Hooray - Help for Homeowners is on the way!

[Lux Interior]

Sorry, beerman. I quoted you because you basically distilled the idea that SDGuy's strawmans were trying to get across.

And the "horse shit" comment is directed at the idea that we shouldn't help anyone a long as someone who is not in need will benefit. Not at any person.

[Mac1337]

Lux Interior wrote:
And the "horse shit" comment is directed at the idea that we shouldn't help anyone a long as someone who is not in need will benefit. Not at any person.

The perennial problem. Who is in "need"? If the rule is that only foreclosed homes get help then I can put myself in that category in short order. Now you need another set of rules, and another and another.

[Gutenberg]

I know plenty of people who had to move--for a job, to be closer to their aging parents, etc.--and because of the need to move and the incredibly inflated housing bubble, paid more than they should have for their homes.

Yes, there are some people who made foolish decisions. But to argue that we should hang people out to dry who made sacrifices for family or career because someone made a foolish purchase somewhere else is just plain wrong.

I bought an affordable house myself. I like my house, but if I had to move back West to take care of my brother, say, or if I lost my job here and had to move, I would. And I might not find something as affordable. I would not be trying to get away with anything--California is twice as expensive as where I am presently living, and that's just the facts.

I do not understand the dog-in-the-manger mentality. As soon as we get over that mentality we can start digging ourselves out of this hole.

[$tevie]

Funny, I was going to say dog-in-the-manger, too, but I wasn't sure that anyone remembers that fable these days. :bunny:

[TLB]

Right or wrong, I think many people feel it is more like the ant and grasshoper than dog in the manger.

[Mac1337]

Dakota wrote:
Now you need another set of rules, and another and another.

Gutenberg wrote:
I know plenty of people who had to move--for a job, to be closer to their aging parents, etc.--and because of the need to move and the incredibly inflated housing bubble, paid more than they should have for their homes.

[beerman]

Gutenberg, could you clarify your comments for me? I suspect others understood what you were saying, but I did not. thank you.

As an interesting side note I just got back from a board meeting where a lawyer was very frustrated that a portion of the bailout money will be going to speculators or to people who made incredibly bad financial decisions. He made almost the same comment that kj made, that we are essentially subsidizing someone's lifestyle. I would have to admit I agree but I don't know how any criteria could be setup to exclude those people and still accomplish the goal of keeping people in their houses that otherwise would lose them. Perhaps exclude mortgages that are not on primary residences would be a start?

[Gutenberg]

• most of the righties believe that the foreclosure aid is going to help people who are living higher on the hog than they should.

• There are plenty of situations where people had to move and were caught in an inflated market.

• Those people paid more than the houses were worth.

• They did not pay more because they are jerks.

• They paid more because of the circumstances.

• The righties believe that everyone who paid too much for their houses should be hung out to dry.

• I believe the righties are wrong.

I hope this is clearer for you.

[JoeH]

beerman wrote:
Is a ground hog similar to a gopher? I recall my grandfather using something that looked like a huge mousetrap to get rid of them. This reminds me of the mousetrap thread which is currently being discussed on the other side of the forum. Maybe you could get a really really big sticky pad...

Ground hogs are also known as wood chucks and are also rodents, but of a different group. They are several times larger than true gophers. Normal sized adults are between 5 and 9 lbs, but have been know to get as large as 30 lbs. They are related to ground squirrels which are sometimes called gophers.

[beerman]

Thanks Gutenberg, while I may not agree with all of your points I appreciate the clarification!

For the record I do not believe people receiving assistance with their mortgages are "jerks" but I am also reluctant to think it is my responsibility to pay for anyone's financial agreement that turns south.