Just when you thought the economic doom and gloom couldn't get any worse in the news, "Good Morning America" has determined recession is now causing arson.
"We have news this morning on the home foreclosure front, word that cash-strapped homeowners are taking desperate measures," ABC co-host Diane Sawyer said.
The February 11 "GMA" has determined "cash-strapped homeowners" are taking "desperate measures," that is they are burning down their homes to avoid foreclosure. That notion ABC's Bianna Golodryga based upon two isolated cases of anecdotal evidence.
One home supposedly burned because Sheryl Christman, a 38-year-old Michigan woman, was three days short of foreclosure. She pleaded no contest after the Sept. 1, 2007 arson. The other case was a Colorado arson where a man "may have" committed arson before an "imminent foreclosure."
"Investigators think that may have happened at this home in Woodland Park, Colorado," ABC News correspondent Bianna Golodryga said. "It too burned to the ground just days before foreclosure."
But even Golodryga said some of these arson cases are just coincidence. "Experts say that's all they have right now - coincidences," Golodryga said.
Sawyer led into the story citing an Associated Press/IPSOS Poll that indicated 61 percent of Americans "believe" we are in a recession and that is causing these "desperate measures." She cited that poll even though economists can't tell whether the country is in a recession or not - until the official data come out much later.
"Desperation abounds out there," Sawyer intoned at the segment's close.
The glum attitude about the economy Sawyer tied to these arsons is brought on by a lot of recession talk in the media, according to CNBC's Maria Bartiromo.
"[W]ell, it really is all about perception right now," Bartiromo said on the February 10 "NBC Nightly News." "Everybody is trying to figure out, are we in a recession? Are we not in a recession? The fact is, ["Nightly News" anchor] Lester [Holt], it doesn't matter. We're already talking ourselves into a recession, and that's the bottom line. Worries about losing your job, the headlines out there, the wild swings on Wall Street that you mentioned - it's already impacting people. They're pulling in their purse strings. They're spending less and that is begetting more fear. Fear begets fear. And that really is the bottom line here."
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I'm not sure how burning down your house
February 11, 2008 - 16:02 ET by YahooWatchergets you off the hook from your mortgage. The insurance company isn't going to pay you if you're the one who lit the fire. They might pay the bank. However it works out, the bank and /or the insurance company will want their money back so the arsonist will end up being on the hook for the amount of the claim once they get out of jail on the felony arson charge. I guess ABC thinks jail time and restitution are good alternatives.
I'm surprised ABC didn't investigate further to find some nonsense like - Sheryl Christman was duped by a banker who used to work for Halliburton who therefore is part of the evil Bush administration, who therefore...(insert: tax cuts for the wealthy, Iraq, impeach GWB, global warming, etc.)
Exactly YW...you beat me
February 11, 2008 - 16:11 ET by bigtimerExactly YW...you beat me too it...I agree totally with your sentiments.
This is beyond ridiculous...far beyond.
they better be ready to pay the consequences...I don't think Pelosi/Schumer and other leftists are going to be able to personally bail these non-responsible twits out...bad enough what the govt. is doing already to put it mildly when it comes to personal responsibility.
Pathetic...that goes for the msm too for this B.S. I would hold them responsible for perpetuating anymore copy-cats if it happens, let the networks pay some...big time.
Wait a minute, bt...
February 11, 2008 - 18:09 ET by motherbeltWait a minute, bt.... those insurance companies are going to be taking advantage of those poor people when they prove arson by owner and refuse to pay!!!
Next up: Will Her Royal Clintoness call for a moratorium on all arson investigations of home fires?
LOL mb.... Shhhh! Don't
February 12, 2008 - 01:04 ET by bigtimerLOL mb....
Shhhh! Don't go giving the smartest woman in the world any fresh idea's....we'll end up paying for it in the long run as always if she and her ilk get wind of this and get their way...
YW,
February 11, 2008 - 18:15 ET by R D HelmI guess ABC thinks jail time and restitution are good alternatives.
Well, in that event, at least they won't be ahh, homeless.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe
ONLY FOR BU$HITLER!!!
February 11, 2008 - 18:17 ET by SchnikeysONLY FOR BU$HITLER!!! LAWLZ!!!1
....
Much more so when facing crushing debt
February 11, 2008 - 18:44 ET by Ten7sBut 80% are irrational on a good day, much more so when facing crushing debt and the pain and humiliation of bankruptcy and/or foreclosure. And depending on the personality and character of the individuals (who we know have engaged in the reckless abuse of credit), they will react in various ways, including (but hopefully in small numbers) criminal activities like arson, embezzelment, theft, etc. One thing is for sure, they aren't about to catch a sudden wave of personal responsibility, but will surely vote to have the rest of us bail them out through higher taxes and gov't programs (which of course will not work). OTOH those of better character (among the credit abusers) may at least pass their very hard-learned lessons on to their children and grandchildren.
