Banks are evil...

In the not so distant past I have spent more money than I had available to me. Not on frivolous things - but things I needed - mostly. I was a young naive girl who hastily went to an expensive school, in an expensive city, in an expensive neighborhood and building where they only sold the absolute best in everything...food (ahh the markets of the UWS....), stationary, clothing - you name it, I can assure you it was the best...and the most expensive.

But, walking up to the JP Morgan chase with my tiny tiny work study check - which would allow me to hold my head up high as I walked my sale laden happily broke student butt back to my expensive apartment, in the expensive neighborhood, at the expensive school - I would find out that
"Hmmm you cannot cash your check because you owe us money AND you can not cash that check here until Thursday if you are not going to put it into your bank account", said the mean teller lady.
She continued, "If you put it into your bank account we will take it because you owe us money. "

I am very aware that that was a long heavy sentence and that is how my life felt in that moment - long and heavy.

There was such a feeling of disdain coming from behind that thick Plexiglas. A damming judgement of having mismanaged my money. And more precisely to JP Morgan Chase, the larger crime of having so very little to mismanaged in the first place. There was a time when I had unknowingly overdrawn my account and they charged me 30$ for each subsequent swipe of my card...10$ at Duane Reade (30$), 5$ bucks at Starbucks(30$).....all 4 of them....

And so when I went to put my tiny check in the back I was forced to first have 120$ in fees given to the bank in repayment.....

Having been held so roughly, so quickly, so finally accountable for my innocent actions I am steaming quietly but consistently at the idea that these banks would knowingly and by design do the same thing with little or no consequence for their actions. To read that they woo and market tax shelters with the sole purpose of keeping rich people, with more than they deserve, from paying their fair share to the government, to us, to me is a crime of such immense portions, an injustice that is unimaginable for the evil of its consequences.

AND wait...THEN take government bailouts....my money...your money...ugh...there are no words...

'Peggy' from Mad Men Season 1 ep 8 said it best:

"I don't understand I try to do my job, I follow the rules... and other people, people who are not good, get to walk around doing what they want, its not fair"



I understand Peggy...but what the hell to do about it?

I'm a Republican *Ack!

Uhm, so - I think I agree with the Republicans.

My broke behind is not identifying with the rich in order to forget my own circumstances - likewise with race, i.e I hang out with white people; therefore, I am... I still think the Defense of Marriage document is a load of bull, and frankly, against the American ideals of freedom and self-expression -- and other shit that isn't any ones business but your own.

But socialism in Wall street?! I'm afraid not bub...tap that vein and stick in the mind numbing, thought stealing, common sense eroding, community damming republican juices. Yum... (although, if it's an I.V, I wouldn't be able to taste that, now would I?)

I was listening to NPR this morning and this economist guy - former Treasury before the guy we've got now - says we don't have to give them a dime, simply guarantee the bonds for the price they will be worth at maturity. Benake plans on paying Wall street an established price anyway (the pea that began this mess) so simply say that the government backs them and that will liquefy the market.

Such simplicity! Such clarity! Such transparency! (what?! no back,side,front, outside, inside deals?!)

"Anybody in Washington thinking of this plan?" asked the Mr. Lopane

"Uh, no"

Exactly - crooked bastards.

Vacation Day 2

Is anyone still angry that they have no say in this government bailout plan? That they are giving this money to people with clause in the bill saying that there will be no over site by any government (or anyone else for that matter) entity? How the hell do you give someone trillions of dollars of our money and the say all matters pertaining to that money is off limits?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/22/dirty-secret-of-the-bailo_n_128294.html

Diversionary capitalism...Is anyone else excited about the new Google phone? On T-mobile? http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/live-blogging-from-google-phone-event/?hp
mobile blogging anyone?

to the gym and then back to the couch...

Government Bailouts

This is not an original thought, in fact, it is active plagiarism - of Whoopie on The View, no less.

If the economy is tanking because people are not paying their loans (at least that was the original crack - have you heard about the 'future funds' where they make bets on who is going to default on a loan?!? That's how they make profits, by guessing a debt - insane!), and the tax payers give them the owed money, why doesn't that wipe out the debt the tax payer owes? You see? Don't they, in effect, get paid twice - a government check and then whatever your sorry, broke behind pays them? Shouldn't you not owe them anymore....don't we always get the bottom of the muffin....?