Now, about those banks.

I am really happy to say nasty things about the banking system in this country. Most of us have used a bank and for each and every person who has been a banking customer, those people have been screwed by their bank. So what are the obvious problems with banks? Let's analyze these first. The first thing that really irks me about banks is the matter of financial float. When you swipe your card at an ATM or a convenience store, it takes mere seconds, on the slow end and I am talking about a dial up connection in the Swiss Alps that is being transmitted to the bank hub in Ice Station Zebra off the southern tip of Chile. In no time at all the purchase info has been transmitted. So why does it take sometimes take two or three weeks to come out of your account? Banks tell you that they let the transaction "float" as a way to protect your money, just in case it was a fraudulent use of your money. Some times they actually tell you that it took that long for the transaction to reach your bank. I say, however, that they are using this load of crap to screw you. In a digital age there is no room for float, it is an abomination of technology and it should not exist but, being a linear and slow witted group of monkey shaped beasts, who would be a hell of a lot happier if we could just keep track of our own bananas, we believe what they tell us. First of all, let's say I communicate via lightening and I want to tell my friend something but he is 2000 miles away from me, what do I do? Oh did I forget to tell you that we are directly connected to each other by a super conductive filament that is linked directly into our brain stems? Well, the second I think something to him, he will get that message about .25 seconds later. Quick and easy, that is what the global information network is like and it works that fast, if by some odd chance a transaction did get lost in the mix, it could easily be tracked down in minutes. It works the same with fraud, "I wasn't in Switzerland five minutes ago." you would say. "Give us proof." the banker will retort. " I am in front of you right now and I am not in a red super hero suit with little yellow lightening bolts on its temples." you may say back and if that isn't a rock solid argument, nothing is (for fans of golden age comic books, I will add that the person in that last scenario was also not wearing a tin helmet with lightening bolts on its temples, nor were there any bolts on his shoes, also he wasn't wearing a toga, that would be a dead give away). So why do they really let things float for so long? Because they are hoping that you, like so many other Americans, let them balance your money for them. If you keep track of it with really good records and all that saving your receipt garbage, then you can probably argue your way out of an overdraft charge. If you let the bank keep track, you will get overdrawn and they will use that as an excuse to stick it to you like a you a plastered prom queen, passed out pantyless by the pool. Banks want your money and they will use every trick in the bankers book to get it. I am not getting down on the people who work at the banks, I am saying that the entire system is corrupt and greedy, just like all business in a Capitalism, which is what we are in. If you have any delusions that we live in a Democracy you should really get out of your house and look around once and a while.
Tomorrow: More fun with banks, Yay I am going on a tirade. WEEEEEEEE