Enough already . . . where is the ray of hope on the horizon from this Presidency?

[DollyM]

We run a small business and have one credit card left that we use to purchase supplies. Times are tough so we run a balance, hoping to hang on and pay it off someday. Today we got a push over the edge by our cc holder, Citibank, they are raising our rates to 18.99 percent. I swallowed a raise to 14 percent several months ago but this is ridiculous. We pay our bill on time every month, we never go over, in short, we have been a very good customer for Citibank. But we cannot continue using this card with our balance going to 18.99 percent. I can close it and continue and pay it off at the still high 14 percent but that doesn't help solve the problem of me being able to pay my supplies with no credit card. None of them will take debit cards, only one will take paypal. I am afraid that all Obama did was create a mess with the credit card reform and force little guys like us over the edge sooner. The cc rules should have been immediate. What were they thinking allowing the cc companies time to increase rates that we can't do a dang thing about?
In addition, we have no health insurance. My husband is diabetic and I have osteoarthritis and require shots in my knees to keep going. We lost our medical cards when our son turned 19 even though we make less money than we ever have and live way below the poverty level. I was hoping that medical reform would help us there will not be a public option until 2014. What are we suppose to do until then? Many of us are in a crisis situation in this country but there is no immediate help forthcoming. (Well, unless you are a bank like my dear Citi bank that took my taxpayer dollars and still plans to screw me out of more money.)
I had such high hopes for Obama, he has done nothing but disappoint me.

[Naturyl]

1. Best wishes to you

And good luck... you're going to need it. Help is NOT on the way.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Libertas1776]

3. Gave you a rec

but it wasn't enough to get out of the red. Don't let the pom pom squad shut you down.

[madrchsod]

4. i don`t see the sun shining anytime soon

when durbin said the banks the place he was telling the truth. i guess we will have to do the best we can with what little we have left.

yes obama does`t feel nor understand what you and millions of others are going through across the country.

[roguevalley]

52. hope stepped on a land mine. :(

[WCGreen]

92. I wish I could rec this post....

Spot on...

This land mine crap is just ridiculous. When was the last time w fought a frontal war and needed to seed the battlefield...

[theoldman]

5. I am retired and my wife and I live on a limited income.

We pay our credit cards off each month because we cannot afford the high interest rate. If your business does not bring in enough money to keep you above the poverty rate you are in real trouble. Is there a chance you can quit the business and work for a company that offers insurance?

[Naturyl]

12. That's how people get enslaved in jobs they hate

You advice is probably sound in a practical sense, but no one can blame the OP for wanting to hold onto their business even if it means sacrifice. Some people feel it's better to be poor on your own terms than well-off on someone else's, and I respect those people.

[DollyM]

30. we have both been looking for jobs for over a year . . .

there just aren't any out there. The business was always meant to just be a secondary income as I was a stay at home mom, now we have been trying to live off of it and it just isn't happening with this economy.

[KharmaTrain]

85. Insurance Jobs Are Worth Their Weight In Gold...

I ran my own company for over a decade and despite having to rob Peter to pay Paul much of the time...and enduring several years where my family couldn't afford health insurance, if given the same situation, I'd do it all over again. Being independent of the corporate games was liberating and always was an incentive to work hard and keep my clients happy. In the end, I fared far better...both health and sanity wise compared to those who left their fate to the corporates...working more hours for less.

Right now companies that are hiring will look for part-time rather than full-time. Keep employees under 35 hours and you don't have to pay benefits...and with the large number of people looking for jobs, getting two for the price of one is very common.

Wish I could offer the OP some positive words, but I can't. I've been watching things get worse...credit get tighter and a lot of money still sitting on the sidelines. A recovery won't happen as long as the large debt mess out there looms over our heads.

[Deja Q]

109. In case you hadn't noticed, more large companies are laying off and/or offshoring,

using that fuzzy math to claim they have higher profits this fiscal quarter.

I wish it was as easy as you make it all sound.

Most people do.

Signed,
the real world.

[FiveGoodMen]

6. K&R

And sorry to hear about your troubles.

[alstephenson]

7. K & R

But I think your disappointment with President Obama is misplaced.

[HipChick]

8. agree..

[green917]

36. why?

I know I'll probably get flamed for this post but why would you feel that the OPer's dissapointment with President Obama is misplaced? What has he delivered on?

Repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell?...Nope

"We will end this war (sic-> in Iraq)" -VP Joe Biden...Maybe someday we will end this war by sending hundreds of thousand more contractors to replace our troops...in other words...Nope

Defeating the Defense of Marriage Act...Nope

Closing Guantanamo Bay...Nope

Creating a green economy and putting Americans back to work...Nope

Standing up for single-payer health care as he said he would when campaigning for the Senate...Nope

Restoring our Civil Liberties...Nope

I could go on and on and on and on. The simple reality is that we fell victim to a snatch and grab that began in the mid-50s in this country and has escalated ever since. Over the last 60 years in this country, the bulk of OUR wealth has been redistributed upwards into the pockets of a very small, very select few. Sadly, although there are minor differences, the simple reality is that we have given the individuals who benefit the most from the graft and theft that are going on, the "responsibility" of making the rules...it doesn't much matter, with very few exceptions, what letter is next to their name when they appear on CNN or MSNBC to try to convince us that they're looking out for our best interests while picking our pockets and giving the bounty to their corporate buddies. "Yes we can" is a fantastic platitude to sell a product but, we as Americans (and particularly as consumers) haven't learned that just because something has cool marketing and design, doesn't necessarily mean that it's good for you. I voted for President Obama and had a great deal of hope but I also knew enough about his history and the history of many in his Cabinet (i.e. Rahm Emannuel) to be skeptical. Sadly (and it really does pain me to say so), my skepticism was correct. I definitely know that I haven't seen ANY "change that I can believe in".

[DUlover2909]

44. All I can say is that I'm glad the Dems control the White House and Congress.

It's better than the alternative. And I mean WAY BETTER. I'm disappointed too. I wish Kucinich had won the primary. I've stopped letting my disappointment in the Democratic Party ruin my day. I'm sorely disappointed with the Obama admin, but at least it's not McCain. That's all I can say at this point.

[green917]

59. I'm glad that President Obama won also!

I'm just disheartened by the current state of affairs.

[HamdenRice]

68. You'll never be happy because the reality of what's happened won't change your pre-existing views

It should be obvious to anyone who reads a newspaper or watches tv that Guantanamo is all but closed and the only reason it isn't is because of resistance by stateside politicians to the transfer of the last few prisoners. What did you expect? Just sending them all home without trials?

Civil liberties have been restored. Just LOOK AT THE NEW REGS -- oh, forgot, you can't because that would disrupt your world view. But the DOJ has issued lots of new regs dealing with terrorism suspects that have all these clauses that say, "subject to the Fourth and Fifth Amendments". It's like a new mantra in the regs. Warrantless wiretapping has been ended.

But people want to believe what they want to believe if they have a negative world view.

[midnight]

75. HamdenRice what are you referring to when you say "Warrant less wiretapping

has been ended"

[HamdenRice]

78. It has been ended. It's an urban myth that it's continuing-twisting of a news story about it ending

It's sad because no amount of facts can overcome an entrenched urban myth. Basically, Obama shut it down around day one. At some point later, Holder discovered Bush holdovers in the NSA were continuing it. When Holder launched an investigation to shut it down, certain left wing news sources -- including to her disgrace, Amy Goodman -- spun it as the exact opposite.

At this point, you can post this every day with all the original links but the myth that warrantless wiretapping is continuing is now an invincibly entrenched myth that no amount of facts can dislodge.

Here's a longer explanation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7078000&mesg_id=7078063

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7078126&mesg_id=7078226

The Obama administration ended warrantless wiretapping of US citizens. US law has always allowed warrantless wiretaps of foreign calls, and has always allowed wiretapping of US citizens with a warrant, including since the 70s, a warrant from the FISA court.

...

I find it remarkable that a news story early in the Obama administration about ENDING warrantless wiretapping has now been spun into an irrefutable urban myth that warrantless wiretapping of citizens in continuing. What actually happened was that the Holder DOJ discovered that Bush holdovers in the NSA were continuing to wiretap US citizens without warrants and IMMEDIATELY SHUT THEM DOWN. Holder apparently said something like, this was really bad, maybe worse than stuff they did during the Bush administration.

Democracy Now then reported this story falsely as something like "Obama administration continuing warrantless wiretapping worse than Bush." So Holder's swift action and investigation to SHUT DOWN warrantless wiretapping was spun into "Obama continues warrantless wiretapping."

...

Go back to the original news stories. Obama shut down warrantless wiretapping.

I realize it's pointless to demonstrate this even with extensive links -- I've done it several times -- because basically it is now an article of religious faith among the permanently disappointed.

[Orrex]

79. +1

:thumbsup:

[stopbush]

110. Exactly. There's nothing easier or cheaper to hold than a negative opinion.

If things go bad, you get to say "Told ya so." If things go well, everybody's happy and the naysayer still comes out looking good - it was good to be cautious.

Negativism is a win-win for the naysayer.

[winyanstaz]

112. you took the words right out of my fingertips......well said.

