<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><a href="http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/13013-van-jones-underwater-voters-have-message-for-obama">http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/13013-van-jones-underwater-voters-have-message-for-obama</a><div><br></div><div><h1 class="txttitle">Underwater Voters Have Message for Obama</h1><p class="txtauthor">By Van Jones, Reader Supported News</p><p class="date">19 August 12</p><div> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p><p><img src="http://www.readersupportednews.org/images/stories/alphabet/rsn-S.jpg" border="0">sk
a political reporter, and they'll tell you the biggest story of the
past week was Romney's selection of Paul "End Medicare" Ryan as his
running mate. (I'll have more to say on him, soon). But that's not the
only story. If you look more closely at what's been happening over the
last week, you'll see hints of what we'll all be talking about in
October: homes.</p><p class="indent">Remember how the banks shattered the housing market
and got a helping hand from the American taxpayer? Well, those taxpayers
are still in trouble, five years later. 1 in 3 <a href="http://economywatch.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/05/23/11835006-one-in-three-mortgage-holders-still-underwater?lite" target="_hplink">mortgages</a>
is underwater -- meaning 40 million Americans owe the bank more than it
is worth in today's new, post-bubble market. And it's not just
homeowners who are affected! When people are putting the extra cash they
save up toward their big loan balance instead of a night out or a new
TV, it's a drag on our economy. Federal Reserve Chairman <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/10/bernanke-blame-housing-market_n_1268918.html" target="blank">Ben Bernanke</a> agrees that the housing crisis is blocking our economic recovery.</p><p class="indent">If numbers alone don't break your heart, maybe stories
will. Jaime Gonzalez, a retired police officer and grandfather, is one
of those underwater homeowners and voters. He is losing his shirt trying
to keep up with interest payments on his modest Florida home, but is
unable to refinance or sell while his home is underwater.... (go to link for rest of story)</p><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/13013-van-jones-underwater-voters-have-message-for-obama">http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/13013-van-jones-underwater-voters-have-message-for-obama</a></div><div><br></div></p></div></body></html>