[entropy12]

In 2008, borrowing on the credit card of housing price escalation came to an abrupt end.

I was amazed on finding out how many of the homes in our subdivision had borrowed more money (by extending their mortgage amounts) based on ever increasing values of their homes.

[ClearCase_guy]

I understand that. But, starting in 2008, this country began runnign trillion dollar annual deficits. So, when the article states that the era of "living beyond our means" ran from 1980 to 2007, I have a problem.

I recognize that the point being made is that the marketplace was skewed by easy bank lending, and that many private people spent more than they had, confident that things would just go up and up and up. That came to a halt when the housing bubble burst. But to say that -- and to say nothing more -- is to place the blame solely on banks and consumers within a (relatively) free market system. Those bad boys! They tried to live beyond their means! But that's all over with now!!

The point is that the damage done by government in "fixing" the mess is completely glossed over. Trillion dollar deficits? [shrug] I don't see an issue with that -- it's not like anyone is living beyond their means. We stopped all that, didn't we????