[the invisib1e hand]

I AM A CAPITALIST, I JUST DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THE LITTLE GUY.

This is a marvelous point, and one that I think Marx sought to exploit. It's very simple. Capitalism is amoral (this of course is one place where Rand erred). However, it requires self-government to really reach it's fullest potential. There are times when the capitalist ought consider the plight of others (as in "not gleaning all your fields.") It's much better for everyone if it's done voluntarily rather than enforced by regulation. The institutionalization of anything ruins it if there is no room for the heart.

[Mr. Jeeves]

This is a marvelous point, and one that I think Marx sought to exploit.

No, it completely misses the point. machogirl, like a lot of Americans, has been tricked by mortgage industry propaganda and family folk wisdom into thinking she has to own a house, and therefore must go out and compete with all the speculators in her area. Instead, she needs to do what any good capitalist would do - play the other side of the trade. Rent, save her money, let the fools bid the prices up, and take advantage of them when the market gives way.

The market doesn't owe you a house at a price you can afford. But neither do you owe the market your money when the value for the dollar isn't there.

A capitalist is only the victim of a bubble if he or she chooses to be. There is always another way to play the game.

[sarasmom]

Capitalism is not amoral.
What is amoral are artificial hybrids of capitalism and (name your "ism")other ideologies.
Speculators must not be protected from their own bad bets any more than they should be punished for their remarkable savviness.
I have no sympathy for those who lost their speculative behinds in the dot-com fiasco.
How could they have believed themselves even mildly prudent in buying stock in companies whose only source of income was investment income?
In the coming real estate bust for greedy speculators, I say let the same rules apply.
You can make money and/or loose money but you can't claim bankruptcy for bad speculative judgments without paying a significant price.
Capitalism does not have a built in "get out of speculative debt free" clause.