Consider this fact. Any child under the age of 18 is prohibited from gambling in a casino in most states. Yet, that same 17 year old can trade in derivative securities with absolutely no prohibitions. What is the difference between casino gambling and derivative training? Well, for one, gambling risks are more readily calculable. Secondly, gambling is regulated by individual states. But derivative trading is exclusively controlled by federal regulators. And those regulators have very little interest in regulating. Why is this important? Because history will likely show that these disinterested regulators contributed mightily to the financial market freezeout that is pushing the world economy into the most serious economic recession in generations.
It is important that Americans know what really caused the financial cataclysm. Decisions will be made in 2009 based upon what policy makers decide are the root causes of the financial crises that plague our economy. Knowing the causes are critical to determining the correct fixes. As will be explained below, the credit markets' unfettered efforts to keep Americans spending will likely prove to be the primary culprit behind the current credit collapse.
A Fannie Mae policy puts consumers in a Catch 22. They have to dispute inaccurate information on their credit reports to qualify for loans, but those disputes could be the grounds on which a loan is denied.
