Stealing houses
AS IF THE foreclosure crisis isn't bad enough, District Attorney Lynne Abraham yesterday discussed a troubling trend in the loss of homes: a virtually epidemic of fradulent house sales.
AS IF THE foreclosure crisis isn't bad enough, District Attorney Lynne Abraham yesterday discussed a troubling trend in the loss of homes: a virtually epidemic of fradulent house sales.
Her office announced the arrest of 15 people for their elaborate scheme to rob people of their homes - often the elderly and the sick - by selling out from under them with forged papers. Abraham says that as many as 500 fraudulent sales are being investigated. She blames lax enforcement and oversight of notary publics and deed recording. This is an appalling tale, but frankly, we shouldn't be that shocked.
After all, on the same day in a different room, former state Sen. Vince Fumo, on federal trial on corruption charges, shrugged off his illegal use of Senate staff to work on his campaign. He said, "It's a violation to spit on the sidewalk, but I don't know if it's enforced." Nice sentiments from a lawmaker.
Contempt for the law can be overt, like those who commit illegal acts. But it can also be state-sanctioned, by ignoring or refusing to enforce existing laws. And as long as we continue to shrug off lax enforcement, we all share the blame for society's breakdown. *
