If billionaires don't feel guilty about walking away from their debts, should homeowners?
By Daniel GrossPosted Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at 2:45 PM ET
Strategic defaultsthe phenomenon of people who could continue to make payments on the mortgages on their homes deciding to walk away from their obligationsare rising. According to the Wall Street Journal, strategic defaults are likely to exceed 1 million in 2009. This is making some worry about the very future of capitalism. Georgetown University business ethics professor George Brenkert told the Journal that borrowers who can afford to stay current are morally required to do so, and that were Americans to conclude they could just walk away from obligations, it would be disastrous. Mortgage Bankers Association CEO John Courson wondered about "the message they will send to their family and their kids and their friends?" Blogger Megan McArdle expressed disdain for people who chose to indulge themselves on consumer goods and services while not keeping current with their mortgages.
source http://www.slate.com/id/2239555/
By Daniel GrossPosted Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at 2:45 PM ET
Strategic defaultsthe phenomenon of people who could continue to make payments on the mortgages on their homes deciding to walk away from their obligationsare rising. According to the Wall Street Journal, strategic defaults are likely to exceed 1 million in 2009. This is making some worry about the very future of capitalism. Georgetown University business ethics professor George Brenkert told the Journal that borrowers who can afford to stay current are morally required to do so, and that were Americans to conclude they could just walk away from obligations, it would be disastrous. Mortgage Bankers Association CEO John Courson wondered about "the message they will send to their family and their kids and their friends?" Blogger Megan McArdle expressed disdain for people who chose to indulge themselves on consumer goods and services while not keeping current with their mortgages.
source http://www.slate.com/id/2239555/
