Congratulations to the millions of Americans who had big savings accounts, massive equity in their real estate and great and high paying jobs before the recession. Even more so to the ones who still do!

Millions of other American homeowners had not achieved such a lofty place financially. Some of them are young and just getting started on wealth-building. Some are less fortunate, less well-connected. Some are in the midst of personal calamity like a divorce, death in the family or are really sick themselves. Some are committed to causes that distract them financially, you know, like church, the environment, animal care and protection, etc. And, some just have prioritieslike teaching or preaching or other fields…that just don’t pay very well.

And, finally, another millions of other American homeowners participated in a horrendous and shameful scam that foolishly, greedily and sometimes fraudulently enabled them to borrow too much money from the banks who borrowed too much from Wall Street who borrowed too much from the world…oh, my!These characters not only used that money to purchase dwellings near and even in “good” neighborhoods way above their class but they had the audacity to actually move their families into them! Wow! Everyone seems to agree that these guys can be dealt with by foreclosure.

There are heroes and villains, struggling with foreclosure, in each group. In my work as a foreclosure consultant I get on the phone and across the table from hundreds of struggling homeowners each month. ‘The vast majority in three groups are heroes – Americans just trying to extend our heritage of restlessness and hope for a better life for our families.

I bristle when I hear the industry tools pander to wealthy and smug viewers by blasting the vulnerable members of the financial lower class. Without a doubt I have met just as many villains across the $18K dinner table as I have across the $180 one. Palos Verdes villains are scarily-similar to Compton ones.

So, let’s be nice! It’s the bad guys we’re after. Let’s bring criminals to justice but let’s lighten-up on the snootiness factor. And, after all, we all bought homes with the booty. It could have been worse!

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