The banks and their investors with the 'go ahead and loan at 100% of appraised value' is one culprit, the other was no one had any control over the
oil situation as the 'speculators' factored in the proposed India/China consumption, plus no drilling in the good old USA and saw the perfect opportunity to make moola. Homeowner stupity is correct and that's not the governments job to micro managed every homeowner. As for bush, I'll gladly accept the fact we have not suffered a terrorist attack since 9/11.