700 billion dollars in perspective

So I was just listening (a little late, I know) to Friday's DemocracyNow, and they had a segment on the impending 700 billion dollar obscenity congress is about to roll over on.

One of the guests said he anticipates another 1 million foreclosures still to come over the next two years.

Offered as perspective, not a policy recommendation:

700 billion dollars is enough to give all 1 million defaulting mortage holders $700,000 dollars each.

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It would be a lot cheaper if the government simply paid off all those mortgages. I'm not saying it would be fair, just cheaper.

But then the banks don't profit over mortgages that are paid, they profit over the interest they bleed out of the payees. And the banks must make profits mustn't they?

By Robert Jase (not verified) on 28 Sep 2008 #permalink

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What is that for?