Sub-prime mortgages - even in the billions - were not enough to cause total financial implosion. However, CDO's (the value of which exceeded, I believe, $45 tri

Sub-prime mortgages - even in the billions - were not enough to cause total financial implosion. However, CDO's (the value of which exceeded, I believe, $45 trillion), most certainly could. So yes, yes, a hundred times yes. Fraudulently-rated CDOs were the heart and soul of the Crash. That, and extreme regulatory capture (which is something else that people who can't even afford home payments are unlikely to buy).