When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one [individual human being] to dissolve the [financial] bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that [he] should declare the causes which impel [him] to the separation.I am announcing today my Declaration of Independence from Financial Institutions To-Big-To-Fail. Henceforth, I shall have no further dealings with J.P. Morgan Chase, Citicorp and the others that have betrayed my trust and nearly destroyed my country.
I have no vote in Congress to raise their taxes or limit their bonuses. And it seems as if Congress has no courage to do so either. So, therefore, I shall use the only power I have available as one individual: I will stop doing business with these people.
Goodbye, Chase Bank (successor to that other pillar of integrity, Washington Mutual). I am closing my account and transferring it to my community bank, which actually funds mortgages and makes loans in my community. Imagine that!
And goodbye, Citibank MasterCard. You're toast. No more 21 percent APR and threats of 29 percent if I'm one minute late on a payment. And who cares about the Frequent Flyer miles that you can't use because the airlines have limited the seats to an occasional red-eye to Dubuque. Your card just went through my shredder. From now on, I'm using my Visa from a local bank.
Farewell, you gluttonous, self-interested porkers. All your fancy derivatives and credit swaps have only served to make you rich. You have done nothing to create wealth for the rest of us.
