Economic problems are driving everyone to distraction, and some to sheer desperation. It is unfair, unkind, and pointless to take out your frustration, at the economic crisis, on the teller, or manager at your local bank. It is not their fault; they had no part in any of the decisions, which caused the banking crisis. They are probably trying their level best to help you. Those decisions affect them badly too, in fact, they are as powerless in this crisis as you are.

The current economic crisis stems from several sources. Governments in both Britain and America deregulated their financial markets and, at the same time, encouraged home ownership. They forced banks and building societies to relax and remove their previously strict rules on eligibility for mortgages. Successive British governments lauded the “right to buy” scheme, in which long term council tenants could buy their council houses (social housing, rented by the local authority, at reduced rents) at much reduced rates. No council (social) housing was built to replace these homes. House prices generally, rose beyond all expectations, meaning that private rented accommodation was also very expensive. There is always a shortage of housing in the U.K. because it has a population of 67 million, on a small area of land, and most of that population want to live in the same, very particular, parts of the British isles, which, in turns, raises house prices even more rapidly in those areas.

Developers and speculators gambled on property prices. Financial whiz kids gambled on the stock market inventing all sorts of cunning wheezes to make money. Everyone got complacent thinking that good times were going to go on forever, and some people got very greedy. Stock market speculators started to attack bank shares. The Boards and Directors of some, not all, banks had meanwhile made some foolhardy rash and, frankly, crazy decisions.

Put the blame where it is due, do not scream your local bank down; in all probability the poor teller or manager, that you are yelling at, will lose his or her job because of the crisis. They are doing their best to help you and they are as worried and desperate as you are. There are, however, things that you can do to make your anger known. Write letters to “The Times” or other newspaper, lobby your Member of Parliament, lobby government web sites, and picket shareholders’ meetings. If you are a shareholder, attend those meetings, there are probably other shareholders who feel the same as you, and make your feelings known. Direct your anger in a positive way to actually do something about the problem. Do not inflict your rage on those who had no part in causing the problem and are its victims too.