You Think What?

Even before this massive economic fuster cluck became evident to the masses we were writing complaints about the system and well known banking companies like Skank of America.

The following is another in a continuing series to educate and inform visitors to this site-consumers,  about the banking/financial industry especially in America.

Today we are pleased to present Scott Bateman a political cartoonist of renown. We’re fans of Scott. We hope you will be joining us as we follow his political cartoons.

Here now Scott Bateman provides answers to a 1947 film that promotes the idea that all of us should be to going to the bank.

Recently we witnessed the interview by Jon Stewart, comedian and host of Comedy Central’s Daily Show, a basic cable service program known for its send up of the news; of Jim Cramer, CNBC’s Mad Money man, the guy in whom, according to the cable financial news network we should put our trust.

Firstly, that the serious interview can only come on a comedy news program is almost a tragedy and says loads about where we are in this country concerning money matters.

Secondly, that only on a comedy show, and on a basic cable comedy show,  is it being mentioned and even admitted this financial crisis was no accident but something those in the industry could see coming and have been building towards for more than 10 years, speaks to the deliberate ignorance and deceit in which the public is kept.

Thirdly, that these financial reporting experts, with their own financial experts not only knew what was going to happen, but planned it to happen, and then turned around and blamed the ordinary homeowners, the ordinary Americans who no one ever claimed or expected should be knowledgeable in finances–that’s why they trust experts–while taking none of the blame themselves, speaks of unmitigated gall, indecency and should arouse, but for some reason does not, true outrage.

The average American is so financially astute that there are many people who can not make correct change from a dollar when the item costs thirty-nine cents. There are unprecedented numbers of people who do not have a clue about the economy, or banking which is the way certain people in our society like it. (more…)

Unconfirmed word on the Street–Wall Street, is that Bank Of America and CitiGroup may be removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The Dow or DJI is one of several stock market indicators, created by Wall Street Journal editor and Dow Jones & Company co-founder Charles Dow during the 1800s. It is a way of showing how certain stocks have traded.
Dow compiled the index to gauge the performance of the industrial sector of the American stock market. After the Dow Jones Transportation Average, which Dow also created it is the second-oldest U.S. market index.

You would think after taking as much of our money as both Skank of America and Shiti-Group have taken they could hold onto their positions as leading indicators of the U.S. economy…

From Jonathan Jarvis, a Los Angeles, California based designer, comes The Crisis of Credit Visualized. Jarvis has taken an extremely complex topic and in this animation provides the essence of the situation for those who are unfamiliar and uninitiated.
The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

Here’s news you Bank Of America customers can use, if there are any of that vanishing breed left,  especially if you regularly bank online.

In keeping with its image, BAnk Of America, “the bank that cares”, presents its newest security product called SafePass® which promises to be  “Bank of America’s strongest protection in guarding against Online Banking fraud and identify theft.”  BoA’s strongest protection to guard against fraud and identity theft is like using a condom with a hole in it. Since they are selling identity theft protection it makes sense they’d offer an innovative product that would increase the reason for purchasing an ID theft protection program. (more…)

Our favorite bank, Bank Of America, along with our favorite Banking Chief Executive, Kenneth D. Lewis are in the news again and the news is not good for the bank.

We’re hoping the scandals surrounding the banking institution some are calling SKANK of America, will somehow eventually resolve into benefits for the American consumer.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has issued a subpoena in his ongoing investigation of Bank Of America Corporation to get the names of Merrill Lynch executives who received $3.6 billion in year-end bonuses.
It seems Chief Executive Ken Lewis failed to provide those details during a lengthy deposition Thursday evening.

Lewis said he “answered the questions that were asked to the best of my knowledge.”
(more…)

The woman who is heir to the Bank of America fortune, Virginia Hammerness, revealed how she really feels about the executives in charge of the bank started by her grandfather. (more…)

Blanche Africa Reilly Dark has a commentary on the latest racial controversy involving the press and the politicians.

Recently the New York Post published an extremely controversial political cartoon depicting a chimp as the author of the economic stimulus bill just approved by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Obama.

Many people, both blacks and whites,  are offended by the violent racist messages in this political illustration. Some see the simian in the cartoon as a subtle reference to our new president who just happens to be our first black African-American president. Others see the cartoon as a definite statement of disrespect for the leaders of the House and the Senate as well as the office of the President Of The United States. To suggest violence against any or all of these institutions of government is not just impudent but irresponsible.

The illustration reinforces the long standing abhorrent tradition in this country of comparing black Americans to monkeys.

The argument comparing blacks to monkeys is a ridiculously specious one simply because monkeys are more closely related to whites than blacks. Underneath their furry exterior members of the species apes have white skin. They also have thin lips. (more…)

Last month Jon Stewart, the affable host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show,  made a suggestion during his interview with guest Gwen Ifill, of the serious news program Washington Week, as to how the economic crisis in the United States can be resolved.

We think Jon’s idea, like Ifill’s new book about political breakthroughs in this country, is indeed an idea to promote an economic advance in our system. (more…)

There’s a fantastically talented blues guitarist out of Orange County New York named Mike Quick who is visiting the Daytona Beach area during NASCAR Race Week.

Mike Quick regularly performs his original music with his band, The Mike Quick Band, where he takes center stage at his club the Corner Stage, a blues club in Middletown, New York. (more…)