Bring the obscenely high prices for Ventura County Real Estate down to affordable levels, and the mortgage crisis will take care of itself.
How progressive and 'growth-oriented' can a government be, when 90% of the people living in Ventura County cannot afford, in today's market, to buy a home?

Bring prices down? That's much easier said than done. The Amgen and Countrywide layoffs will help drive down the prices more (already seeing sings of that).

Not sure if I'd characterize local government, outside of perhaps Oxnard, as "growth oriented"...

I live in Oxnard...so maybe I have tunnel vision.
But, I would classify Ventura's government as growth oriented. They are building up...relaxing height limits. Isn't Santa Paula trying to annex land surrounding their city for more housing growth? Moorpark is building out...into the foothills, I believe. Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Camarillo are building several new housing and commercial developments.
I would classify all these as 'growth oriented.
Am I wrong?

i don't know... I see so many times when proposed residential or commercial projects get shot down by voters, it's hard to think there's much pro-growth sentiment here besides from developers. Santa Paula's shot down, what, three proposals in the past few years?

In any event, if more residences aren't built, the laws of supply and demand will keep the prices too high for most people, even if they decline slightly in the short term.

We are in agreement, Steve.
I'm not saying growth is wrong. You're right. Without growth, prices remain out of reach. But, when only the most wealthy people from Los Angeles, or Santa Barbara, or other surrounding areas can afford to buy up all the developments, and then charge outlandish rents...the prices remain high.
I don't have any answers...just questions...and an empty wallet.