From what I had time to read, WSJ article said that banks and mortgage lenders have been lending to higher risk applicants for a few years now, not neccessary to income groups that often contained minorities.

I won't directly refute the WSJ, because I don't have the time or will.  I will add to it however.  The "Affordable Housing" campain the government has been in effect since the 1990's.  Those people who blame free-market for the housing collapse should know that government has been meddling in housing loans for years.  Many places, the government has been changing the loaning policies where the housing was already affordable.  Some places did need intervention, however, as the cost of putting a roof over their head was about 1/2 of their income.  It would be tempting to blame free market for that also, but it was often the fault of government restrictions with nice names.

My source just happens to be Thomas Sowell because I was reading one of his articles before posting this.  I will probably come across another source in an hour or so.

http://townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2009/03/18/false_solutions_and_real_problems?page=1

Thomas Sowell is such a hack.  I'm not saying he can't ever make a good point but he's not anyone I respect.  About a month ago he had a column blaming the housing crisis on the CRA which is not only wrong but really old news -- that allegation was all over the internet many months ago, and he added absolutely nothing to the discussion. 

The failure of government in this was the REMOVAL of restrictions, not the addition of them.  Jackson's recent post is one I believe I agree with. 

May be true.  That is why it is not very good to rely on one source all the time.  I was just happening to be reading one of his articles that I used in the last post.

Anyway, I think we have said everything there is to say on the subject.  Always re-assuring to find people that are well informed out there, even if their views differ from my own.  Too often I find run into people whose views, whether they agree with mine or not, are formed from blissful ignorance.

Oh man, it is so nice when someone actually knows what they are talking about!

Then again, he might not be.

Funny thing about that word "might", it can swing both ways.

But its the dems fault! Plus all those people who took out loans they can't pay!

Forget the fact that companies are supposed to be responsible and try to make a profit....

Lol, good old Sallie Mae is hot, but Fannie is so much hotter.

Bush says hi

Obama might be the dumbest president we have ever had?

Well he just made fun of handicapped ppl on Leno with his Special Olympics joke.  Pretty dumb to me.