Big banks trying to crush Credit Unions through influencing Congress.

[Cal33]

Big banks are trying to crush Credit Unions by influencing Congress to pass laws
to stop the tax-exempt status that credit unions need in order to survive.

Yes, the self-same banks that brought our nation to economic disaster and needed
government bail-outs in order to survive.

Let's let Congress members know they had better leave credit unions be -- or else
they'll be looking for new jobs come their next election time.

http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/18073-monopolistic-too-big-to-fail-banks-try-to-crush-credit-unions-as-competition-by-removing-tax-exemption

[snappyturtle]

1. The 1% is leaving no stone unturned to crush the 99%. imho nt

[Cal33]

4. Yes! And we sure as hell aren't going to let them do it!

[awoke_in_2003]

19. They don't listen to us anymore...

the big banks will win this battle, with plenty of support from our side.

[RKP5637]

27. $$$$$ talks and has tremendous power, the rest of us just talk, and of that

portion a good many will cheer and support the big banks.

[Cal33]

28. Have you seen Eridani's Msg. 24 in this thread? He gives the link and phone number to contact

your Congress members. Call or write and tell them in no uncertain terms how you feel
about greedy and crooked Big Banks trying to crush Credit Unions, and how they'd lose
your vote if they should give in to pressure from the Big Banks. You could also add that
you know many people who feel the same way.

If you did the above, you'll have done your share. Should you want to do more, contact
your friends and other forums. You are not responsible for what they will or will not be
doing.

I am not at all sure the Big Banks will be winning this one. In fact, I believe they'll lose it.

[bvar22]

35. Most of us have been "contacting our Congress Critters" for many years,

....and have NOTHING to show for it.

If the Big Banks WANT it,
the Big Banks will Get IT
from THIS Congress and THIS White House.


[font size=4]Paulson with Co-Conspirators

Now THIS is Bi-Partisanship.
Better get used to it!
Hahahahahahahahahaha[/font]





You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[font size=5 color=firebrick]Solidarity![/font]

[Cal33]

36. How direct and certain have you been with them? Have you ever, for instance, said

something like, "You disappointed me and my friends, when you voted for such and
such a bill... even when we wrote you and gave you our opinions of what disastrous
results such a bill would bring. Well, that is the last disappointment we are taking from
you. Disappoint us with the Credit Union question, and we intend to vote for whichever
Democrat will be running against you in..... This is the last straw, and we mean it."

Some of those thick-skinned politicians need and will respond only to nothing less than
direct threats. Forget about diplomatic language with these types. Don't even be
polite. There is a good chance that they are Republican moles pretending to be Democrats
anyway. Either that or they're into politics for making themselves multimillionaires.

[truedelphi]

38. + 1. n/t

[bvar22]

40. THIS is "How Direct & Certain" I (we) have been.

I am a resident of Arkansas, and until 2010, DINO Blanche Lincoln was "our" Senator.

We "contacted" her long and often,
and told her that IF she didn't start supporting Democratic legislation
we WOULD organize a Primary Challenge against her
and replace her with a "Democrat" who would.
(Is THAT "Direct & certain" enough for you?)
...and THAT we DID, in the Arkansas Democratic Primary of 2010.

We did everything RIGHT to give Obama a Good Democrat who would support Democratic initiatives.

*We had the financial support of Organized LABOR Nationwide to the tune of over $10MILLION Dollars for a "Primary" contest. (Thats a LOT in Arkansas)

*We had a Pro-LABOR/Pro-HealthCare Moderate Democrat with a proven track record of Winning Elections and state wide name recognition, Lt Governor Bill Halter

*An Up & Running network of enthusiastic Grass Roots Democratic Party Activists,

*Nationwide support among Progressive Activists for replacing the Wicked Witch of Arkansas with a "Democrat"

*All polls showed that Blanche Lincoln, who CROWED about killing the Public Option
Had ZERO chance of winning the General Election against the Republican.

We did EVERYTHING RIGHT to give Obama The Democrats he had asked us to give him,
and to send a message to other DINO Obstructionists of The People's Will.
AND....We were WINNING.....UNTIL...

Guess What Happened?
Our BIGGEST obstruction was not the Republicans, or Conservatives.
Our BIGGEST obstruction was the Obama White House.
The Obama WHite House stepped in and RESCUED DINO Blanche Lincoln's FAILING Primary Campaign.

Obama gave the Witch Who Killed the Public Option an Oval Office Endorsement that played 24/7 in Arkansas, and even sent the Big Blue Dog (Bill Clinton) back to Arkansas to rescue Lincoln's failing Primary campaign.

