Reply #147: I'm seeing many posts that would not be out of place on Free Republic

[varelse]

And that's sad, especially as it seems the point is being missed here.

First of all, this woman's situation is being used to illustrate and highlight a much larger issue, yet many of you are focused entirely on how "stupid" or "greedy" or "dishonest" she hypothetically is... and so miss the larger story being told here, which is not promising for any of us in the middle class.

1) 70k in California isn't enough to support a family with two young kids, at least in any of the areas I've lived in - it seems like a lot of money if you live in an area with half the cost of living we "enjoy" here or more sane housing prices, but it really (honestly) isn't.
2)House prices here went into the stratosphere years ago - that "reasonable" mortgage some of you are citing doesn't exist - and property taxes have climbed with the prices. Still, a $2500 interest only arrangement is appalling, and it is sad that the couple (everyone crapping on the woman here seems to forget the house purchase was a joint decision) fell into that trap.
3) This is a community property state, and "getting out of the house" may require cooperation from the estranged husband
4) If she becomes homeless or must allow the bank to foreclose on the house, it will hurt her chances in any upcoming custody battle
5) She's obviously new to being suddenly single, unemployed, poor, and in need of charity which a year ago she might have donated to or volunteered at, and for most of us, this kind of ignorance is bliss... until we are in a position to need that knowledge.

It really could happen to you - it might take a little more to bring you down than it took this family, but a medical crisis or job loss of one or both "breadwinners" in your family could also put you right there behind her in the food line.

This paragraph sums up the point that is being illustrated by the plight of this one ex-middle class family:

Stories like Guerrero's are becoming more common as middle-class Americans feel the pinch of an economic downturn, rising gas prices and a housing crunch, especially in a state like California that has been rocked by foreclosures.

There's the real problem, and all the vitriol you could possibly aim at ONE person caught in this massive, nationwide crisis isn't going to change that terrifying trend - or protect any of YOU from getting caught in it yourselves.