Bloggers’ lobby: Stopthehousingbailout.com

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Recently I had a conversation with a fellow journalist about government efforts to ease the mortgage crisis. I was explaining to this person that mainstream media accounts of the issue very often ignore the anti-bailout sentiment that dominates blogs like this one. The journalist was confused. Opposition to a bailout? Here in liberal L.A.? On a blog on the L.A. Times website? ‘Your readers must be rich,’ she told me.

If I had been drinking coffee, I would have spit it out. I explained that, no, as far as I know, that’s not the case. In fact, many of them can’t afford to buy a house in Los Angeles, and they’re upset (not the word I used) at government efforts to support inflated housing prices in one of the nation’s least-affordable housing markets.

With that conversation in mind, I pass along an e-mail I received this morning:

‘Along with NationalBubble.com and Patrick.net, I invite you to join our efforts to stop the planned government bailout of the housing industry. We believe that it is not the government’s role (i.e., not the taxpayer’s burden) to bailout irresponsible lenders, brokers, and borrowers.

‘Accordingly, we have created a website www.StopTheHousingBailout.com (currently hosted on NationalBubble) that is designed to be a clearinghouse of information for a movement against the bailout. The website is in its infancy, but currently consists of a statement why the bailout is wrong and several links to efforts to stop the bailout (e.g., a petition, a pledge, anti-bailout apparel, links to contact political representatives, etc.).

‘We ask that you consider joining forces with us to stop the bailout. A band of bloggers against the bailout can be a powerful political weapon. Moreover, a united front will present a newsworthy story for the media. By banding together against this ill-advised bailout, we can be heard beyond the readership of our collective pages and make a difference. Together, we can present a stronger message than the sum of our individual voices.’

Your thoughts? Comment? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com