The Long Walk

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Let me begin by saying that this post does not refer to anyone in particular. But more importantly, it does not pertain to anyone that has had a real game changing incident to their way of life. I'm talking about perhaps a significant loss of income, a medical emergency, an earthquake, flood, or a huricane.

It does however refer to many people just like me. The average, everyday kind of guy. The kind of guy that pays his taxes, makes his loan obligations and generally is an honest dude. Most of the people I run with and see everywhere fit into this catagory.

Now, supposing this average kind of guy lived near Los Angeles or Las Vegas, had an average, everyday kind of job (perhaps in the public sector), and has been knocking down 80k for the past 5 years. So this average kind of guy, bought a home in 2005 for what he believed was a steal at 400k. He put little or no money down, and between him and his spouse made the $1800 mortgage payment without much of a struggle.

Nothing changed with this average guy during the next five years. He liked his home. He had the same job (although he agreed to accept 1 furlough day a month), his family was healthy, and he had a retirement building to take care of his needs later in life. Except..... the housing market turned sour and his home was worth 20% less that what he had paid.

So, after hearing a story on the news, this average kind of guy asks the bank to reduce his loan amount and cover his investment loss. Of course they refuse and he asks the government to do the same, and it too refuses. So..... following the advice of that mortgage expert he saw on television, he stops making his mortgage payment and banks the payments he had been making, and then dares the bank to come and get the house after he had banked nearly a year's worth of payments that were owed to the bank. Probably just about enough savings to buy another home.

You know, nothing had changed in his life since he walked out on his obligation. He still had his job, was making the mortgage, was fixing up the place, and really liked living there. But what made this average kind of guy to walk? In doing so, he lost his honor, his trust, and his ethics. He became a thief, and actually stole from many other people like me. But does that evenmatter to anyone except me anymore?

People like me lost their investment CD's, their stock values, and were left holding the bag. And their investments were also down 20%. No one bailed them out, and for me there is no where to walk even if I threw my ethics in the toilet right next to that average kind of guy.

You know, I don't feel sorry for this average kind of guy. Actually I pitty him. He was convinced to compromise his pride and walk, leaving someone else to pay his tab. And this downward spiral will continue as even our government is encouraging many more to just walk away.

All I can do is hope that the walk for him is very long and hard for those kind of guys.
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