'Standing Up for Consumers', by Richard Cordray

[Tx4obama]

Richard Cordray
Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Standing Up for Consumers
01/04/12

Today, I was appointed by President Obama to serve as the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I am honored by this opportunity to continue my work on behalf of consumers. And I am energized by the responsibilities and challenges facing the Bureau.

The importance of this day has less to do with me personally and much more to do with you -- and the millions of individuals and families across the country who access consumer financial markets every day to participate in our economy and to pursue their dreams and aspirations. That's because now, with a Director, the CFPB can exercise its full authorities -- with respect to both banks and nonbanks -- to help those markets operate fairly, transparently, and competitively.

Consumer finance is a big part of our economy -- and it plays a large role in the daily life of almost every American. Few people spend their entire lives with so much wealth available to them that they never need to borrow money. Whether it is to pay the bills and meet their everyday needs, or to finance larger investments in their futures like an education or a home, most people find it necessary to use financial products to access credit.

Financial products can help make life better, but they can also make life harder. Most of us know at least someone -- a parent or sibling or friend -- who has money troubles. Sometimes, those troubles are caused by a tough break or just not having enough money to go around; other times, by a poor decision. But sometimes, those consumer money troubles arise out of problems in the consumer financial markets. I have seen senior citizens lose their life savings to scams and fraud. I have seen young adults start their lives with crushing student loan debt burdens that they cannot afford. I have seen families bankrupted, and thrown out of their homes, by complex mortgages with spiraling interest costs and monthly payments that were never clearly explained.

SNIP

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-cordray/standing-up-for-consumers_b_1184002.html

[slay]

1. Nice

i think he'll be good. k&r.

[99th_Monkey]

2. I've warmed up to the "consumer" meme since the late 80s

way back then, consumerism was getting foisted upon me by my own chosen degree path, ironically enough.

now, I've come to appreciate it -- at least from a reformist point of view -- as a useful enough word,

to communicate to the 1% on a regular basis,

hello? 1%? Listen up. You need US to buy your freaking products and services,

and we can't do that with cut wages and pink slips.

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

3. Another government agency to "protect us."

I guess the other ones just needed more help.

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
The Consumer Credit Protection Act
The Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/index.shtml

[Tx4obama]

4. It might be a good idea to ...

do a little research on 'The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau' - which Elizabeth Warren fought to have created

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

5. Ms. Warren is no doubt a very sharp and well educated woman.

However, if someone is unable to comprehend a Truth In Lending Disclosure Statement, there is not a whole lot she, or anyone else can do for them.

The FTC was supposed to protect investors from people like Bernie Madoff. The results of that "protection" speaks for itself.