[DeeDeeNY]

69. +1

Very good point. Superman himself would not be able to turn this economy around singlehandedly after 8 years of recklessness, and certainly not in 10 months. To personally blame him for the he OP's money problems is a little much.

[WCGreen]

94. What do you mean 8 years?

This has been going on since 1981 with a slight blip for us regular folks in the mid Clinton era...

Other than that, it's been full speed ahead toward corporatocracy which is just a fancy smancy way to say fascism.

[DeeDeeNY]

130. Yes

Good point.

[cadaverdog]

115. Would Superman have given all our money to the banks, and

nothing for the people? Would Superman have let the victims of the crooked loan institutions lose their homes without a fight? Would Superman have hired Lex Luthor's friends to run our government's treasury department?

And would Superman refuse to sign a land mine treaty?

[branders seine]

9. government of the corporation, by the corporation and for the corporation

shall not perish from this earth

[Make7]

10. You should see if you can join a credit union in your area.

You should be able to get a credit card with a much lower interest rate and then hopefully transfer your Citibank balance to it. I know that won't solve many of your problems, but it might help keep your head above water until things get better. Good luck.
 

[MannyGoldstein]

And The MFers Are Still Unrec-ing!!!

Unbelievable!

[elocs]

93. They do it for the attention. Congratulations! You gave it to them.

:thumbsup: :applause:

[Greyhound]

11. Here's a rec. I'm sorry that you are among the casualties of his admission into the club

of people that matter. There are many of us and one day soon we will band together for each other or we will die.

"We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately." - BF

[niyad]

13. here;s a rec to counter-act the pom-pom squad, who must truly be without heart, without soul,

without one iota of compassion or empathy. may you receive everything you deserve.

[ancient_nomad]

14. Here's a KnR!

I am so sorry you are going through this. Things are very bad for many people, and it sucks. All Best Wishes to you.

[rateyes]

15. Kick and Rec and Fuck the Unrec Club.

[pundaint]

16. You're not special, we are all f###ed. Let's be a power block.

There is only one thing we haven't tried yet, and everything else has failed, - we must turn out every congressional incumbent. They work against us, in the interests of their own position, and the profits of their owners.

We are f###ed in various ways to keep us in competition for scraps, but however we are particularly f###ed, the beneficiaries of that f###ing remain constant, and the mechanism by which they are put in a position to be able to f### us is always Congress.

We need to recognize that the People have a commonality of interest, in that we all are being let down by the incumbents in Congress, and the first step to repairing the situation is to remove them all, and in future vote only as a referendum on performance, and not hollow promises.

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. K&R for someone SPEAKING THEIR MIND. nt

[Ignis]

18. A kick for visibility and to promote discussion.

:kick:

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. .

:kick:

[EmeraldCityGrl]

20. Can't you apply for a different credit card with better rates?

Do you have a credit union in your area? Do your banking with them and you'll be treated like a human being.

I'm assuming if you pay your bills every month as you said, your credit is good and this shouldn't be a problem.

Seriously, you continue to feed the beast by doing business with loan sharks and are surprised when they screw you again and again.

Obama isn't God. He can't instantly swoop in and save you from every problem in your life.

[fasttense]

66. A Credit Union is not the answer.

I've been a member of the same Credit Union for over 20 years. I've had their credit card for over 15 years. I just got a notice in the mail that they are changing my credit card from a fixed rate to a variable rate. I have a mere $200 on it and will pay that off this month.

We are all screwed because Congress decided to delay the implementation of the Credit Card Reform bill. We are merely the rabble to them. The unclean, unfit masses who get in the way of their ever bulging profits.

Obama is NOT the answer. We thought he was, but he is not a fighter. We need a fighter right now. Someone who is willing to stand up to the corporations at any cost. Someone who is not afraid of the tea-baggers and their Republicon machine. We have a compromiser in the office of the Presidency when we need a fighter.

The only thing we have NOT tried are weeks and weeks of demonstrations. Demonstrations that congest the streets and interfere with collection of the corporations profits. Until we get mad enough, or suffer enough to stand out on the street for weeks, we will continually get nothing but compromise.

[AllyCat]

88. When I heard on the news last night that he would escalate the conflict

in Afghanistan, that's the first thing I wanted to do. I practically pulled off the road at 1 a.m. to make a sign and start marching. I'm so fed up with this stupid government!

[sushi]

116. I read

that BO doesn't like drama. Who, in your opinion, is a fighter?

[AllentownJake]

21. I'm sorry

The biggest kick in the ass is the US government is the largest single holder of Citigroup shares.

[branders seine]

22. I hope it doesn't suck as bad as it looks like it will.

does that count as hope?

