The Great Depression of the early 1930s was caused to a large degree by unsound mortgages and nationwide foreclosures. Does this sound familiar? Back then, the government created the Federal Housing Administration to insure mortgages and to help people stay in their homes. The current economic meltdown has largely occurred due to the growth of risky mortgage practices over the past decade. In other words, the same thing that caused the Great Depression has caused the present recession. And Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are in deep trouble. I’ll ask it again — will we ever learn?