Occupy Main Street - Screw Wall Street

[SparrowHawk]

Now that the debacle called Occupy Wall Street is winding down a thought occurred to me. While much of the message of OWS was decidedly off target and the messengers less then perfect they did have some salient points that from Tea Bager to Flea Bager one could agree with.

What Ron Paul calls the "Corporatists" have entirely to much control over the average Joe/Jane who draws a paycheck. It's difficult if not impossible to fight them at the ballot box or in the court room.

So how does the average Joe/Jill fight back? How do we register our disgust in a bipartisan way? We don't need rhetoric, we need results.

With the Christmas shopping season upon us, there is a way to be heard. Two things if embraced by enough people could wake up the folks at the top.

1. Buy ONLY from locally owned merchants even if it's a little more costly. If you can't buy it in a locally owned small business you don't need it and neither do your loved ones.

2. NO CREDIT cards PERIOD!! Pay cash, if you can't afford it your loved ones will understand.

The above actions with enough participants would send a strong message. Business & Banks track trends and if enough participate the trend will show. Tell Wal-Mart, BoA, Target, K-Mart, Wachovia that their reign of terror on American Consumers is OVER!

Become your own personal Jesus and throw the Money Lenders out of your personal Temple. Tomorrow is none to soon to start, Strike a blow for Liberty

 

[Ms Tree]

I get the local merchant thing. I try to do that when ever I can but it is quite challenging. We have a farmers market near us where we get all our produce.

I do not get the no credit card thing. I use my Amex for everything I possibly can. It's a cash back rewards card and I get a nice check from Amex every Feb. They extend the warranty for numerous products. Buyer protection is also given. I pay it off when the statement comes and all is good.

If you have the cash then use a credit card and pay it off. How hard is this. By not using the credit cards you are loosing a lot of protection and loosing money.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Been doing this for years.

But my wife spends all the money.

 

[SparrowHawk]

I get the local merchant thing. I try to do that when ever I can but it is quite challenging. We have a farmers market near us where we get all our produce.

I do not get the no credit card thing. I use my Amex for everything I possibly can. It's a cash back rewards card and I get a nice check from Amex every Feb. They extend the warranty for numerous products. Buyer protection is also given. I pay it off when the statement comes and all is good.

If you have the cash then use a credit card and pay it off. How hard is this. By not using the credit cards you are loosing a lot of protection and loosing money.

EVERY transaction earns the bank a fee. a merchant can pay as little as just under 2% to as much as 5% of the purchase in fees. Then there is the money they make on the overnight "float". Next are debit/credit card processing fees. While measured in tenths of a cent cost wise, multiply that by 100 million transactions per day and you're talking billions over the course of a year.

Of course Amex can give you cash back, they done bent you and the Merchant over and boned them up the poop chute and you're dumb enough to let them. Typical of the easily distracted by shiny metal objects public. I thought you were a do-gooder?? Apparently right up until it costs you your precious cash back rewards.

 

[Ms Tree]

OK. I really do like the extended warranty though. I also like the protection I get from unscrupulous merchants as well. I also have no interest in carrying around large sums of cash much less having to run around hunting for a ATM that works with my credit union and will not charge me a fee. Checks can be washed and again affords one no protection from vendors.

This is the world we live in. Sorry.

 

[tom barry]

GOOD points made by all !!

Dog wonder,...................... " I hear You" (about the spouse thing) :angry:

 

[SparrowHawk]

OK. I really do like the extended warranty though. I also like the protection I get from unscrupulous merchants as well. I also have no interest in carrying around large sums of cash much less having to run around hunting for a ATM that works with my credit union and will not charge me a fee. Checks can be washed and again affords one no protection from vendors.

This is the world we live in. Sorry.

Why am I surprised! Typical, it's OK for the Progressive to speak for the lofty perch of moral superiority and smug arrogance about how we should raise our children and how big banks are destroying our country, oh an be sure to tax the rich (Whomever they are?) But Son of a B*tch let one of them have to make a sacrifice for the common good and it's 4,822 EXCUSES!

Lack of protection is a complete and total cop out! Not to mention a bald faced lie. You have the State's Attorney General web sites which frankly deliver surprising results. Ask DISH Network! I went around and around with them over $70.00. ONE complaint filed on-line in less then 10 minutes of my time got an immediate response and a solution that was unacceptable (blood was in the water! I knew I could get more) by the time I was done after the second complaint I hod $335.00 in credits over a $70.00 issue. So don't tell me paying with a Credit Card protects you. Here's the deal, YOU protect YOU by knowing your rights under the law and not relying on some money lender whore who has you brainwashed into thinking you need them. Well you don't. I haven't had a credit card in three years and I don't miss them a bit.

