Or alternatively
Bankers - to blame
People who went to the bank for a mortgage and were told they could borrow more than they thought (Joe Public) - to blame
People who were a bit short and wanted second mortgages - to blame
People who sold the loans pretending they were assets (bankers) - to blame
People who were a bit short and wanted second mortgages - to blame
Ratings agencies who the loans pretending they were assets as higher quality than they should (Ratings Agency) - to blame
People who didn't provide any sort of rules around what you could or couldn't lend or repackage (Regulators) - to blame
People who didn't fund the regulatory framework appropriately (Government) - to blame
People who put pressure on banks to make ever bigger profits (Investors) - to blame
People who encouraged people to borrow more and more with a have it now attitude (The Media) - to blame
People who relied on the economy expanding forever for the feelgood factor that resulted in their reelection (The Government) - to blame

Yes, you can see why I might think we can't simply blame the banks.
( The Teviot Moose major 5th., Tue 15 Jun 2010, 17:36, 1 reply)

Couldn't have put it better myself
Though I tried to...
b3ta.com/questions/badmanagement/post755518

There are many forces at work in this country which have caused the problems we have..."Cheap" money being lent to people who have been conditioned by advertising in to a constant state of want...

I think you are right that banks, government, advertising and no regulation are at fault, and I think Badger is right that we all need to face up to the fact that it is all our own greed and responsibility as a society.

But who will win? There's only one way to find out...
(MrOli is ugly, but in the morning you will be sober, Tue 15 Jun 2010, 20:36, closed)