Occupy the Board Room!

Lloyd, a limerick 4 you! | 5  

Lloyd, my man, you have no clue
Of what the average man is due
You steal and lie
While in poverty they die
And you continue to accrue 

Astrid
92780

Who Counts | 2  

Dear Execs,

First off: "In my Culture, We Say, that it is Always a Cherish and a Blessing to have a Rich Person in your Neighborhood, Except that if the Riches is Obtained Through Theft, Robbery or Any Other Unfair Means, it does not Count !" Kimani M. Kimani 

I don't personally know the guy who wrote this, a nobody like the rest of us. I picked it up from a Facebook comment on the Bank Transfer Day page. November 2, ya know?

And did you know that up until now you and your buddies really DIDN'T count to 99% of the world? But not because we suspected you of robbery or thievery or unfair means. At least not on this kind of scale. We knew you were heavily into the petty cash drawer cuz, after all, the boss gave you the key. No biggie. Anyone would be tempted. 

Basically we just plain didn't think about you. 

Yes, we minded your extra liberties, but drew up short of your not counting. We were, and are even more so now, scuffling along as fast as we can in our little ways--good, bad or indifferent--to keep body and soul together. What goes on in your world doesn't count for us because it lacks any semblance of substance. It's all too woo-woo. We're kinda simple out here: we expect something REAL to result from our monetary exchanges, whether coming in or going out. 

Here are a couple of pretty good reasons, not to include robbery or thievery or unfair means, why you haven't heretofore counted to 99% of the world: 

One, you're not very practical or handy. You probably couldn't, oh, help build a fence between your house and mine.  Or change a tire. Or make macaroni and cheese from the blue box. You have no reason to know how. But you should. Just sayin'. . . You probably don't have to count your change BEFORE you go to the grocery store. Your world is all abstraction to us. And you know it's hard to count those darned abstractions.

Second reason you don't count to us: we're very, very unlikely to run into you. Heck, most of the people who work for you guys won't ever run into you either. You're so few and far between. Special-like. 

(See, I get it. To you, we 99% are just a sort of visual and auditory static. We're like living next to a beehive, aren't we? All of us out here bustling for a buck? Coming and going at all hours? Creating those blasted traffic jams? You get pretty tired of the inconvenience of us, don't you?)

Lastly, you're always sneaking in new rules. Let me explain. Say you're playing baseball, m'kay? Your team brings the bat; the other brings the ball. Game's going along fine and dandy until in the bottom of the 5th your team says from now on it's gonna take a shortcut diagonally from first to third but the other team can't. You insist it's a RULE. The other team says it is not so knock it off already. But your team keeps doing it and doing it until the other guys pick up their ball and go home where YOU DON'T COUNT. Now who are you gonna play? And with what ball?

What are you doing, huh? Please? Really?

Don't you get it? It wasn't money/value that you created in this debacle. What you did is pull a worldwide practical joke on the other fellas in The Game from which innocent people, the 99% who are not in The Game, got hurt. 

Every movie gangster knows that you never intentionally hurt people who are outside The Game. The occasional innocent bystander is a costly, unfortunate, and not very practical accident. You keep your business inside The Game. Period. To me a person who would perpetrate such a thing as this global financial meltdown is less of a human being than a gangster. Counts for less than a common gangster.

Thus, along with all the sorta minor reasons you didn't count to us before, you now can add robbery, thievery, and unfair means. 

And to think you could have been a Cherish and a Blessing.

I don't know what to say other than that. Fix it, I guess? I'd like to say I have faith in your ability to do so, I mean, since you know The Game so good and all. Hurts to see all that learnin' go to waste.

Yours in way too deep,
Mitzi 

PS--And by the way, you've kicked the beehive. 

Mrs. Kubota
97250

family members who've lost jobs | 1  

My sister and nephew have lost their jobs.  STOP SENDING JOBS OVERSEAS!

Eleanor Navarro

Tucson, AZ 85712

Forming Democratic Corporations | 0  

Dear James, 

  Corporations should be more democratic. Founding a corporation based on fair-share, or one shareholder, one vote is more democratic and allows more opinions to be expressed to the board.

Data Doctor
44224

Middle Class Worker | 0  

I fortunately still have a middle class job in this country unlike so many of our great citizens, but I'm writing this letter to you to inform you of my total disapproval of your business practices that have exhausted so many of our middle class citizens financially through misguided and inappropriate loans, corrupt lobbying, government bailouts, and a total lack of accountability on your part. I'm also personally fed up with frivolous fees from your financial institution that seem to be coming at me from a different angle every month. I'm so happy to inform you that I'm currently re-ordering my financial situation to remove your company and others like it from my life.

Kyndall Johnson
32962

You | 2  

I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I were you.

Lisa Horan
53511

Important issue | 0  

Hello and how are you?

I was just wondering if you'd like any refreshments to go along with the guilt you swallow so well?

Get in touch, and don't be greedy with the paperclips.
Much love,

Mike Vile
12231

Health Care for Employees | 1  

Hello Mr. Lynch,

As an executive of Bank of America, I have just two requests for you.

1. Please raise the hourly wage of your bank tellers. They make very little money and they deserve a good life.

2. Please make sure that everyone who works for Bank of America gets health care coverage. Health care is very important to a good life.  

Thank you for your time and for helping to increase the happiness of your employees by giving them higher wages and health care coverage.

Warmly.
Julia K.