 

[xUT]

Why am I surprised! Typical, it's OK for the Progressive to speak for the lofty perch of moral superiority and smug arrogance about how we should raise our children and how big banks are destroying our country, oh an be sure to tax the rich (Whomever they are?) But Son of a B*tch let one of them have to make a sacrifice for the common good and it's 4,822 EXCUSES!

Lack of protection is a complete and total cop out! Not to mention a bald faced lie. You have the State's Attorney General web sites which frankly deliver surprising results. Ask DISH Network! I went around and around with them over $70.00. ONE complaint filed on-line in less then 10 minutes of my time got an immediate response and a solution that was unacceptable (blood was in the water! I knew I could get more) by the time I was done after the second complaint I hod $335.00 in credits over a $70.00 issue. So don't tell me paying with a Credit Card protects you. Here's the deal, YOU protect YOU by knowing your rights under the law and not relying on some money lender whore who has you brainwashed into thinking you need them. Well you don't. I haven't had a credit card in three years and I don't miss them a bit.

What did you expect?

This 28-Year-Old Is Making Sure Credit Cards Won't Exist In The Next Few Years

The average transaction volume for Dwolla is right around $500 dollars. We move between $30 and $50 million per month

 

[tech2101]

You have the State's Attorney General web sites which frankly deliver surprising results...less then 10 minutes of my time got an immediate response...

So you relied on your government to bail you out. How ironic.

 

[Ms Tree]

So you relied on your government to bail you out. How ironic.

Lol.

 

[delldude]

So you relied on your government to bail you out. How ironic.

How did the government bail him out?

Did the government cut him a check?

 

[SparrowHawk]

So you relied on your government to bail you out. How ironic.

The Judiciary is a clearly defined role for government that allows citizens to seek redress. That's what tax money is for. NOT Solyndra

How exactly is going to a state's top law enforcement officer and stating "I believe that a crime has been committed, here are the circumstances would you be so kind as to look into the matter."

How oh wise and Progressive one is that being bailed out? Obviously yu've never filed a complaint with an AG. It works like this

1. File your compliant on line with as much documentation as the site allows
2. AG forwards your complaint to company
3. Company now knows you're not going away and contacts you. Usually within 24 hours of receipt of complaint from AG
4. Company is now far more predisposed to take a more "Enlightened" view of your issue due to the fact they don't want the AG snooping about.
5. YOU still have to negotiate for yourself. All the AG's office does is let you borrow a little of their considerable clout

This is often what I call the "Theory of the bigger Pain in the arse". By raising the stakes you make the path of least resistance your path. This is a very appropriate roll for Government as it protects our fundamental Liberty

 

[delldude]

The Judiciary is a clearly defined role for government that allows citizens to seek redress. That's what tax money is for. NOT Solyndra

How exactly is going to a state's top law enforcement officer and stating "I believe that a crime has been committed, here are the circumstances would you be so kind as to look into the matter."

How oh wise and Progressive one is that being bailed out? Obviously yu've never filed a complaint with an AG. It works like this

1. File your compliant on line with as much documentation as the site allows
2. AG forwards your complaint to company
3. Company now knows you're not going away and contacts you. Usually within 24 hours of receipt of complaint from AG
4. Company is now far more predisposed to take a more "Enlightened" view of your issue due to the fact they don't want the AG snooping about.
5. YOU still have to negotiate for yourself. All the AG's office does is let you borrow a little of their considerable clout

This is often what I call the "Theory of the bigger Pain in the arse". By raising the stakes you make the path of least resistance your path. This is a very appropriate roll for Government as it protects our fundamental Liberty

Sounds like you took steps to bail yourself out of a dilemma. Isn't that how its supposed to work?

 

[SparrowHawk]

Sounds like you took steps to bail yourself out of a dilemma. Isn't that how its supposed to work?

Well Dell, that's the way I see it. Of course the all seeing and all knowing Progressives here will proceed to inform me of the errors of my ways.

It really boils down to this.

Who is a better advocate?

1. You standing alone?
2. A profit making credit card company
3. You, armed with the tools provided under the COTUS to seek redress?

For me, Monty I'll take door number three. Back when I had credit cards I disputed charges on three separate occasions and LOST all three time. I've used the AG consumer complaint process five times and am 5-0. Now then given the disparity which method would you chose?

The way out of this current path we as a nation are on is for people to grow a pair of nuts and take action in their own best interest. When enough people take action it will become cheaper for these large corporations to provide better customer service. Until then we're merely numbers on a spreadsheets. Change the "Metrics" in regards to customer service cost and customer service will change.