[MiniMe]

23. Unfortunately, it is congress, not the Obama Administration

And the dems actually had a bill to stop this game of raising the rates before they couldn't raise them just because anymore, and the repukes of course killed it. However, I agree that Obama should speak out on it. But there isn't really much he can do unless a bill gets to his desk.

[brentspeak]

41. It's both Congress and Obama

As President and leader of the Democratic party, it's his job to speak out and push for specific useful legislation. He spoke out for vague health care reform legislation that has only turned out to be a gigantic corporate giveaway mess. And he certainly was no help at all in regard to the credit card legislation.

[pokercat999]

80. Obama should be speaking bluntly and honestly. By this time

he should have the corporate boardrooms across the world discussing his assignation. He should have the bribe taking (most all of them) members of congress resigning by the dozens. Instead he is a major part of the problem, he is building his resume for after office. Make no mistake Obama will leave office with a lifetime healthcare, office expense, travel expense, SS protection, and salary among his perks. He will command millions in speaking fees, yeah he hit the jackpot, no doubt about it.

The little people, they'll be ok, they always have been, if you just close your eyes to their despair your conscious will be fine. It's easy to see the big picture, "how does this benefit ME?" is the real question for people like Obama and his buddies in congress on both sides of the aisle.

[rantormusing]

24. K & R

I hear ya, my employer is struggling to stay afloat in this climate and has used credit for payroll a few times. I myself am not in the greatest of circumstances, but i don't expect any help from this administration. The only assistance or relief we'll see will be the ones that have first met prior approval.


Obama's energies are misplaced

[Stinky The Clown]

25. I can offer little solace, Dolly, but to you and your husband, I offer this .....

:grouphug:

Sadly, you'll hear many people defending the status quo over real people in real trouble. Just yesterday, someone called the hurting people of Michigan "whiners" for not going along with the status quo.

Supposedly, these people are Democrats.

I don't know that type of Democrat.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bobbolink]

27. For many people, the words "Hope" and "Change" were enough.

Those of us who wanted more than words were dismissed and harangued as "Purists".

Here's a crisis situation... I'm living in my car, and yet... where is the concern about ending homelessness?

At least your concerns are getting SOME action.

Mine?

HAH.

[on point]

28. Good guy, but where's the change?

Nice to have a smart articulate guy, but he has failed to deliver on the following:
1. Land mine treaty
2. Health care reform for real, not a marketing scam
3. Prosecution bush criminals
4. Truth about Iraq war crimes and torture
5. reform of wall street
6. Jury still out on climate change, but the same spineless cave-ins to delusional conservatives seems to be operative

[sushi]

118. What president

has ever delivered on all his promises? BO is just a politician, like all the others.

Last November when I was watching the election on TV, I remember thinking that 'these people are so enthusiastic, I hope they won't be too disappointed.'

*I* was very disappointed because I was pro HRC. I wanted to see a woman in the WH!

I wish O/P all the best.

[yurbud]

29. Change your last name to Goldman Sachs, commit epic fraud, and you might get help...

[Maineman]

31. I guess there needs to be a progressive running against Obama in 2012

[MadMaddie]

32. DollyM I wish you and your family the best

President Obama was not president when the laws were passed to allow the Corporations (CC companies) to run rough shod over consumers...

One of those bills was the banktrupcy bill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankruptcy_Abuse_Prevention_and_Consumer_Protection_Act

Others will have to help me with the other bills that the Repug congress passed to the detriment of the American citizen.

The CC companies are doing this in retaliation to the impending changes in laws that they cannot gouge their customers. President Obama has no control over them at this point.

I agree with another poster if you can join a Credit Union that would be a good thing.

Good luck and Best wishes.

[Bluenorthwest]

87. The President could have vetoed the CC reform and insisted

on interest rate controls and an immediate start date for the changes. He did not do any of that. He has the power, and did not use it. Pretending that the most powerful man on earth is unable to do anything is as silly as expecting that he'd have done everything already. No one made him sign half assed law that put many in horrible binds. He picked up that pen and made it law. Freely he did that, and without a word of criticism for the bill.

[dflprincess]

33. Have you called them?

a few months ago they bumped up my rate and I called to protest (I made no threats about canceling the card) pointing out that, like you, I pay on time and had not gone over the balance. They still raised the rate some but at least not as much as the original letter said they would.

It's worth a try.

