Who caused the global fiscal crisis?

I'm still neck deep in dialog with my conservative Republican friend who is continuing to carry the Republican mantra that the global fiscal crisis is solely due to the actions (pressure) from Barney Frank and Chris Dodd.

I have been debating this issue for a couple of days now. As a former politician I fail to see how two pols could have had this kind of power and influence left unchecked by the other side. If Barney Frank pressured the lender to make predatory loans to those who could not afford them, why did the Republicans not expose what was going on?

As I said to my friend, the directive to the bankers to cease red lining and not making loans to low to moderate income areas of the country was good policy. No one directed the bankers to make faulty, and in some cases illegal, loans.

You have any thoughts on who might be responsible?

Regulations and regulators

I'm giving some thought to doing a column on regulations and regulators. I'm one who believes that keeping track of entities and corporations is probably not a bad idea, because arguaby, left to their own device some corporations and corporate executives will gladly do wrong.

These guys bear watching. That said, should they all be treated as guilty until proven innocent? I have some first hand knowledge on the subject and would welcome your thoughts on the matter.

I expect to write the column on Sunday and publish it in the Bennington Banner a week from Saturday.

Stay tuned