One must always keep in
February 11, 2008 - 16:14 ET by ConservativeRexOne must always keep in mind that these are the very same people that said that "haters" were writing racial epithets on dorm room doors, not true. That Chevrolet trucks were blowing up, even in minor wrecks, again, not true. And on and on. So in mediaspeak, there was one sick puppy that ran out of money and burned his home down, and THAT constitutes an "epidemic".
When I hear one of the Big Three unequivocally state some thing as fact, my cynicism kicks into high gear.
GMA arson
February 11, 2008 - 16:15 ET by Six String SpiffSo, would be ok to burn down ABC's news building? I hear they are shrinking in staff and need help footing the bills :-)
For all you libtards out there, that was called SATIRE
Al Gore's coming!
February 11, 2008 - 16:45 ET by ammo johnYou sure they aren't spontaneously burning down from global warming?
These 'arsonists' should pay carbon credits for the smoke and pollution caused by burning their own homes down.
gw spontaneous
February 12, 2008 - 08:59 ET by fishshakergw spontaneous combustion...good one. IYAAYAS???
"Recession Causing Medical
February 11, 2008 - 17:12 ET by Sonny Lykos"Recession Causing Medical Problems in Seniors"
My portfolio dropped during the last two weeks. And last week I fainted twice while working in the heat and humidity. I'll call GMA, get on their show and tell them it was due toe recession fears.
GMA blew it
February 11, 2008 - 17:29 ET by Lame CherryGMA had the ultimate story here and blew it by only talking about recession.
The story should have read:
Evil George Bush who says crazy John McCain is a Conservative caused the recession so now people are burning down houses making themselves environmental criminals by polluting mother earth by making her lungs dirty and adding to climate change, so we need mother Clinton to breast feed the nation back to health as dirty lungs cause sickness along with papa Obama to lead us to the promised land in his RFK MLK I have a dream of a homosexual in every family and an Oprah in every African government.
Fear begets fear and Obillary will sow the seeds of love, peace, joy, and a clean environment thank you very much I would love to be Miss Teen America...........oooopppsss wrong card left over from Diane Sawyer's beauty pageant days.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Hot Air
February 11, 2008 - 17:45 ET by VonuTalking causes recession, recession causes arson. Sounds like a lot of hot air to me.
This is one of those "Wtf?"
February 11, 2008 - 18:01 ET by SchnikeysThis is one of those "Wtf?" moments, undoubtedly.
Money Honey Hang UP
February 12, 2008 - 07:53 ET by VonuThis is the second time NB has rolled out the Maria Bartiromo's afirmation that. "We're already talking ourselves into a recession, and that's the bottom line."
What does this mean? That information is being shared. People talking about what is going on in their lives has set us on course for recssion. Ironic that her job is to disseminate financial information. Maybe there is a connection or perhaps she is repeating what "Fed and Friends" told her to say:
The Fed has done a lot of talking about the
psychology of the markets and the market participants. It seems that
since the deflationary death spiral in 1929 was a panic, the Fed has to
be very conscious of what investors are thinking- what investors see
and focus on.
That is why the Fed is more worried about inflationary expectations that inflation itself. It is the Behavior of the people the Fed and Banksters fear. Right now most people are happy to believe that inflation is low. Even in face of reality.
Why the neo cons and McCannites protect Fed and Friends to their last breathe is beyond me. Ever read about Andrew Jackson and his battle against the Central Bank. There was an American Hero that Obama should emulate. He has no match for the Genuis win at New Orleans. But if he took on the banksters and the Fed he would have my vote. And a couple of my Jacksons, too.
The above quote is from Goldrunner at Gold-eagle.com. Prof. Fenkete has a new post there as well. I hope someone will open their minds and look into what is going on. Because the Economic ignorance of the political Right is on constant display and it alarms me.
Freedom is a vital component of human effectiveness and fulfillment.
FUNNY...
February 11, 2008 - 18:47 ET by danybhoyI thought from the photo that this was another David Shuster story. After all, his career IS in flames, right?
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
Arson
February 11, 2008 - 21:46 ET by Cool Arrow"Drastic measures" sounds more like "civil disobedience" than the felonious act that it is.
I guess Andrea Yates took drastic action too.
♣ a seal
Boring . . . Their main
February 12, 2008 - 01:56 ET by jdhawkBoring . . .
Their main demographic of 50+ was probably asleep by this time in the broadcast anyway.
Change the channel or just turn it off . . .