Resisting Reform

Michael W. Hudson cites a growing body of evidence that “fraud and predatory lending were open secrets in the mortgage business—and that finance executives condoned and encouraged an array of shady tactics in the hunt for bigger profits.” As Washington hashes out financial reform, he writes, “lawmakers need to demand that regulators show a real commitment to policing the banking and mortgage industries and put in place tough directives, including a requirement that lenders ensure that borrowers can afford their loans over the long haul.”