Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Banks crying foul over new restrictions for CEO pay

President Obama has announced his plans to control excutive compensation at financial institutions who are getting taxpayers money. I say amen to that! I think the plans don't go far enough. I think a $500,000 cap on the salary for these CEOS is still too high considering their behavior. I think these clowns shouldn't make more than $30,000 a year while they are using our money. I think its about time for them to come down out of their tower offices and live like the other 99% of americans do but without the stock options and access to private lear jets. The banks chief problems with the plans are listed below:


"Among the banks' concerns: limits on executive compensation and government oversight that could extend to tracking how every TARP dollar is spent. One clause in the general TARP agreement says Congress can amend the lending terms at any time, and that a participating bank must adhere to any such amendments, including compensation rules and loan requirements, Gustini and others say." a quote taken directly from the america lawyer site.


Its funny how these banks are crying foul over the propose amendments to the terms of the application they are using to get our money to run their banks. Are these restrictions any worse than the terms and agreements they place on their credit cards or mortgage papers(in some cases the subprime mortgage applications they so aggressively sought to push on unsuspecting consumers). Do they not say they change the terms and agreements on accounts with out regard to us as consumers. As they say what good for the goose is good for the gander.



I say it about time some has finally given them a taste of their own medicine. ITS A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW BUT SUCK IT UP AS SOME OF YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS WOULD SAY. Karma is a bitch.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Middle Class America needs help NOW

" The Task Force is a major initiative targeted at raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America. It is comprised of top-level administration policy makers, and in addition to regular meetings, it will conduct outreach sessions with representatives of labor, business, and the advocacy communities" quote taken directly from the whitehouse.gov website.

The ideas behind this task force are noble but how can these people who have probably never seen a poor day in their life time except maybe Vice president Biden actually know what is going on with middle class America or know what its like to be insured.

Why do we have to pay the bill for another task force of people who will probably spend the next four years researching issues which are already known while the country becomes a two class society: those who have money and those who have nothing.

For the past 8 years nothing was done in Washington as oil company profits soared(and our former president and vice president got richer as a result) and middle class Americans (the working poor) have seen their lives turn upside down by companies who were given tax breaks(thanks again to our former president) to send our jobs overseas.
You don't need to sit down and have a task force research what's happening in front of your eyes. There is a war going on and its not overseas. Its right here on American soil and the prey is Middle class Americans. The hunters are Corporate America who were in dire need of government bailout money(our money) but still manages to send employees on luxury vacations and give the CEOS who effectively ran the economy into the ground their big bonuses. We don't need another taskforce. We need politicians who are finally going to do something. We need people who aren't afraid to do the right thing. The time for talk is over. Get up off your asses and do something. Here are some suggestions as to what needs to be done now.

Laws need to be made to stop banks from rising interests on credit cards. I am going to provide you with a quote from CHASE BANK most recent change in credit card terms disclosure " We are sending you this notice to let you know that we will be making some changes to your credit card account in response to current market conditions and to MAINTAIN PROFITABILITY ON YOU ACCOUNT. A consumer can accept the changes and watch their interest rate go up (which could affect interest rates for other credit cards they hold or they can opt out of the changes and their account will be closed, which will affect their credit rating.)


Maybe I'm crazy but this makes absolutely no sense at all. For someone such as my self who has never made a late payment , has paid more than my monthly minimum payment and someone whose credit score is 720, my interest rates should be going down not up.


You would think chase would want to continue to receive payments and not force consumers into bankruptcy. The mere fact they would actually put in the words to maintain profitability on your account turns my stomach and sounds down right criminal given this economy. They are once again victimizing the very consumers who are bailing their asses out. I say no more. I work hard for my money and I no longer wish to bailout these assholes or wish to do business with them. Let's stand together on this America and stop banking with CHASE and any other bank who is currently doing this. If it means withdrawing what little savings you have then do it. Your money is safer under your bed then in the hands of these crooked banks. We proved in this last election that if we want things to change then we have to get out and do something.

Secondly, something has to be done about cobra insurance costs immediately. A person loses their job, gets a miserly unemployment check and are expected to pay $400 to $500 plus to keep their health care coverage in addition to providing a roof over their heads and food. This is the very reason we have so many uninsured Americans. I think a company who was given a tax break to send jobs overseas should have to continue to pay the cost of health care for each employee and their dependents at the time of layoff until that employee either finds another job with compatible health care coverage or until the person retires(I bet this will stop all these layoffs). We are dying out here Washington and no one in our nation's capital seems to give a damn.

We can fund a war no one wants to fight but we can't fund a health care plan for all Americans? Anyone else sees the problem with this. Let's pretend the middle class of America are citizens of IRAQ and send money to feed , rebuild and provide health care to them. If this is what it takes then so be it.