[duke_sam]

I understand that differences of opinion can exist on the function of the government and it's interference in private commerce but seriously:

"First, the proposed settlement only calls for loan modifications that would produce a greater “net present value” than foreclosure — that is, for offering deals that are in the interest of both homeowners and investors. The outrageous truth is that in many cases banks are blocking such mutually beneficial deals, so that they can continue to extract fees."

Can we not all agree that practices like that are predatory and an abuse of power? I really want to hear an argument about how an institution that holds as much sway over someones life as a mortgage holder would be justified in taking actions like this. The Republican party is traditionally ani-government intervention but they are elected by people, a non-trivial number of whom have to be getting screwed as badly by this as people who vote Democrat. I can't really see any grey area here unless the article is grossly misrepresenting the facts of the situation.