Fact: The net worth of the three richest families in the world (Gates, Waltons, Sultan of Brunei) is greater than the combined GNP of the 43 poorest nations. 1.2 billion of the earth's population live in absolute poverty on less than $1 a day. United Nations

Opinion: The problems of being poor are magnified when confronted with the excesses of the rich.

To free copies of your credit report from any or all of the three major companies, call (from your home phone, don't know how they handle cell phones) 877-322-8228. Takes about four minutes. I got my reports in the mail within a week but they didn't include scores. To get the scores, they charge $5 to $6 per company.