Twenty-five people at the heart of the meltdown

Series | Part II

Commentary

The articles speak for themselves. However, Bill Clinton and Alan Greenspan are not responsible for the train wreck. They might have built the railroad and set the trains in motion, with deregulation and encouraging higher home ownership. The wreck was caused by the negligence of those at the wheel, the blind oversight of those whose duty were to serve and protect public interests. And most of all, the responsibility lies squarely at the greed and unconscionable selfishness of those who benefited from the loss and suffering of many.

Excerpts

The worst economic turmoil since the Great Depression is not a natural phenomenon but a man-made disaster in which we all played a part. In the second part of a week-long series looking behind the slump, Guardian City editor Julia Finch picks out the individuals who have led us into the current crisis.