problem. Nine years ago today the New York Times issued this report.

Let’s be clear, although the report gives some statistics about minorities, I’m not pointing this out as a racial issue. This is a credit worthiness issue. If you have the means to pay back a loan - you should be given one. If not, you should be denied. The reason this lending practice changed was pure and simple greed.

“…felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.”

They got caught up in the pre-Internet bubble growth around them, and everyone started grabbing for cash. Pathetic. By the way, I’ve highlighted (in blue) some of the choice comments below. Enjoy.

September 30, 1999

Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending

By STEVEN A. HOLMES

In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.

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I recently got the following question from one of my readers:

Dear The Man,

I’m a broke ass college student. And by broke I mean not only don’t I have any money, but I’ve probably already spent about 2 years worth of my expected salary after graduation. And that’s if I DON”T go to grad school!

What should I do?

Your fan,
Broke Dope

Well Brokemeister, don’t worry. Lots of people incur mountains of debt while attending school. Some of them even actually do it on tuition and books! But regardless of what you’ve blown it on, there are solutions for student consolidation of debt.
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