IQ Check for Politicians

Last October I was invited to speak before a group of 60-75 realtors. The real estate market meltdown was the central topic of the meeting. Among five other guests, I was slated to speak third.

The first gentleman took to the lectern to speak, and I was stunned by his first words. He said, "Folks, I'm sorry to say the gravy train is over. No longer will you be able to close deals with two forms of ID and a handshake."

I leaned over and queried the lady sitting to my left to verify what I had heard. She replied that I had indeed heard the gentleman correctly. Two forms of ID and a handshake. No-down payment, no income verification, no credit check - two forms of ID and a handshake.

After the meeting I hung around for the mixer, and listened to agents lament the unfortunate turn of events. The utter on their cash cow had gone dry. Plans of how they were going back to previous jobs of store-clerking, hairdressing, fast food preparing and landscaping were overheard.

On the long drive home in traffic, I wondered how politicians, most of whom are alumni of prestigious universities, could let the meltdown happen. After all, it wasn't an overnight occurrence. It took years. By the time I stepped out of my car at my house I had determined that the mortgage mess was planned. Think about it. Who in their right mind would think it appropriate to approve un-vetted loans? I'm far from an Einstein, and I know better than that.

To my way of thinking this whole debacle was a means to an end. The endgame is the recently approved stupendous spending package that has more to do with radically changing government than stimulating the economy. If I'm wrong, and this wasn't some grand scheme, then we need to test the IQ of every politician in Washington. To continue to hold office, they must score 100 at the very least . Then again, I'm afraid both houses would be barren.

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