[expat_panama]

pre-2008 regulatory regime is what got us to 2008

That's that leftist party line but there are very little observable factors that point to a collapse in general prices being caused by not enough gov't interference.  Things like banks forced to make dodgy loans to minorities however can easily traced to coercion began a decade earlier.

free-marketeers and government hop into bed together

imho the very purpose of government is to serve the people whom they govern in order to defend their rights to pursue stuff like life and liberty.  There's neither life nor liberty if free people can't feed their families by buying and selling in market all the wealth they create.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Things like banks forced to make dodgy loans to minorities however can easily traced to coercion began a decade earlier.

Banks were more than happy to issue those loans, take their fees, and then bundle them up and sell them off to investors, lying about the risk.

[1010RD]

As an 82 or so day FReeper you'll have to provide proof that under-regulation is what caused the financial meltdown. As far as I know, there isn't a conservative economist or analyst holding that view. It's the perspective of Paul Krugman and the other Big Gov types.

Which are you, Bluewater2015?