Protests at Eviction
It becomes ever clearer to me that I just don’t understand. Somehow people have this insane notion that they’re entitled. Period. Entitled. To cars, to food, to a job, to a house, to everything that anyone else has. People seem to believe that these things are guaranteed to them, as opposed to things that have to be earned and paid for. For example, an eviction was postponed in Dorchester today. Why? Because people got together and protested the eviction with signs that read “housing is a human right“. That’s lovely and it would be heartwarming and meaningful if the woman was being chased off her property for some poorly implement Eminent Domain case, or because she refused kickbacks to the Mayor’s office. Problem is, the woman was being evicted because she defaulted on her loan and was no longer meeting her obligations or paying her bills. Since they weren’t being paid, the bank, which was unfortunate enough to pick up her mortgage, foreclosed on her home. She no longer owns that home, because she didn’t meet her responsibilities. She wouldn’t even pack because “God” was on her side. As far as I’m concerned, she’s squatting on the property and should be evicted.
I’m sure I’m coming across as a cold-hearted bastard here. I’m sure she’s had it tough trying to make ends meet and take care of her kids. I’m sure that when the interest on her mortgage changed, she suddenly founds herself unable to afford the once cheap loan. I’m sorry she got herself into that situation and couldn’t find a way out, but you know what? She’s the one who got herself there. I’m sure the company who originally financed her loan, who is no longer allowed to operate in Massachusetts (one assumes for predatory lending practices, but in Massachusetts it could just as easily be because they didn’t bribe the right politicians), was eager to get her money and almost certainly didn’t help her make a wise decision, but you know what? It was still her decision to make. She signed the loan. She agreed to the terms. She’s, get this folks, RESPONSIBLE. I know that’s a dirty word these days, but it’s the truth (another dirty word).
No one said owning a house was a right. No one said renting a room was a right. Ask the homeless and they’ll tell you exactly how few rights there are to owning a home or renting a room. You get those things by being able to pay for them. You live within your means. You start living outside of those means or starting thinking that you’re somehow entitled to own a home and that’s when the trouble starts. Then when those promises of easy payments and low interest *cough*forthefirstfiveyears*cough* come in, you turn off that part of your brain that says, “maybe I shouldn’t sign a legally binding document that will force me to make payments that I can barely swing without some outside advice, or maybe some bigger savings.” If you were really lucky, that inner voice would tell you to only buy what you knew you could afford, or just keep renting because not everyone is destined to own a home. Because guess what, you’re NOT ENTITLED TO OWN A HOME. No one gave you a certificate at birth guaranteeing home ownership, so stop acting like it’s your right. And when the bank comes asking for their money, don’t act like they’re the big bad wolf. They want you to make good on your legally binding agreement. They’re not in business for the charity of it all, they’re in business to provide a needed service and make a profit doing so. If you think they’re so evil, maybe you shouldn’t have gotten into bed with them in the first place? But now that you have, you have to make good or accept the consequences. You’re not the victim here.
Of course, the group that came to her aid and organized the protest would argue every point I just made. Just looking at their site tells you how deluded these people are. And I quote:
The most affected targeted households consist of women, African American and Latino at every income level. City Life/Vida Urbana is helping tenants and owners in foreclosed buildings, both victims of subprime loans, save their homes.
A few of things in this one little chunk:
- “…targeted households” - this statement strongly hints that they believe that the banks are picking on specific people, as though it were a *GASP* conspiracy!
- “…victims of subprime loans” - how can someone who voluntarily signed a loan agreement be a victim? Not understanding what you’re signing doesn’t make you a victim, it makes you an idiot for signing it without grasping what it is you’re signing.
- “…save their homes” - once they defaulted on their payments and the banks foreclosed, the homes are no longer theirs. Stop implying ownership where none exists.
My absolute favorite quote on their site? On their “About Us” page: “Our resident-led research into mortgage lending patterns uncovered widespread discrimination against Latino mortgage-seekers and pressured the three largest banks in Boston to increase loans to Latinos by 25% each year.” So wait a second…first they fought to get Latinos loans, now they’re fighting to prevent Latinos from being foreclosed on because they’re not paying those loans (and I quote again: “The most affected targeted households consist of women, African American and Latino at every income level”)? What kind of fantasy world do these people live in, and what do I need to drink to get there?
It all comes down to something that people have evidently forgotten about (and probably have for a long time): personal responsibility. Make the best with what you have. Work as hard as you can and do the best you can. When people stop taking responsibility for their actions and start doing things like not paying their bills, what do they think happens? Look at home many companies have gone out of business. Look at how many people have lost their jobs. Look at how everyone is predicting recession, which will cause everyone to suffer. Were the subprime loans a bad idea? Sure! But it takes two to sign a loan agreement. Just because you can’t afford it anymore doesn’t mean the bank who holds the loan doesn’t have a right to try and recoup their losses. You don’t pay, you don’t own. Get out. Don’t protest, don’t trash the place, just pack up your things and show a little dignity in the face of your mistakes. Ask for help, sure. Try to negotiate a new agreement, sure. Get assistance. But don’t “fight for your rights” when those rights don’t exist. When you don’t pay, the bank suffers. When the bank suffers, profits go down. When profits go down, jobs get cut. If profits keep falling, banks close. The economy suffers, more people lose their jobs. Suddenly your imaginary right to own your home that you can’t afford is fucking up the lives of more than just those of you and your family. Good work, assholes.
Accept responsibility and start rebuilding now.