The Big Business Power Brokers in the Democratic Party Leadership don't want ANYONE rocking their nice little boat,
and couldn't car less What YOU want.

"The Arkansas primary fight illuminates some unpleasant though vital truths about the Democratic establishment "

"So what did the Democratic Party establishment do when a Senator who allegedly impedes their agenda faced a primary challenger who would be more supportive of that agenda? They engaged in full-scale efforts to support Blanche Lincoln. Bill Clinton traveled to Arkansas to urge loyal Democrats to vote for her, bashing liberal groups for good measure. Obama recorded an ad for Lincoln which, among other things, were used to tell African-American primary voters that they should vote for her because she works for their interests. The entire Party infrastructure lent its support and resources to Lincoln — a Senator who supposedly prevents Democrats from doing all sorts of Wonderful, Progressive Things which they so wish they could do but just don’t have the votes for.

<snip>

What happened in this race also gives the lie to the insufferable excuse we’ve been hearing for the last 18 months from countless Obama defenders: namely, if the Senate doesn’t have 60 votes to pass good legislation, it’s not Obama’s fault because he has no leverage over these conservative Senators. It was always obvious what an absurd joke that claim was; the very idea of The Impotent, Helpless President, presiding over a vast government and party apparatus, was laughable. But now, in light of Arkansas, nobody should ever be willing to utter that again with a straight face. Back when Lincoln was threatening to filibuster health care if it included a public option, the White House could obviously have said to her: if you don’t support a public option, not only will we not support your re-election bid, but we’ll support a primary challenger against you. Obama’s support for Lincoln did not merely help; it was arguably decisive, as The Washington Post documented today:"

<snip>
What’s going on here couldn’t be clearer if the DNC produced neon signs explaining it. Blanche Lincoln and her corporatist/centrist Senate-friends aren’t some unfortunate outliers in the Democratic Party. They are the Democratic Party. The outliers are the progressives. The reason the Obama White House did nothing when Lincoln sabotaged the public option isn’t because they had no leverage to punish her if she was doing things they disliked. It was because she was doing exactly what the White House and the Party wanted. The same is true when she voted for Bush/Cheney Terrorism policies, serves every corporate interest around, and impedes progressive legislation. Lincoln doesn’t prevent the Democratic Party from doing and being what it wishes it could do and be. She enables the Party to do and be exactly what it is, what it wants to be, what serves its interests most. That’s why they support her so vigorously and ensured her victory: the Blanche Lincolns of the world are the heart, soul and face of the national Democratic Party.


<much more>

http://www.salon.com/2010/06/10/lincoln_6/

Ed Schultz on Obama support for Lincoln
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/ed-schultz-if-it-wasnt-labor-barack-obama-



So, What have YOU done in the War?
How "direct & certain" have YOU been?

If I sound bitter, you are correct.
As a Union Thug, I HATE getting Sucker Punched,
and it will be a long time before we forget WHO Sucker Punched us.



[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]

[Cal33]

44. You do have a good point. I was glad when the DLC came to an end. It had become too corrupt. So

the DNC took over. I wonder how many of the old DLC members simply went over to
the DNC, so that one wonders if there had been any real change at all?

The majority of Democrats today are enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton being the next
Democratic candidate for president. I am not that enthusiastic, although, if she should
win the primary, I would vote for her over any Republican.

The Clintons have been into politics all of their adult lives. We can imagine the amount
of political debts that they have to repay. That alone is enough to give us the jitters.
It would be hardly possible for Hillary, as president, to have the single purpose of
working for the benefit of the American nation alone. And this is something that we
American people need so very badly. I don't think we can afford to waste any more
time with unqualified people for the position of president. And I believe that although
Hillary is a highly gifted person, she owes too much to those who have done her favors in
the past. Her interests cannot help but be divided.

Elizabeth Warren, on the other hand, entered into politics late in life. She is honest,
sincere, bright, and has already shown her ability. Her integrity appears to be without
taint. I'd vote for her if she should run in 2016. I'd also prefer people like Sen. Sanders
and Rep. Grayson over Hillary Clinton..

In short, I think it's time for real change. The Old Establishment Democrats are
hopelessly out of touch. They wouldn't know how to change even if they wanted to. And
they probably are too mired down in their old ways to want to. We need new blood.

And this might be our last chance.

[bvar22]

45. I agree with you here:

"The Old Establishment Democrats are hopelessly out of touch...."...with the Working Class.
They are solidly in touch with Big Business, the War Industry, Wall Street, and Wall Street's incestuous First Cousin, the Health Insurance Industry.

