So there was a blog last night that started a discussion that will now continue here.

We need discourse...not partisan fighting. A conversation on the two major party candidates and their positions.

This is not from hearsay, it is from their own websites.

These are their stated positions and this discussion is not a place to bash others for their feelings and positions.

We as adults have the obligation to find out what these points are and use them to make a decision about our collective futures.
Forget who your union says you need to vote for.
Use that thing between your ears and decided for yourself who is the one who supports what you feel is best for our country. This is after all America and it is your duty to do your own research...not listen to Rush Limbaugh, Alan Colmes, SeanHannity, or any other pundit spewing their brand of spin.

I am not going to put my support behind either candidate and will not give my opinion as to who is best suited to do the job. Only put out the information that they the candidates have put out on these positions...

First up is the houseing crisis. I have very strong opinions about this subject and rather than give you mine will simply insert the candidates own words on the matter.

Obama
Protect Homeownership and Crack Down on Mortgage Fraud

Create a Universal Mortgage Credit: Obama will create a 10 percent universal mortgage credit to provide tax relief to homeowners who do not itemize. This credit will provide an average of $500 to 10 million homeowners, the majority of whom earn less than $50,000 per year.
ECONOMY

Ensure More Accountability in the Subprime Mortgage Industry: Obama has been closely monitoring the subprime mortgage situation for years, and introduced comprehensive legislation over a year ago to fight mortgage fraud and protect consumers against abusive lending practices.

Obama’s STOP FRAUD Act
provides the first federal definition of mortgage fraud, increases funding for federal and state law enforcement programs, creates new criminal penalties for mortgage professionals found guilty of fraud, and requires industry insiders to report suspicious activity.

Mandate Accurate Loan Disclosure: Obama will create a Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit (HOME) score, which will provide potential borrowers with a simplified, standardized borrower metric (similar to APR) for home mortgages. The HOME score will allow individuals to easily compare various mortgage products and understand the full cost of the loan.

Create Fund to Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosures: Obama will create a fund to help people refinance their mortgages and provide comprehensive support to innocent homeowners. The fund will be partially paid for by Obama’s increased penalties on lenders who act irresponsibly and commit fraud.

Close Bankruptcy Loophole for Mortgage Companies: Obama will work to eliminate the provision that prevents bankruptcy courts from modifying an individual’s mortgage payments. Obama believes that the subprime mortgage industry, which has engaged in dangerous and sometimes unscrupulous business practices, should not be shielded by outdated federal law.

McCain
Home Plan

John McCain believes there is nothing more important than keeping alive the American dream of owning a home. Priority number one is to keep well-meaning, deserving home owners who are facing foreclosure in their homes.

John McCain's approach to helping sub-prime or other financially strapped mortgage borrowers is built on sound principles:
• No taxpayer money should bail out real estate speculators or financial market participants who failed to perform due diligence in assessing credit risks. Any assistance for borrowers should be focused solely on homeowners and any government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk.
• Any policy of financial assistance should be accompanied by reforms that promote greater transparency and accountability to ensure we never face this problem again.

John McCain has proposed a new "HOME Plan" to provide robust, timely and targeted help to those hurt by the housing crisis.
Under his HOME Plan, every deserving American family or homeowner will be afforded the opportunity to trade a burdensome mortgage for a manageable loan that reflects their home's market value.
• Eligibility: Holders of a sub-prime mortgage taken after 2005 who live in their home (primary residence only); can prove creditworthiness at the time of the original loan; are either delinquent, in arrears on payments, facing a reset or otherwise demonstrate that they will be unable to continue to meet their mortgage obligations; and can meet the terms of a new 30 year fixed-rate mortgage on the existing home.

John McCain's HOME Plan Will Keep 200,000 To 400,000 Families From Losing Their
Homes. "But at the same time, McCain is calling for aggressive federal action to help keep
200,000 to 400,000 families from losing their homes. That plan has many of the elements of a proposal by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., requiring participating lenders to forgive part of the loan principal and then write a new loan that would be backed by the federal government through the Federal Housing Administration."
(Tom Raum, "Everyone's Invited: McCain Economic Plan Draws From Both Parties," Tucson Citizen, 4/17/08)

• How It Works: Individuals pick up a form at any Post Office or download the form over the Internet and apply for a HOME loan. The FHA HOME Office certifies that the individual is qualified, and contacts the individual's mortgage servicer. The mortgage servicer writes down and retires the existing loan, which is replaced by an FHA guaranteed HOME loan from a lender.

John McCain will bolster groups like Neighborworks America that provide mortgage assistance to
homeowners in their communities.


Ground Rules:
1. Do not attack others for their opinions, no matter how inane they might seem.
2. Refer to rule 1
3. Put some thought into your answers...dont just run your mouth before engaging your brain...just a thought.
4. Have some class, this is an adult discussion.
5. Have an open mind...you might just learn something!