Homeownership and the Fading American Dream

Making News

Alleged Iranian Assassination Plot Is Drawing Skepticism ()

In a Detroit federal court today, the so-called "underwear bomber" pleaded guilty to trying to blow up a plane to avenge what he called "the US wreckage of Muslim lands and property." The evidence against Umar Farouk Abdul-mutallab was overwhelming.  But there is some skepticism about yesterday's US claim that Iran plotted to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the US on American soil, working through a Mexican drug cartel. P.J. Crowley, a former spokesman for the US State Department, is now a research professor at George Washington University.

Guests:

• PJ Crowley: George Washington University, @PJCrowley

Main Topic

Homeownership and the Fading American Dream ()

Since the Great Depression, the US government has encouraged home ownership, most conspicuously with the homeowner's tax deduction. In the aftermath of the housing market collapse and the sub-prime mortgage scandal, President Obama promised help for millions of homeowners trying to avoid foreclosures. Now six million Americans are facing foreclosure, but new federal programs may be doing more harm than good. Instead of help with mortgage modification or refinance, desperate homeowners face a blizzard of paperwork and official errors with little or no supervision. Is homeownership all that it's cracked up to be?  If not, what are the consequences for the economy and a cornerstone of American culture?

Guests:

• Paul Kiel: ProPublica, @paulkiel
• Cembrye Ross: 14-year homeowner
• Alyssa Katz: Columbia Journalism School
• John Taylor: National Community Reinvestment Coalition

Links:

• Home Affordable Modification Plan (HAMP)
• Kiel on government's lack of oversight on foreclosure prevention program
• Katz's 'Our Lot: How Real Estate Came to Own Us'
• NCRC report on the impact of the foreclosure crisis on communities of color

Reporter's Notebook

Pennsylvania's Capital Declares Bankruptcy ()

It's been 20 years since Orange County, California filed bankruptcy under what's called "Chapter 9."  Now the capital of Pennsylvania, has invoked that little-used provision of the bankruptcy code. Harrisburg says it can't continue providing critical services at the same time it's paying off $300 million in debt for an incinerator project. The city council's attorney says Chapter 9 will give it bargaining power with creditors and the state, which is considering a takeover. Are other cities in trouble, too? We ask Michael Pogano, Dean of the School of Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Guests:

• Michael Pogano: University of Illinois at Chicago

Links:

• Recommendations of Harrisburg City Council