Perhaps you blame yourself. Common sense warned you that the ridiculously easy credit couldn’t last and was best avoided. However, if self criticism is inappropriate or too painful, don’t worry: there are plenty of others to accuse.

What about the politicians who acted like they understood what was going on when, plainly, they were clueless? Then there are the “light touch” regulators, laughable watchdogs with neither bark nor bite. And don’t forget the economics experts commentating after the fact who now claim, unconvincingly, that they knew all …