Billy the Great Khan
Uwaa OmO
Were the banks unaware of the laws regarding bankruptcy and default when they decided to massively expand their subprime portfolio in the 2000's, and, in particular, push risky adjustable rate mortgages on these unsophisticated borrowers? If so, tough shit, study the law better. If not, then clearly they should've been aware that they shared some responsibility in this. When a bank gives out a shitload of money which has a low chance of being paid back, and, lo and behold, doesn't get paid back, shaking your finger at the defaulter and blaming him isn't suddenly going to make the money reappear. The rules of the game clearly stated that you are not guaranteed to be repaid if the debtor can't realistically pay you back, nor can you reduce them to slavery like in the good old days. To counter this risk, which is an inherent part of the banking business, it was part of your job to judge the credibility of those you shoveled out money to.
Now, why did these banks shove out so many risky adjustable rate loans to people of little means? Because they were operating under the assumption that real estate prices never fall (I'm serious, there was an influential paper that made this case, and the banking industry bought it). The adjustable rate mortgages therefore, seemed like a good idea, as they allowed for low rates that these borrowers were capable of paying, low rates enabled by the real estate boom. And since real estate prices never fall, nothing could go wrong. Until 2006, when they did, and the low rates suddenly became a lot higher, high enough that a great deal of people found themselves unable to pay. It was, all and all, a really dumb idea, and I don't think I'm unjustified in finding fault with the people who came up with it. The people who accepted them were unsophisticated. And they paid for it, all that was legally required of them, and had their credit totally destroyed. But the fact is that these deals shouldn't have ever been offered in the first place, they seriously misjudged the credibility of their borrowers. And they should pay for that.
And when it comes to moral blame, I blame them, because they should've known better. This didn't happen just because a bunch of random debtors decided to default all at once, it happened because the bank offered loans it was stupid to offer.
And then they got bailed out, which to ME is the equivalent of saying "hey, I know you made a literally CATASTROPHIC mistake, but it's cool. We'll even let you do it again without any punishment".