Big Think

Michele B commented on Does Pete Peterson Look Worried? on March 28, 2008, 1:56 AM

And the question consumers should be asking is whose fault is it truly that the economy is like it is? I agree with Obama's comment today that the financial sector is not regulated. There should be some rules for lending money so as not to take advantage of the consumer. Is is right to be paying $750 in interest on a $800 mortgage payment each month? Paying $50 a month, can the house really get paid off in thirty years? NO. Yes, the consumer gets to stay in a nice house for thirty years, but the loan company pulls in usually 250% of the homes value. Is it right to be paying more in interest on a home than it is worth? This is what companies like Wells Fargo are able to charge and get away with it. The late charge on a mortgage loan from them is a percentage. That percentage has added up to $300 for one week. Is that fair? Second time late in 15 months. I understand sub-prime and I understand fees must be charged, but I do not understand the unethical amount of these fees and charges. If a risky borrower has trouble paying their regular mortgage payment, how do high-fees and charges give them incentive to pay on time? I personally think "cash-back" is always an incentive to pay ontime. Ten, fifty, or a hundred dollars for paying ontime and before. There should be a generalized pattern of loan programs applicable to all consumers from all lenders. Something should change in the credit rating program. I HAD bad credit, but I have been paying my bills ontime for over six years now. I cannot afford to pay past debt off, so shouldnt there be a rating system for how Im paying now? Checking the past five years, I feel, is sufficient. Everyone's situation is different. I do not understand why Republicans do not feel responsible for helping consumers. They are the reason why this happened. Non-regulation of this sector has spun out of control and it has finally come to a head. Not every consumer can afford to have a lawyer on hand for every financial transaction that transpires. For any for that matter. Lawyers are expensive. Only those with alot of money dont worry about things like that and "monthly expenses." They spend freely. The little man has to work to survive and count nickels the whole way. Its a shame that those monthly expenses are so high. Why is Comcast able to charge for television service that should be free? People should be able to get major network and local channels for free if nothing else. Thats how it used to be. Why do the basics to sustain life cost so much now? With all the trillions that go in and out of the governement, it seems, some things and people are getting short changed. Who is the government really working for? Whose side is Bush on, that he'll allow Bear Stearns to get bailed out and has bailed out the airlines before and banks, but not homeowners when they clearly have been taken advantage of? And who is the stimulus package for? Its not for the poorest folk, the people that need it the most. It darn sure cant help homeowners that are losing their homes. It cant help at the pumps. Who's it for, to make Bush able to sleep at night? I hope the democrats make a change soon, because the country has already lost most of its factory jobs, Clinton will clear out the health care jobs if she gets elected. They'll be nothing else left for anyone to do but rob and steal.

Michele B commented on Does Pete Peterson Look Worried? on March 27, 2008, 9:56 PM

And the question consumers should be asking is whose fault is it truly that the economy is like it is? I agree with Obama's comment today that the financial sector is not regulated. There should be some rules for lending money so as not to take advantage of the consumer. Is is right to be paying $750 in interest on a $800 mortgage payment each month? Paying $50 a month, can the house really get paid off in thirty years? NO. Yes, the consumer gets to stay in a nice house for thirty years, but the loan company pulls in usually 250% of the homes value. Is it right to be paying more in interest on a home than it is worth? This is what companies like Wells Fargo are able to charge and get away with it. The late charge on a mortgage loan from them is a percentage. That percentage has added up to $300 for one week. Is that fair? Second time late in 15 months. I understand sub-prime and I understand fees must be charged, but I do not understand the unethical amount of these fees and charges. If a risky borrower has trouble paying their regular mortgage payment, how do high-fees and charges give them incentive to pay on time? I personally think "cash-back" is always an incentive to pay ontime. Ten, fifty, or a hundred dollars for paying ontime and before. There should be a generalized pattern of loan programs applicable to all consumers from all lenders. Something should change in the credit rating program. I HAD bad credit, but I have been paying my bills ontime for over six years now. I cannot afford to pay past debt off, so shouldnt there be a rating system for how Im paying now? Checking the past five years, I feel, is sufficient. Everyone's situation is different. I do not understand why Republicans do not feel responsible for helping consumers. They are the reason why this happened. Non-regulation of this sector has spun out of control and it has finally come to a head. Not every consumer can afford to have a lawyer on hand for every financial transaction that transpires. For any for that matter. Lawyers are expensive. Only those with alot of money dont worry about things like that and "monthly expenses." They spend freely. The little man has to work to survive and count nickels the whole way. Its a shame that those monthly expenses are so high. Why is Comcast able to charge for television service that should be free? People should be able to get major network and local channels for free if nothing else. Thats how it used to be. Why do the basics to sustain life cost so much now? With all the trillions that go in and out of the governement, it seems, some things and people are getting short changed. Who is the government really working for? Whose side is Bush on, that he'll allow Bear Stearns to get bailed out and has bailed out the airlines before and banks, but not homeowners when they clearly have been taken advantage of? And who is the stimulus package for? Its not for the poorest folk, the people that need it the most. It darn sure cant help homeowners that are losing their homes. It cant help at the pumps. Who's it for, to make Bush able to sleep at night? I hope the democrats make a change soon, because the country has already lost most of its factory jobs, Clinton will clear out the health care jobs if she gets elected. They'll be nothing else left for anyone to do but rob and steal.

Michele B commented on Can the FDA do a better job labeling food products? on January 21, 2008, 3:59 AM

There are third world countries that do not eat some of the things that we eat, like beef, for instance. They also do not use as many preservatives as the US uses.

Michele B commented on Do we treat our veterans well? on January 21, 2008, 3:53 AM

The veterans from previous wars are still not getting treated with dignity and respect. Veterans from Vietnam are still trying to transition.

Michele B commented on Does U.S. involvement in Iraq limit us elsewhere? on January 21, 2008, 3:50 AM

Of course it limits us. Lil Bush is itchin to move troops into Pakistan and Iran, but how can you when you dont have any. He probably would like to have attacked N. Korea by now or moved some troops into Sudan and stopped all the blodshed down there. The military sure could use some gay soldiers right now.