How Mortgage Lending Became An 'American Casino'

The roots of the mortgage crisis, and its devastating effects on communities, are explored by Andrew Cockburn, who co-produced with his wife, Leslie, the documentary "American Casino." The documentary details the fraudulent and unethical practices committed by the nation's top financial institutions that have led to record numbers of foreclosures, especially in people of color communities.

Cockburn in this interview says it is critical for Congress to pass a consumer financial protection bill to prevent the practices that led to the current crisis.

"American Casino" will debut in Chicago August 14. Americans for Financial Reform [1], a coalition that includes the Campaign for America's Future, plans to use the documentary as a teaching and mobilization tool to promote changes in the mortgage lending industry.