Morning Vid: Explaining the Financial Crisis with Musical Theater

Max Fisher 10 Views Apr 12, 2010

Who is to blame for the financial crisis? Is it irresponsible borrowers taking out bigger mortgages than they can handle? Predatory lenders out for a quick buck? The Clinton and/or Bush administrations for softening financial regulations? This video, via National Public Radio's Planet Money and Public Radio International's This American Life, may help answer your questions.

An opinion in the form of musical theater, it suggests that the big banks, by taking out loans that "bet against the American dream," helped lead to the financial crash we're still climbing our way out of. Whatever you think of the argument, it's certainly a novel way of opining.

Bet Against The American Dream from Planet Money on Vimeo.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at mfisher at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

Presented By

Topics: Wall Street

Related Articles				More by Max Fisher
Did the Mafia Save the Banks?	Should Auditors Shoulder Blame for the Financial Crisis?	Financial Overhaul Bill Stalled: What's Next?		What's Next for Tunisia?	Guarded Optimism for Iran Nuclear Talks