Suppose I had a hand in creating a problem like the collapse of the credit market and the national economy, then I protest against the results of that problem.

Would you take me seriously?

How seriously should we then take the demand by the social activist group Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now that Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez declare a moratorium on all home foreclosures?

During the administration of President George H.W. Bush, ACORN was in the vanguard of protesters saying banks were not offering enough home loans to low-income applicants, and banks loosened up credit and started making those loans knowing full well many of the people could not afford to pay them.

From ACORN's Web site: "ACORN identified and publicized lending discrimination by banks to lower-income and minority applicants for mortgages."

Thus ended the "discrimination" that said if you cannot afford it, you cannot buy it.

That helped sow the seeds of credit disaster, but as long as the money kept rolling in the banks didn't care, nor did Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Big Mac, Bernie Mac or anyone else.

As you sow, so shall you reap. Banks continue to want people to make their mortgage payments and when they cannot, foreclosures may follow although many banks will work with homeowners because they don't want to be saddled with unsaleable property.

So ACORN has formed "rapid response teams" that will "be prepared to mobilize on short notice to peacefully help defend a family's right to stay in their (sic) homes until a fair solution to the crisis is put into place by the new administration" of President Barack Obama.

Or until Satan is wearing ice skates, whichever comes first.

Granted, there are people out there facing home foreclosure with whom I sympathize who have had unforeseen circumstances beyond their control thrust upon them, illness or job loss.

Let's help them before we indiscriminately start lowering the financial lifeboats.

Help those who responsibly did not buy beyond their means and yet find themselves in an economic morass not of their own making.

Call me cynical but I find it hard to imagine the ACORN folks outside a McMansion in Briar Ridge, protesting the eviction of a $30,000-a-year Burger Barn assistant manager who somehow wheedled a $750,000 home out of a bank.

But then again, these are the people who signed up the Crown Point Jimmy John's as a voter last summer, so I guess anything can happen.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at markk@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-4170.