Critics say new mortgage aid effort for Fannie, Freddie loans doesn't go far enough
politics, nanny state, funding, crisis, congress, socialism, liberalism
Once again, no amount of government involvement is ever enough
November 11, 2008, by ALAN ZIBEL
Once again, the government has offered another plan to help troubled homeowners. Once again, critics say it doesn't go far enough. The plan announced Tuesday by federal officials and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sounds sweeping in its approach: Borrowers would get reduced interest rates or longer loan terms to make their payments more affordable.
But there's a catch. The plan focuses on loans Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee. They are the dominant players in the U.S. mortgage market but represent only 20 percent of delinquent loans.