"They" are also firmly entrenched, and control ALL the lever of power in the Democratic Party.
"They" are NOT going to let go because we send them E-Mails or Letters.

We fought them in the Arkansas Democratic Primary,
and they slapped us down pretty easily,
and the White House Taunted and Ridiculed us for our efforts.



The DLC as an official organization has shed its skin (like all reptiles),
but it hasn't gone anywhere.
It accomplished exactly what it was formed to do, and then their organization became unnecessary, so it was discarded.
But it hasn't gone away.
The Same people are NOW in positions of power and control the Democratic Party.
They WON....Big Time:


[font size=5]
The DLC New Team
Progressives Need NOT Apply
[/font]
(Screen Capped from the DLC Website, Feb, 2009)

Elizabeth Warren is inspiring,
and I am glad to see her where she is,
but she IS an anomaly,
and, like Wellstone, becoming a thorn in the side of the "Establishment Dems".
I hope she doesn't meet the same fate.

The People In Control are not fools.
They know they have to let some slip through to keep up the illusion,
so they can point to them and say, "See. It CAN happen. We're not ALL bad",
but it remains to be seen how effective they will let her become.

She already had national Attention and National support. It would have been foolish to openly oppose her, but "they" won't let too many like her slip through.
Witness how quickly "they" slapped down that liberal Up Start, Ashley Judd for Senate, in Kentucky. "They" weren't about to tolerate TWO outspoken, LIBERAL, Pro-Working Class Women
causing trouble in their Old Boys Club in the Senate.

I don't know what the solution is,
but there are ONLY three possible choices:

1)We can try to force reform from inside the Democratic Party,
but "they" slapped us down easily in Arkansas in 2010.

2) We can force the Democratic party BACK to the left by filling the Vacuum the Party has created on the Left with credible challengers that will force the National Discussion to important issues that are current ignored by BOTH dominant parties because they totally agree with each other. (Free Trade, The Disappearing Working Class, The Wealth Disparity, The Environment, Too Big to Fail, World Empire, the FED, the IMF, The Security/Surveillance State,...and ON and On).

Or
3) We can just go blindly along with the current Party leadership because the Republicans are WORSE..


John Kennedy said:
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

A paraphrase of that quote is applicable for Democratic Party Politics:
Those who make reform inside the Democratic Party impossible,
make 3rd Party Challenges inevitable,
and I really don't want to see it come to that,
but I don't think "they" are listening.
After Arkansas 2010, "they" were laughing and gloating.

Walking away from the Arkansas Democratic Primary,
many Grass Roots Democratic Activists concluded that the Democratic Party Leadership would prefer THAT seat go to a Big Business Republican
than to give a real Pro-LABOR, Pro-Health Care Democrat a chance to win it.
I found it difficult to argue with them.

[Cal33]

46. I wish what you wrote isn't true, but my better instincts tell me that you are right. I

<< "They" are also firmly entrenched, and control ALL the lever of power in the Democratic Party.
"They" are NOT going to let go because we send them E-Mails or Letters. >>

suppose that one way of trying to change the old Democratic Establishment power holders
would be to try to elect more and more Progressive and Liberal Democrats into office. This,
of course, looks like an impossible job. And even if the impossible should happen, will the
Dem. Establishment then resort to practicing vote fraud on their own Party members?
If they are so eager to hang on to power, what would stop them from going all the way?

My last message ended with "This is probably our last chance." To that I'll now add, "And
this last chance doesn't look so good." So what could be our future? If it should come to
the point where the majority of our people feel that they have nothing more to lose, life itself
becomes unimportant. Just look back at history: Czarist Russia, the French Revolution.....

I hope we will never come to that point. I hope our American power brokers are wise
enough to look back at history every now and then.

[bvar22]

48. You ask,

"will the Dem. Establishment then resort to practicing vote fraud on their own Party members?"

The Arkansas machine is really turning out for Blanche Lincoln. Despite promises from Election Commissioner Charles Tapp that they wouldn’t shut down polling places in Garland County (site of Bill Halter’s best performance during the first primary), voters are in fact being turned away as seen in the video above.

http://elections.firedoglake.com/2010/06/06/video-voters-being-turned-away-in-arkansas/

I always expect Sour Grapes from the Losers in tough political campaigns,
and there are always the claims of dirty tricks,
but the sudden closing of over 40 voting stations in challenger Bill Halter's stronghold of Garland County, Arkansas, leaving only 2 open for voting on Primary Election Day has NEVER been explained by the Arkansas Democratic Party.
It is undeniable that this happened.

"It was a tough loss, 10,000 votes. Bill Halter might have even upset Blanche Lincoln in the primary run-off had his stronghold of Garland County not dropped the number of polling places from 42 to 2, ..."

http://my.firedoglake.com/paulloeb/2010/06/11/why-the-arkansas-primary-challenge-was-worth-it/

In conjunction with the info I posted above,
I smell a duck.

[HiPointDem]

55. +1

[RKP5637]

49. Thanks!

[octoberlib]

2. This is despicable. nt

[liberal_at_heart]

3. oh, they're going to be looking for new jobs alright.

Time to start firing these people so they remember who they work for.

[awoke_in_2003]

20. Oh, the know who they work for...

and we ain't it.

[onethatcares]

5. is there a proposal number

that we can refer to when contacting our bank sponsored lackeys?

[Cal33]

6. Just let your congressman and senators know that you would no longer vote for them should

they try to pass laws against credit unions. And the more of us write them, the more sure
the result will be.

[Agony]

50. here is a link to the banksters talking points... it doesn't look like there is specific legislation

yet... ALEC is probably working on it...

in the right side bar is a copy of a letter that CEO Frank Keating sent to Harry Reid et al... so it would seem smart to contact Reid, Pelosi, Boner and McConnell about this issue since they have already heard the BanksterSpin. This was also sent to every member of congress...

look for this in the side bar---> ABA asks Congress to eliminate the depression-era credit union tax exemption.

BanksterSpin link---> http://www.aba.com/Issues/Pages/Tax-Credit-Unions.aspx

Cheers,
Agony

[Cal33]

52. I hope we, the people, will be able to scrap this piece of garbage before it becomes legislation.

[onethatcares]

54. oh crikey,

everyone of the talking points in that letter apply more to the too large to fail banks.

We have gone through the looking glass here.

I already contacted my corporate sponsored representatives, I'm certain I will get the standard mish mash in response.

[cascadiance]

7. I think they've tried to get credit unions to become banks. Went through that last year with my CU.

The efforts to change to a bank failed fortunately with CU members...

http://www.cujournal.com/issues/16_39/technology-credit-union-conversion-vote-is-democracy-in-action-1015852-1.html

This effort was largely helped through FB and social media activism...

https://www.facebook.com/stayacu

Cite this example to let congress people know the kind of banking that we as citizens really want and how it was shown in this situation.

[Laelth]

8. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[Initech]

9. This is exactly why we need an amendment banning all money from politics now!!!!

[Cal33]

10. I'm all with you. And guess who will be fighting such an amendment!

Last edited Mon Jul 8, 2013, 07:27 PM - Edit history (1)

[liberal_at_heart]

12. This is absolutely the best thing we could do.

[mia]

11. K & R!

Thanks for the information.

[Cal33]

47. Your are welcome, and thanks for the K & R.

[nineteen50]

13. The business of big business is to

keep small local business from taking their business. I wonder who will help them by voting in big business politicians.

[stillwaiting]

29. I also wonder who will help them by continuing to give their money to these asshats.

We're at the point where ALL multinational big businesses are pretty much the same. They rarely get money from me in any venture they have going on.

I really wish this thinking would spread more and catch on with the American people.

Small, local businesses deserve support over these monstrosities who are literally vacuuming money out of your communities as too many continue to let them.

Instead of a local business owner we have managers that make a fraction of the money, and the rest goes to the investor class. We are impoverishing our communities as we continue to support big businesses.

[L0oniX]

14. It is impossible to vote Goldman Sachs out of office.

Congress does not represent the 99%. If it did it would have been easy enough for them to pass gun control. The fact that they didn't proves they don't give a fuck about the majority. You might get a few of them out but like roaches they breed and hatch more corporate locusts to prey upon all disasters for profit and their fucking stock portfolio.

[liberal_at_heart]

15. so true. Sad and true.

[pa28]

16. Here is the Bankster Association radio spot. I hope you had a light lunch today.

http://www.aba.com/Press/Documents/ABACreditUnionAd.mp3

[Volaris]

18. Fuck the Banks, large and small.

the exchange of American Currency AMONG AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE A FOR PROFIT BUSINESS. Proper management of those same funds, I can see charging a small fee for (depending on the kind of "management" that's being done).

What we REALLY need is for the Department of the Treasury to open a Credit Union, so they can start mking simple-interest mortagages to American Citizens. THAT will change the ENTIRE system, almost overninght.

