The Financial 'Crisis'

Am I the only one who thinks that it is somewhat galling that the banks and related financial institutions have been so imprudent and fiscally irresponsible in their financial dealings while at the same time berating their customers (you and me) for relatively minor lapses e.g., late payments? Similarly, many credit card companies have cut the limits on borrowing for customers who have never missed a payment or let their card limits get excessive.

Looking at the debt incurred by governments across Europe, one wonders what gives 'finance' ministers any credibility at all when large debt has been allowed to accrue through clear mismanagement and a failure to have a proper/valid/sensible/meaningful budget in the first place.

As seems to be the case, it is the 'ordinary' person who ends up footing the bill due to the incompetence and mismanagement shown. Currently there is a lot of blame being placed on others and talks that the Euro is crumbling. Perhaps if more meaningful controls were in place for financial institutions, laws against tax avoidance by large corporations, and better controls over lobbyists and politicians who take actions that result in their personal benefit, we would not be in this ridiculous mess.