Usually, Laughing Liberally posts feature original content from our network of comedians and writers. But recently a topic crossed our radar so funny that it deserved special attention: Predatory Lending.
...dedicated to extracting maximum profit from the working poor by increasing payday loan fees and debt traps. The working poor are an exciting, fast growing demographic that includes: military personnel, minorities, and most of the middle class.
The clean and friendly site, complete with Google map tools and little sidebar calculators looks so earnest that it takes a minute to realize who they are representing...or, rather, satirizing. For example, their slick-looking map application actually features a "poor finder"...a presumably essential resource for any predator.
This site is a great example of the role of humor in political discourse. It's actually informative: their "Industry Threats" page talks more about real efforts to curb predatory lending practices that I generally hear about. And it's entertaining -- I want to keep reading to see what I'll find beyond their "Military Loan Crisis" link, and just how far these guys will go with their discussion of the "Myth vs. Reality" of their industry.
It's a site that will leave people informed and outraged...and will make them laugh along the way...which as Stewart and Colbert keep proving is a great way to get your message across.
