Informative report about internal documents released at a congressional hearing Tuesday, which suggest that credit rating agencies acted unethically, due to fundamental conflicts of interest built into the current rating system. This article provides ample factual evidence, but could include more sources and independent perspectives.

A very clear explanation of the central fact of our economic crisis--rating agencies defrauded those who depended on the quality of their ratings. Their "issuer-pays" business model constituted a clear conflict of interest, and warnings to this effect were ignored

This piece based on a congressional hearing attempts to explain one of the fundamental components that contributed to the current economic collapse--ratings agencies, who funds them, and the conflicts of interest that arise out of them. Issuer-funded agencies have the greatest conflict in that those underwriting service do so with expectations of favorable scores. This is similar to the same kind of ethical conflict of interest that arose with Enron when those associated with ... More »

A rather long winded piece. Condensed into a quarter of the size would have make it clearer and given it much more impact.

This impartial investigative journalism is absolutely imperative to understand the subtle complexities of the present economic-political crisis. A "small thing" like the 1970's switch from having the payment for securities ratings go from the investors to the issuers, opened a hugeconflict of interest which helped to bring us to where we are today. Pamela de Maigret

It gives a good look at facts of the causes of the market meltdown. it also gives a clear view of the problems and their effects.

The story had a lot of information in it but it also had a lot of anonymous sources. It was hard to dig through the BS and get to the actual story with quotes from real people. Overall, though, one could read this article and take something away from it.