Saturday, November 15, 2008

I am SICK of hearing that people "bought more home than they could afford!

If you, or someone you know, has lost or is losing their home to foreclosure, I would like to hear their story.

Perhaps just for statistical purposes, or perhaps to write about their experiences, so that other people can see what is REALLY happening.

MANY people whose homes have been foreclosed on are in that situation not because they were trying to live beyond their means, but because of other circumstances such as illness or a job loss. Or perhaps they are in that situation because of predatory lending, that got them into an ARM loan by saying that "interest rates are going down", but not telling them that even if interest rates reached zero, THEIR PARTICULAR mortgage would NEVER have a rate decrease!

And, why are so many other people ANGRY at those kicked out of their homes? Have we really become a nation of such MEANIES?

So, if you read this, and if you or a friend or aquaintance has lost their home or is losing their home, I want to hear about it.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Some of our most powerful people rip us off time after time.

Why do we continue to allow this? Why, when some of the most powerful people in this country have shown time and time again that they are willing to rip off the average "Joe Six-pack", do we continue to worship at the altar of their public image?

For example, in the S&L meltdown in the 80s and early 90s, several people were involved who were never penalized for their involvement, and who have maintained their sway over many of the American people. Like the Bush family, which was named as being involved in that scandal, as well as John McCain, and others. And some of those same names are popping up with regard to the current economic situation. Yet no matter how flagrant their involvement in a fiasco that cost many people their savings, those same people today are still singing their praises.

I am starting to believe there is a very simple reason for this. I think it is an attitude very similar to the American people's obsession with the "outlaws" of days gone by. Like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Billy the Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger (and a host of others), we seem to hold the Bush family in reverence as if they are some kind of saints!

The afore mentioned folks were just that, crooks, and thieves and murderers and yet they have gained a place in the folklore of this country. I see this same kind of folk awe when I talk to random people about our politicians. It never seems to bother them that MANY of our politicians have been investigated and censured for their involvement in what can only be termed thievery, that seems to make no difference. The people are STILL fans of the crooks!

I think this is a sad and dangerous attitude for people to have. I think we need to STOP being ostriches, get our heads out of the sand, look at these folks with clear eyes and understand that as long as we REVERE them, they will continue to ROB us.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Our economy is strong?

What do the candidates mean, especially McCain, when they say our economy is strong?

Just about every day there is news of some corporation or other being 'bailed out' by the government. Or maybe just going belly up and filing bankruptcy. And these are not your mom-and-pop businesses, they are some of the biggest corporations in American history!

I can't help wondering just exactly what it is going to take to wake up the American People , and make them DEMAND that there be accountability for these huge defaults. It is obscene that, while FNMA and FreddieMac have failed, their CEOs and other head honchos are collecting HUGE "Golden Parachutes". Of course, making those folks give back the money they obviously have NOT earned is just a drop in the bucket compared to the huge losses the corporations have endured, but it is a start!

IMHO, those in charge at FNMA, FreddieMac, Lehman Brothers, Merril Lynch, WaMu, Countrywide etc., should all be charged with fraud and mismanagement of funds, and sent to jail, and have all their assets (those we could find!) stripped.

The American People need to stand up and DEMAND that no one profit when a corporation goes down the tube.

Can't you see those executives laughing all the way to their (offshore) bank?

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

It is possible to just disappear?

In this day and age you would think it would be impossible to just disappear. After all, we are constantly told how we are in data bases, how our information is known by anyone who wants to find it, and other scary things that make us feel like we are in a goldfish bowl.

Well, maybe it is that way now but in 1969 when my aunt died and left behind 5 sons, it must not have been that way, because those sons have vanished as surely as if they were spirited away by a magician.

My aunt's name was Sandy and at her death she was (we think) married to a man named Al Marsh. They lived in the Virginia Beach area.

Her obituary names her survivors. Sons Randy Hurst, Michael Hurst and Kevin Hurst (by a previous marriage) were listed, as well as sons David and Richard Marsh. The obituary indicated that Randy Hurst was married and lived in Norfolk VA. ( I believe he was married to Myrna Neff, his high school sweetheart when they attended Towson HS in Baltimore County, MD). Michael Hurst also lives in Norfolk.

Kevin Hurst lived in Virginia Beach and was about 16 years old. We believe that perhaps David and Richard were twiins, and about 4 or 5 years old at the time of my aunt's death.

I have learned that after my aunt died her husband, Al Marsh, took Kevin Hurst (his step-son) and the two younger boys and moved to the Baltimore area, perhaps to either White Marsh or Perry Hall.

And that is the point at which everyone seems to have disappeared. Since that time no one has ever seen Randy Hurst and his family, Michael Hurst or either of the two younger boys, Richard and David Marsh.

Kevin Hurst has been located.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of Randy (Philip Randall) (and Myrna) Hurst and their daughter, Michael Brandon Hurst, Richard Marsh or David Marsh I would like to contact them.

We believe the two youngest boys would not be about 40 years of age. We believe that Randy Hurst was born in about 1847-48 and that Michael Brandon Hurst was born in about 1950.