25 replies to this topic

[Shortpoet-GTD]

"Bank of America is the largest underwriter of the U.S. coal industry, contributing $4.3 billion to the coal sector over the past two years.


Bank of America invests in every dirty aspect of the coal industry, too, including loans to Arch Coal
and Peabody Energy, two of the biggest coal mining companies in the Powder River Basin that
are trying to turn the pristine Pacific Northwest coastline into a major hub for exporting coal around the world.
BoA is also invested in companies like Edison International, which owns the old, dirty Fisk and
Crawford Plants in urban Chicago. Pollution from coal plants like Fisk and Crawford cause health problems that kill 24,000 Americans every year.

We live in a time when the twin opportunities of job creation and the transition to a green economy are not only within reach, but desperately needed.
Yet Bank of America, more than any other bank, continues to prop up coal, a dirty, 19th-century energy source."
http://ran.org/

[mariaandrea]

Take your money out of banks. Put it in credit unions. The only thing large corporations understand and respond to is money. Public pressure means nothing to them because they have a solid wall of lobbyists and politicians between them and us. Protesting changes nothing. Voting with your pocketbook can if enough people do it.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

"During the month of October and running through the first week of November, exactly how many customers
poured out of big banks and into credit unions? Hard to say.
Based on a nationwide survey of 5,000 credit unions, CUNA estimates at least 650,000 consumers joined credit unions in October, a 13-fold spike over the average month. Also during that time, CUNA estimates credit unions brought in $4.5 billion in new deposits.
To help put those numbers in perspective, credit unions added around 1.3 million new members total in 2010. That means credit unions have added half a year’s worth of new members in a single month.
As of Friday, November 4, one day prior to Bank Transfer Day, ABC News reported that the number of people switching to credit unions and community banks had already topped 1 million.
And on Bank Transfer Day on Saturday, November 5, CUNA put the number of new credit union members at around 40,000, bringing $80 million in deposits along with them."
http://thefinancialb...er-day-results/
Laughing all the way to the CU!

[mariaandrea]

I LOVE it. I hope people don't stop and I hope the movement gains momentum! I love our credit union.

[yoder]

My wife and I have been planning our migration away from Wells Fargo for a few months now.  It is not something that can or should be done without planning, as it can cost you if you are not aware of the terms on your accounts.

We are looking at local banks and credit unions, but have not decided yet.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

I left B of A years ago before I was aware of their coal practices.   
I left because they were charging me $18.00 a pop if my balance fell below a certain level,
and that was in the mid 80's. Who knows what it is now, and sometimes before payday hits,
we all can get a low balance.
I've been with a local bank about 20 years; no fees at all. *Unless you screw up and forget to
deduct something.

[gangandealer]

I thought Obama was talking about switching to clean energy making methods, what's going on!?

[Shortpoet-GTD]

gangandealer, on 17 November 2011 - 09:09 PM, said:

I thought Obama was talking about switching to clean energy making methods, what's going on!?

The party of NO has control; that is what is going on.

[gangandealer]

Shortpoet, on 18 November 2011 - 04:06 AM, said:

The party of NO has control; that is what is going on.

Oh really? I actually find that very surprising. It's amazing what media can make people think.

[yoder]

gangandealer, on 18 November 2011 - 05:49 AM, said:

Oh really? I actually find that very surprising. It's amazing what media can make people think.

Both parties are taking money from the finance and banking industry.  Both parties are also against significant finance reform.  However, when it comes to clean energy, the party of no is just that, the party of no.  The big 2 parties have some striking similarities that are quite distressing, but there are still significant differences between the two and the support of alternative energy is one of them.

[ConservativeGreen]

Even during the 4 years that the Dems controlled both the house and senate, and 2 where they had the WH also, it didn't get done.  The differences between the parties amounts to window dressing.  Both are heavily invested in the status quo and unless we change out the people we elect we will continue to get the same.   They are making a fortune and giving lip service to helping the people who elected them.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

ConservativeGreen, on 18 November 2011 - 09:05 AM, said:

Even during the 4 years that the Dems controlled both the house and senate, and 2 where they had the WH also, it didn't get done.  The differences between the parties amounts to window dressing.  Both are heavily invested in the status quo and unless we change out the people we elect we will continue to get the same.   They are making a fortune and giving lip service to helping the people who elected them.

You should watch C-span sometime, or PBS, where you get the facts.
The r's filibustered almost every single bill the d's tried to push through, so yeah, not much was done
thanks to the gop.

[yoder]

I think ConservativeGreen is spot on about each of the big 2 being for the status quo, as long as it is "their" status quo, however, I do have to agree with ShortPoet that the reason the Dems didn't get what they wanted done is primarily because they were not prepared for the extent of the republican's blockades in the house and senate.  The Dems were not able to fight dirty like the republicans and got steamrolled (are still getting steamrolled) because the Dems have not been able to cope with or counter the ferociousness of the republican attacks.  This is a very significant failure for the Dems and they deserve to continue to lose elections if they cannot figure out how to counter the republicans.

[ConservativeGreen]

And when the balance is reversed the same occurs.  Both sides so fixated on winning they can't work together, can't appear to cave in to the "enemy" across the aisle.  Unable or unwilling to grasp the job they have been elected to is so much bigger than their ego.  This is a representative democracy.  And we are supposed to be the represented. I have taken my republican senator to task so many times he no longer replies to me.  But I will not be quiet while he goes on the record as having done "something" even if it is completely stupid.  There are good and there are bad ideas on both sides but if all they do is refuse to work together then how can anyones good be served?  The country is going to hell and they are worried when is my tee time?  (insert screaming anger here)

[yoder]

Wow, do I ever understand your frustration ConservativeGreen.  My frustration with the Dems is at the same level.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

ConservativeGreen, on 18 November 2011 - 11:37 AM, said:

The country is going to hell and they are worried when is my tee time?  (insert screaming anger here)

Here ya go.

[ConservativeGreen]

Thank You, I really like the one with a fist.  I guess I get a lot angry with politicians.

[jasserEnv]

The only good thing out of this is that Bank of American is at risk of bankruptcy. If enough people pulled their money out, they could fall and make the financial situation very difficult for coal companies in the process. This means that it is a good idea to write to your representatives indicating your distaste of any financial aid to this or any other bank.

[ConservativeGreen]

Good point.  It wouldn't do much good to pull the monster down just to have the gov't bail it out at our expense.

[Germs]

Just more proof than banks are corrupt and awful organizations, its a shame there is little in the way of alternatives.