In normal times, it’s a Foolish tradition to celebrate March Madness with a bracket-style stock tournament. These, of course, aren’t normal times.
It’s been a miserable few months lately, in which we’ve watched the mightiest financial titans -- from Goldman Sachs
So we’re switching it up this year. It’s time to turn our emotional depression into a mere recession by blowing off some steam. Below, you’ll find 16 people (or groups of people) to blame for this financial mess we’re in. A Foolish advocate has taken up the case of each. It’s up to you to declare a winner for each first-round matchup. We’ll keep going throughout the next few weeks until a Blame Bracket winner is declared.
Here are your gladiators:
“Everyone’s to Blame: Taking It to the Streets” Matchup:
Wall Street (Morgan Housel)
Main Street ("Horgan Mousel")
“Freaks and Geeks” Matchup:
The tag team of WaMu’s Kerry Killinger and Countrywide’s Angelo Mozilo (Jim Mueller)
Geeks Bearing Formulas (Alex Dumortier)
“Greenspan’s Favored by a Half-Point (Rate Cut)” Matchup:
Repealers of the Glass-Steagall Act (Chris Barker)
Alan Greenspan (Joe Magyer)
“Will the Power of the Beard Pull Bernanke Through?” Matchup:
Inventors of Derivatives (Dan Caplinger)
Ben Bernanke (Anders Bylund)
“How to Lose $65 Billion in 10 Days” Matchup:
Bernie Madoff (Alyce Lomax)
Kate Hudson (Anand Chokkavelu)
“Invisible Media” Matchup:
Adam Smith (Matt Koppenheffer)
The Media (Tim Beyers)
“The Government Loses Either Way” Matchup:
The SEC (Eric Bleeker)
Fannie and Freddie (David Williamson)
“Mr. and Mr. Smith Go to Washington” Matchup:
Congress (Rich Smith)
Ratings Agencies (David Lee Smith)