[DollyM]

126. I just did that . . . .

I sent an email to citibank the day I got the letter. I don't hold out much hope though. They are using the good customers to make up for the ones who don't pay their bills. I just don't understand how they think they are going to benefit if I close my account with them, as will a lot of other people who are fed up with the rate increases.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

34. K & R

[quickesst]

35. A lot of people....

...here at DU were brow-beaten, ridiculed, insulted, and demeaned in a myriad of ways for trying to tell the dreamers out there, the majority if you will, that Obama was not what they wanted him to be, but the majority of those who were wrongully accused voted for him simply because the alternative was unimaginable to any sane human being. For good or bad, Obama is a president who is a Democrat. The same dreamers had better get off their high-horse, and back this president. The same "unimaginable" alternative looms in 2012, and the back-lash Obama is enduring now will only increase the possibility that actual crazy people could be in the White House. Where would your high ideals be then? The crapper. Keep this up, and unless someone has a Democratic nominee who is equal in status to Jesus Christ, Bubba the Hog, Ghandi, John Lennon, Pat Boone, and Jimi Hendrix combined, someone may be awfully disappointed in about three years. Unity is the key. Repugs have understood this for some time, but Democrats would rather lose and retain their dignity in the gutter than win in the greater hope that the Democratic/liberal ideals might at least have a chance at some point in near future. Or Obama might be the anti-christ and we're all doomed to hell anyway. :evilfrown: Thanks.
quickesst

[Kermitt Gribble]

37. Lol! BOO!

"You better be afraid of what will happen in 2012 if you don't toe the line!" - great fear campaign, moran.:spank:

[lyonspotter]

48. If we believe the reason...

Obama has not done as promised is due to the fact that he is not actually acting on his own but on behalf of the elite, then that same mechanism would be in place for Palin, McCain, whomever. There is little difference between the parties because its the same owners holding the reigns.

I am sorry to hear of your situation, DollyM. Take care.

[Lars39]

54. The citizens of this country aren't responsible for the vacuum

that is being formed. That comes from the top down.

[Luciferous]

38. K&R I hate to say it, but I don't see any ray of hope for any of us nt

[debbierlus]

39. There is no help for small businesses....

......

I feel for you. My husband closed a small business this year, and it nearly broke us. I think we will be okay, but who knows the way things keep going!

[aikoaiko]

40. Ray of sunshine.....well....there's been no sex scandal so far.

:applause:

[Autumn Colors]

42. You need to get another credit card BEFORE Citi cuts you off

This happened with me with Citibank. I was always on time with my payments, they increased the rates several times and then suddenly, I was informed that my credit line was being reduced to ..... the amount of my current balance. I closed the account and am paying it off.

You need to open another credit card account (preferably, as another person suggested, through a credit union) before they cut the credit line off by merely lowering your credit line to whatever your current balance owed is because when they lower the credit line, that will send your credit rating down.

[salguine]

43. How long before somebody posts a response with the word "pony" in it?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

77. 45 posts takes the kitty,

[Dinger]

83. Or "Oh Noes!"

Pffft.

[pecwae]

117. One of the usual suspects

isn't in this thread.

[Bluebear]

128. "Then You never liked him to begin with~!!!111"

:crazy:

[Lorien]

45. Hang in there DollyM.

:hug:

I know how you feel. I'm not making my bills every month, haven't paid taxes in over a year and have had to borrow money to keep from losing the house. I don't know how much more people like us can take, and there are MILLIONS of folks in the same boat! It's a very big club, and it;'s growing. I see no sign of relief either, and I don't know what it's going to take to get our reps and our President to take the action we desperately need.

[invictus]

46. K&R

[BobTheSubgenius]

47. People like you are called the backbone of America.

And rightly so. Hard-working, productive, ostensibly creating wealth...but for who? Not for the people that it SHOULD.

How do we all find ourselves here?

[nini]

49. go find a credit union

dump the big banks if you can.

I'm in the process of moving from Wells Fargo to a local credit union. Better rates for everything.

Good luck.

[AzNick]

50. How in hell is Obama responsible?

The Democrats are the ones going after high credit rates and trying to pass healthcare reform.

Is this opposite day?

Personally what brought my business down was not the lack of credit, because I was lucky enough to buy all I needed cash, but the lack of healthcare insurance.

It's one step at a time.

They did not expect healthcare reform to take so long, that's for sure.

[JDPriestly]

51. Obama needs to pay attention.

People may just vote for a third party candidate this time. Or a challenger. Kucinich makes more sense every day. After all, Obama appeared sort of out of nowhere from the point of view of many of us. He spoke at a previous Democratic convention. But that is all I had heard from Obama before the primaries.

I know a lot more about Kucinich and I trust him a lot more than I did Obama 3 years before the 2008 election.

[Zavulon]

53. There isn't one.

I wanted to get out of Afghanistan and Iraq, I wanted effective health care reform. I'm getting none of the former and only lousy bills I can't support regarding the latter. The only upside is that if McStain were president, we'd be in North Korea now, too.

[ceveritt]

55. Dolly

I don't have much myself. But I can send you a little, if you like.

