Banks...Suck

I was perusing the CNN website, and, as usual, they had a question poll.  Today's question was something like, "Is the fact that banks are backing down on fees a sign of consumer power."  I voted.  It didn't take me long to figure out the answer, as it was obvious.  Of course it isn't a sign of consumer power.  But, not shockingly, 70+% of people said "yes."  I then proceeded to have a "Lewis Black" moment*.

The truth is that banks don't give two shits or a fuck about you or I.  They care about us in the sense that they want us around so that they can generate more revenue, but other than that there is no positive relationship between us and the banks.  What will happen, and mark my words, is that banks will cut ATM fees and then they will complain about how they aren't making giant-fuck-you profits anymore.  So what they will do is layoff works because the few at the top still want to make the giant-fuck-you profits, and coupled with layoffs will be the instituting of hidden fees or new fees in the other parts of your banking (e.g. loans).

The moral of the story is that the consumer, despite the popular myth, has no power in the American capitalist market.  Sure, we may have our ATM fees waved, but the banks are just going to find another way to hold us hostage.  Therefore, in the long-run, we have accomplished nothing.  We must find, or create, a new alternative to the banking industry.  Radically changing the landscape of the financial sector is the only in which we as a people will be able to have any power over our economic landscape.  I don't know how to accomplish such a feat, but I do know that it has to be done.

D

*A Lewis Black moment (LBM) is what one has when they hear, read, see, etc. something so stupid that one feels like their head is going to explode.  The symptoms accompanied with an LBM severe inner pressure against one's skull, a momentary lapse in being able to form complete words and sentences (sometimes one experience severe stuttering), a eyes crossing involuntarily, and a twitching of the extremities (usually the hands and fingers).  The LBM usually comes to completion after screaming expletives like "FUCK."