Originally Posted by
Xei
In what sense was it 'predatory lending'? How can lending even be predatory? It's the mutually agreed giving of money. -_-
The purpose of businesses who lend is to make a profit. If they couldn't do this they wouldn't be able to exist.
If somebody offers you a large amount of money for an annual fee, that is their prerogative. If you think it's a terrible deal, say no to them. That is your prerogative. If you think it's a good deal, say yes. It's not rocket science, and it's not sinister.
If you later find that you aren't actually able to pay the fee, that is entirely your fault, and you should never have accepted the deal.
And what exactly happens in this circumstance? You go bankrupt, and the lender loses all their money. Again, what do you think is wrong with this; why do you think the lender would desire this?
What happened pre crisis was not predatory lending, it was stupid lending. The debtors were stupid and greedy, and the creditors were completely stupid.
There is nothing morally wrong with the lending itself. The natural outcome should have been that the people in debt who couldn't pay go bankrupt and lose their assets, and those who lent the money lose everything (with the additional outcome that the remaining lenders are less stupid and incompetent).
The thing that was morally wrong is that this did not happen, and instead of the lenders losing their money, they were reimbursed through the general public being forced to pay for them.
If have the sense to agree with this then you are economically right wing, congrats.