Obama to Send Approximately an Additional 34,000 Troops to Afghanistan; Why Not Use Them to Fix Housing Instead?

by Charles Feldman on December 1, 2009

obama sends additional troops to Afghanistan

Ever notice that governments are so much better at sending in troops for war then sending in help for domestic problems…such as homeowners facing or being in foreclosure?

The latest example, I think, is Afghanistan. The President has decided to deploy thousands of more troops (possibly 34,000 according to the Washington Post) to that hell-hole, and we will no doubt be in that country for years to come; maybe decades in one way or another?

Meantime, here at home, more and more people are losing their homes. The so-called mortgage modification program, thus far, not exactly a smashing success.

So, Washington is planning on making public the names of those mortgage lenders who are not reducing loans fast enough and even plans to send teams to visit some banks to nudge them along.

But here’s an idea: Why not send 10 thousand…no, make that 20 thousand….oh hell, let’s just say 40 thousand..U.S. Marines to each and every bank and lending institution across America as a way to…shall we say, urge them?…to step on the gas and modify mortgages at a far quicker rate than is currently the case.

If intimidation is the only thing that will work in Afghanistan, perhaps it is the best way to handle the domestic housing situation?

I don’t really think banks will be moved by published lists with their names on it displaying a big, scarlet letter.

But they just might be moved by the site of troops moving in!

Okay, I know this would be unconstitutional and all (too bad people being forced from their homes isn’t unconstitutional!) but, you have to admit, it’s a damn good fantasy. Or is it?

Photo: gopal1035


 

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Nick Johnson December 1, 2009 at 6:20 am

Didn’t Obama say when he got elected that he was going to be bringing troops home?

I’ve got a better idea, why not send the banks officials and executives to Afghanistan unless to fight until they change their mind.
.-= Nick Johnson´s last blog ..Realtors and Sub2 Deals =-.

Reply

2 Justin Pierce December 1, 2009 at 11:03 am

Wow, I don’t want to pay my mortgage could you exact some force on my bank?

On the other hand I really really don’t want to pay my neigbors mortgage.

As a former Marine of eight years, I don’t think it in my best interest to send my brothers at arms into the financial institutions of this country to win me the privilage of paying other peoples mortgages. Here’s an article I just saw today: http://www.housingzone.com/custombuilder/articleXml/LN1083768336.html?nid=2822&rid=10518479. Lenders are reluctant to give out loans that will help us jump start this economy. They can’t loan out money if people aren’t paying back the loans that are already out.

What Marines are fighting for is freedom. Freedom to pursue happiness with the obligation to bare the consequences of your action.

Reply

3 Tyler December 1, 2009 at 2:28 pm

The troops will come home as soon as we can bring them home without undoing everything that has been done in the last decade. Though personally I think that they never should have been over in that region anyway. -Tyler
.-= Tyler´s last blog ..Doug Fir Lounge =-.

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