A rock-star economist says it’s much simpler than you think. Daron Acemoglu, M.I.T. Professor, and his collaborator have found that the wealth of a country is most closely correlated with the degree to which the average person shares in the overall growth of its economy. When the poorest and least educated citizens have some shot at improving their own lives—through property rights, a reliable judicial system or access to markets—these citizens do what it takes to make themselves and their country richer. A comparison of related countries bears this out, e.g. the Dominican Republic vs. Haiti (two halves of the same island!) or Thailand vs. Burma (now Myanmar). It has also been true historically that fairly open and prosperous societies can revert to closed and impoverished autocracies. (NY Times Magazine, 3/18/12)
Britain already has a tax on share trading. France has just proposed a new tax for every stock trade in their country, excepting bonds. It is time that the US set a miniscule tax on each Wall Street trade, raising tens of billion dollars annually with little impact on actual investment. Such a tax would reduce speculation and outrageous bankers’ bonuses. Only 1/20th of 1% on each Wall Street trade is proposed by the American Dream Movement. The resulting income could then be used toward Main Street job creation, i.e. benefiting the rest of us 99%.
VICTORY FIGHTING FORECLOSURES IN SAN FRANCISCO
A small neighborhood in San Francisco, California has come together to save neighbors’ homes from the foreclosures happening all over our country. Bernal Heights neighbors have joined together in Occupy Bernal Heights. 88 houses in this neighborhood with a population of 25,000 have been indentified as being in danger of foreclosure. Members of Occupy Bernal have been going door to door to these houses offering assistance for people who are faced with losing their homes. There are counselors available through various HUD and other housing agencies in San Francisco. Then there is the support from neighbors, which has proved invaluable.
Many of these houses have mortgages with Wells Fargo Bank. Members of Occupy Bernal, including homeowners at risk of losing their homes, have been in negotiation with elected officials and Wells Fargo executives. Up to this date, two housing auctions have been postponed due to community pressure. This will enable time for loans to be renegotiated and people to stay in their homes.
We are developing strategies to help our neighbors negotiate with the banks. Elected officials contacted by neighbors have been helping people meet with bank executives to negotiate. Banks are reporting record profits in this time of financial trouble, and there are ways to make them accountable to the people who have trusted them for their mortgages.
Here are some guidelines for helping neighbors facing default or foreclosure:
1. Identify neighbors either in foreclosure or in default, the step immediately preceding foreclosure. Default means that people have fallen behind on their mortgage payments, their property taxes, or insurance.
2. Contact HUD certified Foreclosure counselors in your county. These are found on HUD websites. Find out their availability for people.
3. Contact the foreclosee/defaultee. Tell them you are neighbors concerned about the impact of the foreclosure on the community. You are not experts on the issue, but know of some experts who would assist them if they want your help. Emphasize that you want to work with them to help them keep their homes, and preserve your community.
4. Connect them with a HUD certified foreclosure counselor. The counselor can assist them in negotiations with the lender at any point in the process if they sign a third party authorization form, available from the counselor, permitting them to contact the lender on the borrower’s behalf.
5. Neighbors, with the permission of the homeowner, could help get local media coverage of the situation.
6. Neighbors can also contact a local lender official and request a meeting.
7. Local elected officials can be contacted on the behalf of the homeowner, if they agree to help support their fight to stay in their home.
Here’s a short explanation of the foreclosure process and some information about predatory loans. The process of default or foreclosure begins when a homeowner is unable to pay his/her mortgage or taxes.
a. The lender can then call for them to pay all past charges, including any balloon payments or deferred interest.
b. If they don’t pay, the lender can place them in foreclosure.
c. Foreclosure can lead to the lender selling their property at a public auction.
d. If someone buys the property, the new owner can move to evict them.
Why are so many people in foreclosure or default? In our economy, with so many people out of work, people are falling behind on payments for their homes. Another reason is the predatory loans which some banks have been issuing to people. Predatory loans are often marketed to the vulnerable, people with poor credit or the inability to refinance under more favorable terms. Such loans often permit the borrower to pay only a portion of the interest on the loan for a period of time, say only 1% on a 6% loan for 3 to 5 years. Then, after that period, all of that deferred interest can be called in by the lender, often resulting in default followed by foreclosure, auction sale and eviction. This is just a short statement about a larger problem.
Yesterday, in New Hampshire, George Romney said he likes to FIRE PEOPLE.
BlueInGreene.org 