Historically 6.8% is pretty normal. You only think it is criminal because interest rates have been artificially low for the past 30ish years. The market should set interest rates, not the government and not the Fed. If the market says it should be 1%, then that is fair. If the market says interest rates should be 20%, then that is fair. When the government or Fed says interest rates should be something, it is pretty much guaranteed to be unfair and a benefit to them.