I'm also not sure about how we can communicate apart from this OP. I can leave you a phone number, address or e-mail address, whatever works. Just let me know, and how.

I can't help everyone. But maybe I can help one.

CE

[Metatron]

58. How incredibly kind of you!

Welcome to DU :toast:

[ceveritt]

60. your welcome to DU

Thank you very much for that.

It's like I said—I can't do everything for them, but maybe it'll help a little. And I can't do it for everyone. But perhaps I can help someone a little bit.

We all gots to do what we can. Don't we?

CE

[niyad]

121. yes, we definitely have to do what we can--for and with each other--because we sure aren't getting

help from anywhere else.

you have proved, yet again, that DU'ers are about the greatest people on earth.

peace and blessings.

[OneGrassRoot]

131. Welcome, ceveritt!

What a wonderful gift to see your generous, kind post this morning.

Welcome to DU!

:hug:

[ceveritt]

133. to both Onegrassroot + niyad

Thank you both for your kind comments. I really appreciate them.

I apologize to you both for not replying sooner. It is rude not to acknowledge such compliments. I've simply not been able to be as timely as I should.

So, thank you both once again.

CE

[niyad]

120. welcome to DU-- what a kind and generous soul you are--glad to see you here.

[Vroomfondel]

56. Barack Obama does as his masters instruct.

Just like every other president, with the exception of the unruly Irishman that the masters had to "take care of".

[AllyCat]

57. I'm so sorry. Best wishes to you.

We are apparently going to spend the money in Afghanistan instead of helping our own. I'm so disgusted with this President I could scream.

[Mojorabbit]

61. I just got the same letter from citibank this week

After over twenty years and a near perfect payment record. They did the same thing raised it up to 14 percent from 8 and now this. We have a great credit score and they had been sending me checks every week to try and get me to move other balances to my card so it was a surprise. I think they are doing it to everyone.
I was furious. They will never see a dime of my business again. I still haven't forgiven Discover for doing the same thing during the 80's recession. I have a long memory and I don't think I am the only one who feels this way.
Wishing you the best.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kablooie]

63. Obama is intelligent, well spoken and thoughtful but maybe we needed a kickass instead.

Things were/are so dire that more extreme management might have served us better.

Granted he did appoint Rahm to be his sidekick-ass but that may not have been enough.

Maybe we needed more of a Teddy Roosevelt sort of guy.

[INdemo]

64. They get their money for 0 interest while Geithner will try and block

any (and has) real legislation that fixes this problem.It is getting to the point that I feel I voted for a Republican but didnt vote for a Republican..
0 interest from bailout money
18.9 interest
18.9 % profit...

[ceveritt]

65. DollyM

I'm serious.

I'm also sorry to be so flaming ignorant, but is there a way we can connect other than through this OP? If someone else can suggest something, it would be appreciated. If nothinig else, I'll just leave my phone number.

I'll check back tomorrow (Wednesday), as it's pretty late and I gots to get some kip.

CE

[niyad]

122. since you can't receive private messages, look at the letterbox next to her name, and click on it.

you can send her a message with your contact information.

[ceveritt]

132. niyad

Thank you very much. Sorry for the delay in replying, and for being sufficiently dense that I did not know how to do that.

Much obliged.

CE

[ObaMania]

67. K&R and good luck to you.

No matter how you spin it, we were all duped by Obama.

IMO, there's not one thing he or the Dems have done or will do in the next few years that will benefit those who voted for him.

It's sad, really.. I had lots of hope and felt really good about him becoming President. The state of the country now is status quo or worse. I'm not sure I'm really caring anymore about what letter is in front of a politicians name.

[Vidar]

70. K&R.

[deutsey]

71. I didn't have many high hopes for Obama, given the people like Summers

he has around him.

Still, I had hope that Obama would be an effective advocate for people like us. I don't see where he is capable of that, however.

Honestly, I feel very much alone politically, very vulnerable to the massive corporatist and militarist powers that own this country, to the bottom-feeder hucksters that thrive like fungus in this privatized hell that America has become. I don't see but a few in Congress fighting for our interests, but they can only do so much.

Making matters even worse, it seems that too many people who are being exploited in this system are oblivious to it or even rally to SUPPORT it because the corporate media keep us so distracted and deluded.

I hope that enough people will get pissed off enough to do something about all this, instead of relying on politicians all the time. They did in the late 19th century/early 20th...they did in the '50s and '60s. But the powers arrayed against us now are enormous and very sophisticated.

I'm not too optimistic at the moment, but I'm not giving up.

[sendero]

72. I've never heard of a business..

... that will take a credit card but not a debit card? A debit card is actually much better for the seller. Why won't these businesses take a debit card?

