Now, all of us who have lived within our means get the opportunity to bail out the ones who overspent. I heard on TV that this is a great deal for us. Somehow, I'm not convinced. These same overspending nitwits will do the same thing again. Why wouldn't they? They'll get bailed out with our money again.

My suggestion is to get as many credit cards as you can possibly get and then run them right up the max. That 's gonna be the next thing that gets bailed out and if you don't owe anything you're gonna lose again as you pay for the overspending of everyone else. And if you happen to be over 60 years old just spend, spend, spend. You'll die long before you ever get it paid off but you'll have fun up to the end. What the heck - you may as well wallow in foolish luxuries as much as everyone else.

I'm sure getting weary of paying the bills for those dumb clucks that overbought homes and cars and now expect the rest of us to save their sorry behinds.

Maybe I'll calm down after a nice cuppa coffee in Vassalboro? Do they take credit cards there?

hahahahahahaha

Not everyone losing their homes have overspent or lied about their income to get their mortgage. Many folks living in Maine are just one paycheck away from losing their home or apartment. All that needs to happen is a pink slip, medical crisis, furnace breakdown.

Anybody notice the number of mortgage company owners driving around Bangor in Hummers? Those guys are the crooks in all of this - fudging numbers so that low income people could qualify for junk mortgages.

To be sure you're special, always blame the other guy, especially if he/she appears to have done better than you

Live within your means and save as if your last dollar is spent.

Perfectly said Scollins327.

When you have no jobs in the area, there will be home foreclosures and renters that don't pay rent. Just basic economics. Maine has no jobs.

Saw a lady on TV that is facing eviction on a house she bought 10 years ago for $39,000. She now owes $140,000 on it, because she borrwed against the "equity" numerous times. Interestingly enough, she has nothing to show for all of the money she borrowed. She probably took all kinds of expensive vacations. I really don't feel sorry for her, in fact, people that dumb should not be allowed to own homes. Now, this is exactly the type of person we are going to be bailing out. This bull that Obama is spreading that she is not the type of person to be helped by his plan is just that, bull. It will be up to a judge, who will not do any due dilligence to see what brought on the persons's situation, and we, the people who played by the rules will pay for it. This is what Obama meant by "spreading the wealth around".

There are a few new jobs, but everyone can't be a topless waitress in a coffee shop.

Actually, stupidity by the mortgagor plays a part, but the mortgage companies in particular were driven salesmen. They ARE a bunch of crooks and "adjusted numbers" to get people into loans that they shouldn't have gotten into. There's more than enough blame to go around.

And the cost of living continues to rise, so taking out an equity line is a way to deal with things, to spread out the cost, while wages stay stagnant for decades on end. It's a "quick fix" to a harried lifestyle of getting the kids to school, going to work, paying the bills, soccer, basketball, etc., etc. Last equity line I took out was in 1988, but that's just me. Merrill Trust/Fleet/Northeast/Norstar, etc., etc., blah blah blah convinced me there was no longer any honor in banking. Just a bunch of greedy crooks. Paid off everything and didn't borrow for another 20 years.

There are ways to adjust to the economy, I am so tired of everyone blaming everyone else. WE just refinanced our home went from $1100. payment to $750 and we are a one income family. You have to make an effort to get out there and research what is available. WE went through the same mortagage co we already had and they were willing to help...most are.

The empathy and caring for your fellow mainiacs is touching--

Judge not, ol hoss, lest ye be----.

It's very sad to read some of these comments. Does anyone out there realize that the reason people are getting foreclosed upon has to do with our general economy? These folks aren't all deadbeats who spent every dime they could make or borrow on luxuries. These folks are OUR NEIGHBORS. They're in foreclosure due to things like factories closing down, the construction trade drying up, companies downsizing, the cost of heating oil, gas & electricty and a mountain of medical bills due to an unexpected illness - not to mention the huge number of preditory lending practices by lenders in the last few years. Folks who have been paying their mortgages uneventfully for years are finding that with real estate prices dropping, their home is now worth less than their mortgage loan - if you needed to re-finance due to loss of income - it's impossible. It can become the choice between paying the mortgage and keeping the heat on. I'm sure people would like to think that the citizens that are getting "bailed out" are the ones waltzing around in $40,000 cars and mink coats - it's less scary that way.

All interested in some facts go to Thomas Sowell, www.tsowell.com Click on column 2/18/09 Mr. Sowell lays out some facts regarding how we got to where we are today in this housing mess. I urge everyone to read it. Perhaps then we can all speak with some knowledge on the subject.

Anyone that takes out an equity line just to make ends meet is an idiot bangorian, I'm sorry, but if someone got to that point, and they had equity in their house, then they should have sold it instead of borrowing against it. It used to be that a home equity line of credit was intended to be to put back into the home, theoretically increasing it's value more. Don't kid yourself. Most people I know who are in trouble are the ones that a) had no dicipline, and b) spent the money on things they could have lived without.

I have freinds who did it even after I had laid it right out to them what was going to happen, they did not want to listen, they wanted more than they could afford to buy, so they levereaged themselves to the hilt to have it. I have no sympathy for them. They gambled, and they lost. As far as I'm concerned, it's between them and the bank.

Loooks like Obama the great uniter is just driving another wedge between two more groups, the group that made good decisions and the group that made bad decisions.

No, boogyman, it looks like you are driving that wedge with a sledgehammer.

Each time the government hands out OUR money to another bad business (that deserves to fold), consumer confidence drops even further, and so does the economy, which leads to more of OUR money going to bad businesses, another drop in consumer confidence, etc., etc. Obama is making things worse, not better. Things will eventually shake out and get better...and then Obama will claim he fixed everything. But, our children and grandchildren will be the ones to pay for his ridiculous mistakes.

We own a small business. Obama is going to raise our taxes. We, of course, must pass that expense on to our customers. So, if you think Obama is only raising taxes on the rich, think again! You'll all be paying for the tax increases that will affect successful small business owners.

let me guess markko, looking for someone else to pay your mortgage too?

I remember the commercials for Champion Mortgage. The mortgage company owner would say "When other banks say no, Champion says yes" with a grin on his face

I agree with other commets,Im maxing out my 10 cards as we speak,uncle sammy must have a little $ to help out a poor boy like me!!!!!!

the dollar is dying, along with our constitution. thank you rich rulers. way to pull the strings. "they" love to keep us down. who would do the dirty work?