Agree entirely,Ross.  Before fingers get pointed at others, the underlying problem is individual financial responsibility.   Break the problem down to the lowest common denominator, and what you find is a person who borrowed money for a home that was unaffordable.  The houses of finance are to blame for making vehicles available for this type of borrowing.  When millions of people default, the houses of finance can only take so much strain, before they collapse.  The whole economy goes down the drain.  Now, the Government (who can least afford it), has to provide a "bail out"?   Why?  The only thing the Government did which is fiscally unconscionable was get us into a costly, hopeless war, helping to create the deficit, but I don't blame Government for this financial collapse.   And, it's not going to get better for a long time.