[girl_interrupted]

73. DollyM know so many people in your circumstance

I am so sorry you are going through this. I am very disappointed too, especially with that credit card bill. If only they had passed Bernie Sanders version. I can only wish you and your family the best.

[donco6]

96. LOTS of places don't.

I see signs all the time at the gas stations.

[DollyM]

125. my suppliers will only take credit cards . . .

Don't ask me why, I don't know. I know there are many of us in this boat that would prefer to just use the debit card but then again, it isn't pefect, you at least have some protection with a credit card, with a debit, you are just out the money if something goes wrong.

[Buzz Clik]

74. So you're talking about Bush, right? That's the presidency who got us into this...

[Echo In Light]

76. "Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slaves." Herbert Marcuse

[Toots]

81. There is something called an ARC loan (American Recovery Capital) which is a part of the stimulus bi

For the first year you pay nothing and then you pay it off over five years with zero interest. The maximum amount is thirty five thousand dollars. The small business administration handles it but your local bank will actually be the ones to give out the money. The SBA just guarantees the whole amount. The application forms are to the SBA though and they are over twenty five pages long. It is almost overwhelming but if you truly need a lifeline it may be available to you.

[crazyjoe]

82. if you are a good credit card customer, you should be

inundated with offers from other credit card companies.
sometimes I wonder about these posts, they just don't make sense.

[Jakes Progress]

103. That was so two years ago.

Not now.

[Schema Thing]

105. . replied in wrong spot n/t

.

[DollyM]

127. We are inudated with offers from other cc companies .. .

But it looks like everyone is raising rates so what is the difference. I will just be switching from one problem to another. What we need is a law that doesn't allow banks to raise cc rates on good customers especially since the market interest rates area still low. It just irks me that I am being punished because someone else didn't pay their cc bill.

[blindpig]

84. k&r n/t

[emald]

86. disappoints me also.......badly.

Obama has been a huge let down. If I wasn't already an independent I would be now. Democrats are spooky.

[Balderdash]

89. Good luck to you!

Kicked and recommended.

[LynneSin]

90. Anyone who thought this mess would be cleaned up in less than a year is nutz

He never promised that. I elected Obama knowing that we would probably see alot of darkness before we reached the end of the tunnel.

As for your credit card situation - shop around. Why pay off a 19% card when you probably have many other CC options that will do low cost transfer balances. I got rid of one of my 24% interest rates by switchign to a 9 months 0% balance transfer and I paid the thing off. I now have 10% on that card (btw I round up).

As for the health care reform - there are 14 major items being put into play once this bill is signed - many of them to the benefit of all of us. As for the public option not being ready until 2014? Do you think Obama can just wave a magic wand and *Boom* this thing is ready to setup and run? The public option is a major reform that will require alot of work to set-up and impliment. Or would you prefer we just slap something out there that is busted on arrival and a nightmare because we didn't give it the proper time to setup the computers, the file delivery system, the billing and and the personnal to make this thing run properly.

We are all suffering. I never expected sunshine and rainbows the day after Obama was sworn in as president. Hell I'd be happy for a nice overcast day with the sun peaking thru by the end of the 4 years of the adiminstration.

[Riley18]

97. Nothing so far suggests that we will be any better off in 4 years. If anything,

the future looks even worse. The banks are completely in control and are becoming even more arrogant with their power. I am sick and tired of our elected representatives acting dazed and confused as the banks keep ripping us off. What else did they expect to happen in 9 months? Why weren't the banks ordered to cap their rates immediately? Years ago these rates would be called usury and were only found with loan sharks. Now these rates are acceptable practice. Look at home modifications. It isn't easy to find out much about them because the banks are not really offering many. It makes no real sense that taxpayer money would be handed over to the banks with no strings attached.

It really is a shame because so many people, myself included, had such high hopes for this administration. I understand that we are still much better off with what we have rather than McCain, but my greatest fear at this point is that there will be a republican back in the White House in a few years.

[LynneSin]

98. You're right - I should have voted for McCain/Palin

:eyes:

[Riley18]

100. I never said anyone should have voted for McCain???

[DailyGrind51]

91. Instead of bailing out the guys who caused this mess, "we" should have bailed out the average guys.

[Peacetrain]

95. There is 35,000 available in the Stimulus package for every small buiness through the ARC loans..

http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html

I would give them a jingle.. wishing you the best

[Greyhound]

135. The ARC is a corporate welfare program for the banksters. n/t

[femrap]

99. Obama thought he

could 'play nice' with the repugnants. We need a Fighter in there and we don't have it.

He just seems to take orders from the Corporate Powers That Be.

I wish you the best. I hate Citibank. I closed my account and went with US Bank....at least they aren't a NYC Bank. They're HQed in Minneapolis. Maybe you could check them out.

