Comments on: The rest of us, along with our children, and grandchildren, will pay, and pay, and pay.

By: M

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:22:29 +0000

I just made a phone call to my member on the House committee in our Congressional district (toll free, thanks to Consumers Union) regarding common-sense reforms that will prevent dangerous financial schemes. Congress must hear from the millions of us who are at the mercy of these financial giants. Our wallets can’t afford to let them run amok again – and neither can our nation’s economy. And they need to finish their work and pass reform this year. If you have just two minutes to make a call who live in your Congressional district so they can add their voice, too:

To call your Representative, go to http://cu.convio.net/DYD-patchthrough0928.

It’s easy and there are some simple talking points on the page. Be sure and tell Consumers Union what your lawmaker’s office said!

Thank you!

By: M

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:14:58 +0000

Here is a glaring example of what a bunch of two-faced, lying hypocrites represent these banks. Jamie Dimon has the nerve to say that all a customer has to do is call HIM and HE will fix things (in the manner he feels is proper and appropriate). He said this before Congress in February 2009, right after the first round of victims had started making their extortion payments to Chase bank and before Chase paid back the TARP money. He tries to patronize the congressional representative by mentioning changes in FICO scores as a possible reason for changing customers’ rates. Glib, isn’t he?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTo95A920Wk

This one might make you feel better – Bernie Sanders goes off on Bernanke 3/3/2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCWXrMCGJT4&annotation_id=annotation_723884&feature=iv

By: M

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:20:38 +0000

You may be interested to know how our senators voted on the usury limits part of the CARD act. I obtained these stats from:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00191

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs —33

Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Burris (D-IL)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Levin (D-MI)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Webb (D-VA)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs —60

Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagan (D-NC)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kaufman (D-DE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (D-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Warner (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)

Not Voting – 6

Kennedy (D-MA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Whitehouse (D-RI)

I think a lot of pressure on the sell-outs, especially from Delaware, South Dakota, Utah, is in order. These are the states that the credit card companies moved to, after the usury laws were weakened. It is interesting that Rockefeller did not vote. Doesn’t that family have a big banking interest? Hmmm.

By: Dr Robert Lahm

Dr Robert Lahm — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:22:14 +0000

Hi Heather,

I am delighted to hear (and read on your blog) that you have received some relief from Citibank. You also happen to be an excellent writer, and I do think that a common thread among banks that back down is that they know when someone puts up a blog to fight, that person has flat-out had enough.

The only way we’re going to get change in the banking industry is to let our elected officials know that at least thus far, they can be “unelected.” The legislation in favor of an interest rate cap is also a step in the right direction.

Utilities are regulated, and they seem to be able to survive; the banks have been so incredibly smug about being able to do anything that they want, it makes me want to ensure that their new buildings resemble those of many public schools: cinder block walls and linoleum flooring (with old-style steel desks).

I do hope that you will stay in the fight. “We” need people like you, who have a “moral compass.”

By: Heather H

Heather H — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:41:43 +0000

Thank you for taking the time to post. I watched the TARP hearing and much to my dismay – “We” the 36% share holders in Citibank have no one looking out for our money well except for the folks who are looking at how to charge “We” the largest shareholders more money. If you think about this it is so pathetic it is comical. A tragic comedy.

WE OWN 36% of Citibank – think about that. :We The People” are the majority shareholder in Citibank and yet the government officials who took “OUR” money to buy Citibank are “choosing” not to exercise any majority shareholder rights in the governance of Citibank.

Our government – the caretaker of our money – is choosing to allow Citibank to screw us – “We the People” who happen to be the majority stock holder in the company.

This is truly an ironic and sad state of affairs. I think we all need to ponder this one for a while. Not only does it make me not want to pay Citibank it makes me not want to pay taxes. This is a horrific abuse of power on the part of Citibank and the Federal Government.

BTW – Citibank lowered my interest rate – in case you have been following my banking woes.