The current credit crisis and economic mess is hitting hard. So much so that it’s no longer just we mere mortals that are affected. Celebrities, known for their lavish lifestyles, are the hit too. I know. This is no consolation to someone who’s lost or is on the verge of losing his/her home. But it goes to show the depth and seriousness of the problem.

Here’s a small list of celebrities who have been faced with home foreclosure at one point;

1. Fantasia Barrino: In December 2008 the media was abuzz with the news that this American Idol season 3 winner was faced with foreclosure of her $1.3 million North Carolina home. Fantasia was reportedly in $58,000 debt loaned to her to help pay back taxes.

2.  Evander Holyfield: The former heavyweight boxing champion’s $10 million mansion in Fayette County, GA, was scheduled to be auctioned off last July.

3. Aretha Franklin: Oh, I love this lady. If you watched President Obama’s inauguration you saw her sing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”. She is one of the best singers who ever lived. The queen of soul was in the news last March as on the verge of losing her $700,000 Detroit home due to $19,192 in back taxes.

4. Ed McMahon: The “Tonight Show” veteran has been in celebrity “foreclosure news” perhaps more than anyone else. Apparently Donald Trump should have bought the home and then lease it back to McMahon, but someone outbid him. So far none of the deals has been completed. I’m not sure we’ve heard the last of this one yet.

5. Jose Canseco: The baseball player reportedly walked away from his $2.5 million home in Encino, CA because, he reportedly said, it didn’t make sense to continue making the mortgage payments.

The list does not stop there. Others include Marion Jones, Tionne Watkins-Rolison (T-Boz), Latrell Sprewell, Courtney Love, and some mighty ones like even in celebrity terms such as Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.

Auto insurance companies are seeking more and more ways to part you with your hard-earned money. Some of these unfair practices border on discrimination (I have no better word for it).

It started with credit scores. Though some states have outlawed this practice in states that have not, many insurance companies continue to charge rates on premiums based on credit scores. Yet in most states, auto insurance is not a choice. It is mandated by law.

And the consequences can be dire if caught driving without “liability”. They include hefty fines and long license suspensions depending on the state’s laws.

Why these companies would charge you more based on credit scores for something which you have no choice whether to have or not to have, beats me. Miss one payment and your coverage could get cancelled, and as far as I know from experience, a policy cannot be reinstated once cancelled. There is virtually zero risk of default.

As if this is not enough, now some auto insurance companies are basing premium rates on level of education, occupation, home ownership and whatever else they deem fit. It is one thing to consider me “high risk” because I’ve had one accident or a speeding ticket. But to charge me more on basis of not having a college degree is beyond the understanding of my mortal mind.

What has renting or owning a home got to do with my driving? Why should, say, a doctor of equal age and driving experience (who also makes more money) as I have to pay less?

And it’s not just about rates. Your eligibility is also affected. Yes, a company can turn you down or decide to drop you based on these preposterous criteria.

Why, pray, are insurance auto companies being allowed to practice what I dare call classism?

You’ve probably heard the saying “There’s no free lunch”. May be not some University of Illinois students.  Seeing an ad free a free sandwich at Subway on a certain day, a bunch of them responded (free hoagie, mmm…).

Free hoagie there was, okay. But you had to sign an application for a credit card…

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