They offer a cc that gives $$ to the National Council for Indian Relief. Worth a try.

Good Luck.

[CoffeeCat]

101. Would American Express be a good solution for you????

You pay your cc bill off monthly. Why not switch to AmEx...you pay no interest
if you pay off the card monthly.

Sounds ideal for you.

[Hawkowl]

102. Solidarity

I knew we were in deep shit with Obama after he appointed Geithner and Summers. The only hope and change we are going to get is from our own actions. Everyone needs to pull their checking and savings accounts out of the giant mega-banks and redeposit the money in local banks and credit unions. That will kill these criminal banksters.

[truth2power]

104. Watch Frontline's "The Card Game" on PBS...

It was on last night (Tues.), so you might have to catch it online. There was some good stuff about small businesses. Seems small businesses were exempted in terms of raising interest rates blah blah.

It was pretty funny watching Chris Dodd make noises like he REALLY wanted credit card reform. Ha hahaha. He was a FOA (Friend of Anton) or whatever the guy's name was. Getting special perks from the credit card companies.

They're all filthy, repubs and dems. If anyone thinks they give a sh*t about US, I have some swampland in Arizona you can buy.

[treestar]

106. Sounds like you thought the President was elected to solve your personal

situation. And you gave him a deadline for it.

That's just not realistic.

[Deep13]

107. That pretty much was the sales pitch. nt

[mullard12ax7]

108. "Shut up and enlist" and "The Iraq War is Over" and "It's only been 1 year"

The excuses are endless for failed-capitalism apologists. They've got theirs so it's "Fck You" to the rest of us. But don't worry, a J.P. Morgan fascist will soon replace Goldman Sach's Geithner now that he got away with billions.

[bikingaz]

123. Yup and your opposition means you are a facist & a racist to boot

So if both parties are the same, I contend that Bush did not start the mess.

Clinton did with repeal of the Stegall act, NAFTA and his sex problems and GS buddies.
Bush exaccerbated the problems with cheap money and no oversight from his GS buddies.
Obama is handing out cash like it was candy on Halloween and doubling or tripling the debt. Who knows what it will be when he leaves.

We're screwed. Our children and grand children will be cursing our names.
History will not treat these 3 lightly.

[winyanstaz]

111. I hear you. My heart goes out to you and your family...

I am also heartbroken and sick of this mess left to us by Bush because Obama is letting us down.
I voted for Obama and I had such hopes but after the bank bail-outs and all the Bush people he kept in positions of power...I realized that there would be no change..only the faces of the front man changed...otherwise its the same people running things we had with Bush.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

113. It's being buried by the lobbyists in an unmarked in Afghanistan.

[Deep13]

114. I see to remember warning people about this during the primaries.

I conceded that HRC wasn't any more progressive than Obama (one may have been more so than the other on specific matters, but overall, not much difference.) My point then was that while both candidates were centrists, HRC actually had enough experience and knew where enough of the bodies were to coerce Congress into giving us meaningful healthcare reform.

Saying "I told you so"* never feels good because it means something has gone wrong.

*I don't necessarily mean to the OP.

[panzerfaust]

136. Sadly, you are right

that Obama is not the man he seemed to many to be.

As I have said many times, the democratic and the republican 'leaders' all belong to the same clubs, they all want the same thing: Power.



Now reality ... Still better though than if Despair had won.

At least, I HOPE so.

I truly do despair for the OP, and for all the other people in similar straights. We are approaching the Winter Solstice, a traditional time of rebirth and renewed hope - which is my hope for us all.

Peace (another unrealized hope)

[ceveritt]

119. DollyM

310-385-9051

CE

[DollyM]

129. Thank you Ceveritt!

That's very kind of you. However, there are lot of people worse off than us. We at least have family to help us out. I just find it amazing that my business is built on giving good customer service and from that I get repeat customers. I am willing to bend over backwards for them, helping them with extended lay a way terms, giving them little extras, etc. That is how you build and keep a business and customers. Yet the company of which I am a good customer, Citibank, seems to feel that they can treat me like crap. I just don't get it. Maybe if enough of us cancel our cards, they will eventually feel the pinch and all they will have left is the people who don't pay their bills.

[earth mom]

124. Sorry to hear what you've been going through.

How many people will have to hit rock bottom in this country before we all are able to come together and work for REAL change?

[Greyhound]

134. Please keep posting this saga, not nearly enough people here or in the rest of the nation have

a clue what is going on. We're all so isolated that we think our problems are our's alone. This needs to be addressed.

We have had trillions of our dollars stolen from us and gifted to the parasites that are/have ruined America, and most believe that it is being used to "recover". Your story is a great example of how much is not being done and it isn't getting out. This is a start.