Hello, I'd like to take a moment to address the millions and millions of you all across America who are currently stuck in an abusive relationship.
Now I know what some of you are thinking: Who is Bill Maher to give me relationship advice?
But that doesn't mean I don't know a dysfunctional relationship when I see one. Especially when it's staring me right in the face.
You know who you are. Those of you staying in a relationship long after it's turned bad. Sticking around despite the abuse -- even as it's gotten worse and worse over the years. Sticking around only because it seems easier than breaking up -- and besides, where else are you going to go?
That's right, I'm talking to all of you that keep doing your banking at the giant, too big to fail, Wall Street banks that brought our economy to the brink of disaster, were rescued by trillions of dollars of our taxpayer money, then paid us back by using that money to hire lobbyists to convince our lawmakers in Washington to kill financial reform.
They took our money... but cut back on lending.
They took our money... and made record profits -- and paid themselves record bonuses.
They took our money... then returned to the risky behavior that led to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, with record unemployment, bankruptcies, and foreclosures.
They took our money... but kept on with all the greedy, abusive, ruthless, and cold-blooded practices that have earned them untold billions of dollars a year -- year after year after year. Things like charging you outrageous fees for anything and everything, jacking up your credit card interest rate to 30 percent for being late on one payment (it's a good thing sodomy is legal!), and refusing to renegotiate your mortgage after the housing bubble they helped create burst.
These big banks, deemed "Too Big To Fail" by our Wall Street-friendly leaders in Washington, are convinced that they can get away with anything -- because they always have.
But here's the thing. You don't have to put up with this nonsense. You don't have to stay in a loveless, abusive relationship with your Big Bank.
In fact, it's easy to get out -- and into something much, much better.
My friend Arianna Huffington has started a campaign designed to convince people to move their money out of these big banks and put them into smaller, local, community banks and credit unions that are more likely to see you as a person, not as an account number... and also to reinvest in the community where they are.
It's a pretty simple idea: If enough people who have money in one of the Big Six banks -- that is, JP Morgan/Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs -- move it into a local community bank or credit union, then collectively we, the people, will have taken a big step toward fixing our broken financial system.
It's easy, and painless, and will send a powerful message to Wall Street and to our leaders in Washington.
Face it: Real change is not going to come from Congress. It's not going to come from the White House. And it's certainly not going to come from the lobbyists Wall Street hires to make sure their special interests keep beating out the public interest.
We've got to do it ourselves. And moving your money is a great way to start.
This is not a conservative idea or a liberal idea. It's not left or right. It's populism at it's best -- and it's already attracted people from all walks of life who are sick and tired of the Big Banks and are ready to do something about it.
So it's time to go break up with your banker and get the hell out. Go to MoveYourMoney.info and see just how easy it is to end your abusive relationship and find true banking love. Or, at least hot, sweaty, monkey, banking sex.
MoveYourMoney.info. Tell 'em Dr. Bill sent you...
To watch a video of Bill on Moving You Money, click here.
Follow Bill Maher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/billmaher
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Bill knows.
I'd love to tell my story. It involves three of the biggest... Bank of America, Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) and Chase... who just attached my only checking account after apparently obtaining a judgment..
This has all happened in connection with my startup for "The Individual
But the banks have left me penniless.
Please! Readers... And Please you here at Huffington Post... I believe this account for networked citizen lobbying is vital.
I know you don't want links so if you will check my bio you can get to my blog where I've just posted a piece: "The Individual
Granted, convention
For a searchable database of community investing institutio
Great Idea ! It will be a "Civilian-
I'm moving my money! And sending a letter to the big bank to tell them why.
Please talk about this movement on your show when you start up again. Its so easy to do and there's zero risk. This will hit the big banks where it hurts if enough people take action.
I have to confess that when I was closing our accounts with Bank of America I felt a little uneasy, perhaps scared. I was abandoning a large, strong financial institutio
Guess what? The sky didn't fall. Not only that but there is a warmer sun on the sky now. After a few months it felt good to talk to humans at the counter rather than robots with canned phrases of friendline
And as I was looking at the people waiting in line I recognized many familiar faces. I was not alone in my decision.
I know someone who just sold their apartment and he was a loyal Chase customer for 40 years. Rather than put the proceeds in Chase, he is closing the account and putting it into two different community banks.
I personally hate Chase because they raised my interest rate on my credit card to 30%. When my car lease through them is paid off at the end of this year I will never get auto financing through them, I don't use my Chase credit cards any longer. Never will. Pay cash first, use a debit card if that doesn't work and as a last resort use any other credit card that doesn't have a big banks name on it. Pay it off in full within 30 days.
There are undoubtedl
Like in any other consumer transactio