'Occupy' Architecture!

The 'Occupy Wall Street' protests have been winding down, without any clear list of demands and results.  Maybe because no one clear purpose was ever identified, it has caused people to think about what they think it could mean.   It has been successful at directing some attention to the fact that many people are upset about the influence of wall street in politics, banker bailouts, and (hopefully) the role of the Federal Reserve.  It has been portrayed as a battle of the 99% against the 1%, Wall Street vs. Main Street.  

Architecture and Construction has suffered from the housing crisis.  Now that millions of homes have been foreclosed and people forced out of their homes, these empty homes are un-occupied.  Banks have been unwilling to negotiate loan terms and sell homes for less than what is owed.  The homeless and occupy protestors form tent cities in public parks. 

The Federal Reserve Rescue effort has committed 6.4 trillion dollars to backstopping bad loans, keeping the banking system liquid.  This is in addition to 4.6 trillion for TARP and other Federal Government stimulus programs, 1.2 billion in quantitative easing.   The Federal Reserve Rescue effort alone equals $20,456 per each American. Through quantitative easing, the U.S. government  and Federal Reserve increased member bank reserves by 1.2 billion. The U.S. government then sold US Treasury Bonds to obtain this loan, with treasuries bought back by the Federal Reserve, collecting 2% interest on the loan in the process. Our children and grandchildren will be paying for this 'stimulus' well after we are gone.

With Americans on the streets and looking for work, banker CEO's collect obscene pay and year end bonus's.  Disband the private banker cartel known as the Federal Reserve and return creation of wealth to Congress and the American people.  Make home loans to Americans for 2% interest.  Americans now pay seven times the original cost of a home, working most of a lifetime to pay off a 30 year mortgage.   Why should US taxpayers and homeowners backstop the bank's mistakes?