The banks created systemic risk and hid behind a so-called third party AAA rating when they knew the securities were not stable...
Originally Posted by Karl Hungus
Sorry Karl - this one sentence captures how wrong and ignorant your entire narrative is. Why would the banks deliberately set out to create “systemic risk”? That doesn't pass the common-sense test. If you lived in a nice mansion, would you be trying to burn it down? One-third of all Lehman Brothers stock was owned by its own employees, who were big losers when the bank collapsed. Do you think they knowingly and actively worked to bring about their own demise?
Common sense says no.
The same banks that issue AAA securities also underwrite junk bonds. Do you accuse the banks of “hiding” behind the rating agencies when they sell BB+ or other junk-rated securities? It's up to the investor to evaluate the quality of each investment and decide if the return is commensurate with the risk, taking into account ALL information and not just relying on a Moody's or S&P rating without reading the analysis behind it. If you don't understand something, then don't buy it. That's
common sense.
Do you only invest in securities that are guaranteed to remain “stable” in value? If so, I guess you must keep all your money in cash or FDIC-insured deposits. Stocks and bonds trade up and down in value every day. Every bozo knows that. If you buy GM stock or bonds, do you expect it to remain “stable” as long as you own it? GM's sales go up and down, its earnings go up and down, its credit ratings go up and down... so
common sense tells us the prices of its stocks and bonds will go up and down too. Since housing prices and loan default rates can go up and down, the same holds true for MBS.
You seem more intelligent than many posters here, but your comprehension of banking and finance is deeply flawed. I suspect you may know better, but you keep pushing a false and misleading narrative because it serves the interests of greedy tort lawyers eager to sue whoever has the deepest pockets. Heck, you may even be one of them.
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