Starvation is my Ally!

[Cobalt-60]

When General MacArthur said it, he was referring to the battle against the Japanese in New Guinea.
When I say it, I'm referring to money lenders.
Since shortly after the invention of money, the parasites have maintained a tradition of abusive greed.
The Republican Party dances to their tune. That's because a slice of every dollar you pay them goes directly to the Republican Party.
That's the last place in the universe I want my money to go. Id rather use it for *ss wipe.
I've punched them off. There will be no further borrowing of any description, regardless of the consequences.
I recommend you do the same.
The game is also rigged so you pay the Republican Party to use your cash.
The Bankers have decided to bleed small accounts away with excessive fees. I mean stuff like charging for counter visits and visits to the bank's own ATM. Part of every fee is kicked back to the Republican Party, one way or another.
There is no escape from the need for banking services, but you can reduce your consumption of them to a bare minimum.
First the ATM card is for emergency use only. Only if you need something enough to authorize a contribution to the Republicans should you ever swipe that card.
Cash checks in the lobby, just like it was 1960. Make sure you get enough, they charge for checks , too.
If you're used to hitting the atm it may take some adjustment. But you'll soon feel the benefit in the form of a bigger balance.

[skids]

1. Well done.

Welcome to the debt-free side of civilization where you can live with dignity. Or, well, some amount of dignity as these days we still have to contend with civil rights violations.

Though I have to say maybe you are being a tad bit extreme in your attitude towards all lenders. While it's true that most of them are "part of the problem" these days, in a more ideal society, lenders can actually be a positive force. Unfortunately those types of lenders have fled the market for the most part because the predators chased them out.

(You might want to look around for a credit union you qualify for. Some of them can be quite progressive, and even those that aren't are often a step up from big banks.)

There are also good reasons to borrow sometimes, just they aren't the ones advertised. Mainly things that cost a lot of money up front, but save you more than that amount of money over time, are good candidates for a responsible and mutually beneficial lending arrangement.

Now as to what Republicans objectives are that's simple and you're right on point: not only do they want your money for themselves, though, they also want you not to have money in reserve. They want to keep you scrambling for rent and food money so you're too busy start playing for political power. Give you the illusion that you are middle class when in reality you are easily coaxed into slave-like behavior. That's what they are all about.

[Sammy Pepys]

2. Use a credit union

Fees are lower there if not non-existent, and they operate on a not-for-profit basis. All you have to do is meet the membership criteria, which may be based on where you live or work or other very general parameters.

[Greyhound]

3. I've been with Washington Mutual for about 12 years now, and it is

exactly this reason that keeps me there. The only fee I have ever paid in all that time (other than the money they've made on using my money for their own investments, which doesn't effect my account balance) is one overdraft charge when I forgot to make a deposit about 6 years ago. BTW, they waived half of that fee because I'd "been with them for so long and never did this before".

Of course they are corporate scum too, but they apparently don't feel it is necessary to beat me daily in addition to the usual rape.