The Real Problem With Banks

Hey Barry:

Since I'm always talking trash about bankers, I thought I should explain exactly what the problem is.

So, here's the deal. Way back in the middle ages, bankers set up a system where there are endless opportunities for crooked behavior - money is actually lying around for their taking - and yet we assume and expect them to act like saints and not take anything that is not theirs.

See, the world used to be a scary place back in the 1100's when bankers got started - you had a good chance of being robbed if you carried any cash at all. So, you did the sensible thing and put it in a bank.

And, as long as you were sure you could get it whenever you wanted, you just left it there. You used the banker's receipts for your cash instead of carrying around all the metal.

So there are the bankers with huge vaults filled with cash that is just lying there not doing anything. On top of that, the case can be made that the gold and stuff belongs to the bank anyway. Even further, it is their job to use some of that cash to help the bank make a profit. And on top of all that, they don't have to tell anyone about it except other bankers.

That is just too much for the average human. I don't care how good a person you are, when you find a $100 bill on the sidewalk where no one is watching, you are gonna pick it up and you are gonna keep it.

Nobody even notices that some money is missing until the bank is about to go under.

Y'all can read about Jon Corzine and MF Global here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/05/national/w063614D05.DTL

Holy cow! What do you expect?

Well, I expect that some of those bankers will succumb to temptation and TAKE THE MONEY.

It is not rocket science, after all.

If no one is watching and loose money is lying around - some of it is gonna go missing.

Now, I could 'splain the fractional reserve system and its interactions with both the repeal of the Glass-Steagall act and the continuing bank de-regulation philosophy in the good 'ol U S of A - and I could even throw in the FED and its commitment to bail out the banks which get into trouble from stealing too much money.

If anyone is interested, I'll be happy to do all that - just let me know.

Or, you could read Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_reserve_banking

But, the point is this: Bankers are human and some of them are crooks.

If we let them alone, they will steal.

They will steal your money and they will steal my money until our money is gone. Then they will ask the FED for more money.

We have seen it before and we will see it again.

It's just a stupid system.

So, we can't leave them alone. And we gotta change the system.

Duh.

Your pal,

Fighting Banks for 700 Years

Hey Barry:

I know it seems like I rag on the banks a lot.

You know what, I do.

And, the thing is that they deserve it, big time.

But, turns out that I am genetically predisposed to criticize banks - if y'all believe that sort of thing.

My ancient ancestor was Philip IV of France. He was the King who took down the Knights Templar. The Knights were the original international bankers.

Y'all can read the basic history here:

http://www.history.com/news/2011/07/26/who-were-the-knights-templar/


And, y'all can read the Templar's point of view here - they really did not like Philip:

http://blog.templarhistory.com/2010/03/philip-iv-1268-1314/

So, Barry, the banks have been fighting governments and people for about 700 years.

Imagine that: This fight began in 1314 AD when Philip condemned Jacques de Molay and burned him at the stake.
And, the fight will be around for some time.

It's bankers against the rest of us. I know which side I'm on Barry. It's the same side as FDR was on - the Glass-Steagall side.

Which side are you on, Barry?

You gotta choose one.

No fence sittin on this fight.

Your pal,

Who's Really in the Shadows on Halloween

Hey Barry:

Wanna be really scared?

Wanna have a sleepless night?

Read about the shadow reps plotting to sell out the rest of the country here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/us/politics/outside-groups-eclipsing-gop-as-hub-of-campaigns-next-year.html

Words fail.

Your pal,