[liberal_at_heart]

17. kick

[BornLooser]

21. !00 years, I say, I say 100 years

Since the "old boy club" cabal of outlaws hijacked our bill of rights, foisted an unconstitutional central bank, as well as an income tax upon Us. Bill of Rights? BULLSHIT! Bill of Goods is more like it, and in the century from that year to this, We've been slaves to these vampires. They are picking fights, on purpose, on a weekly basis now, thumbing collective nose at those who provided station, as well as blood and treasure, to them. End the Fed, get back to community banking, keeping the profits in county, to become self sustaining. Buy a home or car in Adams county?, you bank with the First Bank of Adams County, which helps itself. Perpetually. ENOUGH RANSOM. FIGHT BACK! END THE FEDERAL RESERVE MAFIA!!!

[DeSwiss]

22. They haven't stopped since 1934.

- These cancerous banks have to be stopped and the bankers running these immoral businesses, arrested. That is the ONLY way we can end this.

K&R

[snot]

23. Outrageous! They want to end the only part of our financial system that works.

[Wounded Bear]

37. I think your definition of what 'works' is....

a bit different than what the banksters think.

And that's a good thing.

[eridani]

24. Toll free number and a link to send emails to representatives

TELL CONGRESS—DON’T TAX MY CREDIT UNION!

As a member of Woodstone Credit Union, you enjoy the benefits of being part of a not­for-profit financial cooperative.

We exist solely to improve the lives of our members, just like you. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, we don't have stockholders. This means that as a member, YOU are an owner. And as a member-owner, you get lower fees, better rates and an equal vote to elect our Board of Directors. We can do that because our emphasis is on providing financial services to you at reasonable costs and returns - not by amassing profits from them.

By making financial services more affordable, Woodstone Credit Union helps you reach your goals and improve your financial well­being. You might say a bank uses people to make money—but Woodstone Credit Union uses money to help people. That's the fundamental difference between credit unions and banks. Banks return their profits to a small group of stockholders. Woodstone Credit Union returns our profits to you, our member.

We hope you enjoy all the benefits that membership at Woodstone Credit Union has to offer. But did you know that those benefits are under attack? There is legislation pending that may alter the federal income tax exemption status of credit unions right now in Congress.

If the savings and service you enjoy at Woodstone Credit Union is important to you, please take a moment to ask Congress to preserve credit unions' tax status.

Help protect your credit union benefits.

• Visit http://www.donttaxmycreditunion.org/ to send a pre-written e-nail to-your Member of Congress today or

• Call them toll-free at 877.642.4223 and simply tell them, "Don't Tax My Credit Union!"

For more information about how you can help, visit our website at www.woodstonecu.org or give us a call at 800-334-9828 or stop by our branch in Federal Way. As your trusted advisor, we look forward to continuing to work in tandem with you to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for taking action to help protect your credit union.

[Cal33]

25. Thanks for your link and toll-free telephone number for us to contact our Congress members. This

sure makes it easier to let them know how we feel about the Big Banks' attempt to destroy our
Credit Unions.

[liberal_at_heart]

30. not only do they return profits to customers and have lower rates, they have

financial literacy education available for members as well. And we all know big banks do not want consumers to have financial literacy. I wish I could be part of a credit union. I have copays on medical bills that have gone unpaid so I don't qualify, but I still support credit unions for those who can get in. Thanks for the website and phone numbers. I just moved so I have to figure out who my new Representative is. My Senators will hear from me today.

[Lint Head]

26. More than just saying you'll be lookig for new jobs needs to be done.

[lpbk2713]

31. Capitalists aren't in favor of the free market system?

I see. They want more regulation applied to their competitors, not themselves.

[liberal_at_heart]

32. that is exactly it. The free market is fixed. Transparency and competitive pricing are an illusion.

They don't exist. They can't handle someone offering a lower fee. That would mean that to compete they would have to lower their price.

[Cal33]

53. I haven't thought of it in these terms before. You've made the real situation so

stark-naked clear. There is nothing left for these greedy and corrupt sickos to
hide behind!

[1-Old-Man]

33. A Credit Union is to banking what a Labor Union is to business

[Cal33]

34. Well expressed. The consumers and every-day people need to be protected from those loan-sharks!

[nyquil_man]

39. Big business always talks a good game about the "free market."

But when they meet true competition, where do they run? Straight to government.

[Cal33]

41. We've got to make sure that the numbers of members of this Congress who have sold out

to business corporations are in the minority. Let them know in no uncertain terms that their
jobs are at stake if they should try to destroy America's Credit Unions. Ultimately, we are
responsible for the type of government we have, since we are the ones who elect members
of the Executive and Legislative branches.

[rhett o rick]

42. We could see this coming. nm

[liberal_at_heart]

43. K&R

[Agony]

51. kick

thanks for posting this... important stuff!

Cheers,
Agony