Banks Team Up With Republicans To SCREW You!

[ihavenobias]

Think my title is an exaggeration? It's not, at least not based on this:

"...The banks have made it difficult for Congressional Democrats and the White House to give stretched homeowners a stronger hand in negotiating lower monthly payments on mortgages and to prevent credit card companies from imposing higher fees and interest rates.

Having won some early skirmishes by teaming with Republican allies, the banks now appear to have the upper hand and may wind up killing — or at least substantially diluting — both pro-consumer measures..."

Can any self described conservative/republican defend this? How many examples do we need of how anti-consumer, anti-middle class republicans are before non-rich people stop voting for them? Then again if this story isn't covered on television (I'm talking ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, etc.), no one is going to know. Either way I encourage you to share this information with anyone who might be interested.

There are a ton of viral smear emails on Obama, ranging from nonsense about his birth certificate to fear mongering (and debunked) garbage about guns and ammunition going away. I think it's about time we start sending our own emails.

The difference is we don't have to lie to convince people, we just need to share the facts. For every smear these clowns put out, we need to come back with AT LEAST one fact. We need to club them over the head with facts until the truth is incredibly obvious to everyone (outside of the relatively small portion of this country that will argue that 2+2=5 until the day they die).

[xchrom]

1. unless and until We The People get angry -- in the same

fashion that the europeans get angry -- it will remain this way.

[ihavenobias]

3. You know what gets disinterested non-news watchers angry? Concise, hard hitting emails.

Concise and hard hitting is the key. A short essay won't work, they'll just tune it out. Seriously though, look how well those stupid smear emails have worked.

Yes, it's partly because the people who believe in them WANTED to believe in them, but it's also partly because they're written authoritatively. That despite the fact that they almost never contain sources, much less credible sources.

[xchrom]

4. there's nothing to keep people from organizing showing

through demonstrations that from what is happening to GM to credit card companies to loss of 401ks to loss of equity in our homes
to on and on --

the powers that be in the u.s. feel themslves safe -- and i'm not talking about violence -- and so they will not act in the best interest of the people until they feel themselves unsafe.

[ihavenobias]

5. Here's the problem, or at least one big problem.

The right has done a much better job of framing issues and assigning blame. At least I happen to agree with Thom Hartmann on that.

So while we assume that a tanking economy would wake everyone up (and of course it *has* set off alarm bells for many), the right is there to misdirect the anger to exactly the wrong places.

[xchrom]

7. they have -- from reagan on -- been very good at doing that.

and our 'leaders' aren't going to do it -- because they don't disagree with republicans -- that much.

but it can be done -- and should be done.

no different than the march on washington -- only this is about our country and our ability to live here.

[qbones]

14. You know............

Timothy Giethner In conjunction with Paulson authored the first banker bailout bill, which amounted to trillions which have yet to be accounted for. And President Obama (then candidate) rallied the reluctant congressional black caucus to support it. ....There is no denying how promiscuously the Republicans have facilitated the bankers, but sadly, we see that the Democrats have done their part (look at Clinton and the repeal of the Glass Steagle Act for one.)
Left and Right mean nothing. There are those who have power, and those who don't (which is you, me, and everyone we know.)
I think if we can recognize the powers behind the political scene, and stop focusing on each others differences, then there could be real change.
The Left/Right political paradigm is a mental prison.

[ihavenobias]

15. Yes and no.

Progressives never pushed for massive deregulation, "free markets", "free trade" and massive tax cuts for the rich.

[valerief]

2. Bootstraps, baby. Bootstraps. Whatever that means. nt

[ejpoeta]

19. only bootstraps for us. not them.

[w4rma]

6. So they're using our TARP money to lobby Congress with?

Let them fail!

[jgraz]

9. That's exactly what they're doing.

[Laelth]

8. What's new? n/t

:eyes:

:dem:

-Laelth

[ihavenobias]

10. What's new? Yet another opportunity to help inform people, something we shouldn't pass up!

:)

I understand and to some extent share your cynicism, but trust me, spreading information works. We can't let the right spew out BS unchallenged and just hope that everyone figures out the truth.

[Laelth]

13. Smile.

I'm happy to give your thread another kick. I agree that spreading information works, and that right-wing BS should be challenged.

Nevertheless, I remain unsurprised that Republicans and banks have aligned to screw over the American people.

:toast:

:dem:

-Laelth

[ihavenobias]

29. Thanks and I agree.

:)

[Lisa0825]

11. K&R

[Rhiannon12866]

12. K&R. Good point, but everybody has their prejudices.

My friends and my cousins will believe me, but they're on our side, anyway. My mother and my aunt will think I'm brainwashed, as usual. :-(

What this administration needs to do is to call on Barney Frank. Did you see him on Rachel? A woman in his district was turned down for a credit card because she lived in an "undesirable" neighborhood. Barney Frank called up a lobbyist and not only did his constituent get her credit card, but they've done away with that policy for everyone. He said that it can work both ways with lobbyists. :-)

[DCKit]

16. Kick (&rec) n/t

[20score]

17. Just when you think they've reached bottom, they start digging. K&R

[pleah]

18. K&R

[ejbr]

20. K & R n/t

[yellerpup]

21. K&R!

Love the idea of fighting with the truth. Take the upper hand away from usurers.

[progressoid]

22. Well, that's only partly true.

Some Democrats will be part of the screwing too. There always are.

[ihavenobias]

24. Yeah, but this news nugget specifically says "Republican allies".

But generally speaking, you're right.

[Kajsa]

23. I hope President Obama gives it to

them with both barrels when he meets with the credit card
company CEOs today.

Using our TARP money then continuing with predatory lending
practices and increasing interest rates just isn't cutting it.

If you can breathe, you qualify for a credit card with a high
limit, nowadays. It's disgusting.

K & R.

[FiveGoodMen]

25. K&R

[Seldona]

26. K&R nt

[yellerpup]

27. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

Good work. Thanks!

[CherylK]

28. K & R!!!

:yourock:

[OhioChick]

30. K&R

:kick: