The linked article should be taken in context -- it was published almost a year ago, when the public attitude about lending practices was quite different (and t

The linked article should be taken in context -- it was published almost a year ago, when the public attitude about lending practices was quite different (and the nytimes does tend to reflect and follow public attitudes). For a sense of the period, look at this review of Senate Hearings on lending practices published the day before: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/business/23lend.html http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/business/23lend.html