A Major, Major Article by Gretchen Morgenson

in the New York Times tomorrow.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/business/06gret.html?ref=business

How the mortgage lenders had the tools readily available to check on the stated incomes of each borrower -- but did not want to do so for fear of upsetting the game. The tools -- virtually everybody signed written statements saying the mortgagor could get IRS documents and figures of the individual doing the borrowing.