Julia K.
02215

Hi, it's Maria from Bayside Queens, | 2  

Dear Mr. Evans:  Thanks for viewing my email.  I am a single older mom, 55 yrs old.  I raised my only daughter by myself.  In 2005, I had a brain tumor surgery.  I had another surgery for the same thing last year, 2010, on Thanksgiving day.  Then I had radiation treatments earlier this year.  My problem is that for years I have been trying to get disability in the Queens disability office, and have been constantly been turned down.  Yet I hear about all these other people who are better than I am on disability!!  I can't get it, they tell me I can function.  Well, I can't anymore.  I'm a pretty woman, presentable, and maybe I don't look disabled but I AM.  I am now being treated for depression by Creedmore, and my disability turndown is on Appeal.I was a legal secretary for many, many years, 16 yrs in one law firm alone.  Currently, I've been unemployed for 2 yrs and am about to lose everything I've ever worked for.  Since the job market is terrible, who is going to hire a 55-yr old woman?  It's almost impossible for me to get a job, I've tried and tried and tried, despite my disabilities.  I'm at wits end.  I wish things would get better for everyone.  It's especially very hard for older people, the "baby boomers".  Yet I still hear of all these corrupt big-shots.  Recently I read about the LIRR employees all filing for disability and getting it.  Yet someone like me can't get it.  Things are so wrong.  I paid my dues.  Now society has turned its back on me.  I went to one Occupy Wall Street event and will go to another one soon.  The issues are important.  I should know.  Some are issues that relate to me and a lot of other people.  Thank you for listening to my story.  Very truly yours, Maria T.

Maria T.
11364

Can we be friends? | 2  

Hi, my name is Catherine, and I am unemployed ... I have been since my family moved to NM in 2008.  My husband is a Doctor in Audiology.  I used to be a high school history teacher.  I know, what was I thinking choosing such a field!  But, I fell in love with the subject as a 2nd grader.  My uncle loved history too and went to a regular state university to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees in the field.  Oh, and he was blind too.  I was so impressed how he could use a regular type writer and I would get so incensed at professors who would mark down his typos due to "spelling errors". (Wasn't like he could "proofread" his work if you know what I mean!!)  But in the end he did fine!  I so looked up to him.  What a dreamer I was!!  Silly me.

Anyway, this economy, not sure how it has been hurting you ... but it is hurting us dearly.  We live paycheck to paycheck.  We live in a crappy neighborhood, our only car is a gas guzzler that is ten years old that we purchased used, our school loans with which my husband pays for  mine with his salary as well makes us feel we are barely staying afloat these days.  We have only $200.00 in our savings account.  We pay nearly $10,000.00 a year in health insurance, much like bank fees ... they just keep going up and up while wages are stagnate and unemployment remains rampant.  It is all so very overwhelming. 

Just so you know, I am not lazy at all.  I have applied to hundreds and hundreds of positions.  I have even walked store to store in an electronic age just to pass out my resume.  Most refusing to accept my resume.  Or if someone actually accepted my resume, glanced at it and said, "... you are over qualified". or "... you will be bored here ...".  The later should be my decision don't you think?  Maybe I am crazy?  Because FOX News (if you can actually call them news) would have you believe along with certain politicians that the unemployed are "lazy," or a bunch of "whiners" etc.  You know, the later may have some truth but after 3 years of unemployment ... people have every right to complain ... because despite our personal situations, we are very much obligated to repay our debts.  Or be nickle and dime'd to death by every  possible institution out there ... including employers who do not give their employee raises (oh, I am not referring to upper management ... just wanted to be clear there) or employers who decide they will not offer health insurance to their employees.  Something is amiss here.  What are your thoughts?

Take care!!

Catherine
(Former teacher, awesome wife, and mother, great friend with whom friends can depend on!! ... I didn't lose my identity ... when I lost my job!!)..

Catherine
87120

Catholic values gone down the tube | 0  

Hey Edward,  
Didn't you go to Catholic School.  We were taught to shun greed and the exploitation of people.  For a person of Irish descent you are a real disgrace.  You have lost your mortal soul.  What about taking all of your bonus money stolen from the American worker and try putting it in the poor box.  You are making a tone off money off war profiteering and cheating Americans out of their homes.  How do you sleep at night.
How hard it myst be to be such a greedy bugger.  Best,  Ann

Ann McCoy
11101

Wonderful Job` | 0  

Please continue the wonderful work that you do. It is greatly appreciated by folks like myself.

EG
02453

Your subject here | 0  

Your message here. Tell Wall Street how you feel.

Ryan Beebe

Pipersville, PA 18947

Re: Matt 10034's effusive nonsense | 2  

To: Peter Orszag, Cititigroup

Peter,
Just wanted to let you know that I'm part of the rabble Matt 10034 refers to and try as I may, I'm unable to convince myself that you add any value to our economy. 

The evaluation and efficient allocation of capitol may be crucial to the world economy but given your record I'm willing to bet a trained chimp might do as well and at much lower cost to all of us.
Please (comma) Keep up the good work (comma) our nation blah,blah,blah.

Sincerely, your pal,

Bernel

Bernel Bayliss
55413

Reform bank procedures and screen employees for aptitude. | 0  

I owe Wells Fargo $150.00 because a teller and checking account manager in Van Nuys, CA botched my contract. Their answer to me was, "nothing we can really do." Their answer should have just been, "we don't take Accountability for loose protocols and for our tellers B.S.ing us." $75.00 per month was withdrawn from our checking and put into our savings. Why? So Wells Lending institution has some of my money to play with. After catching several overdrawn charges with this tricky transfer, I asked a teller for my account to be adjusted to the $25.00 basic checking (which was not offered originally despite asking for the least expensive) and the teller said, "it's all taken care of." Little did I know but realized months later, my original account was totally canceled, a new one opened without involving my consent, and then the landslide of charges shortly followed because of the banking activities. It's hard to explain, especially since the account canceling eliminates me from seeing a history on my account, and now the banks give me their confusing figures that only support their defense. This is probably a common complaint to Wells Fargone, and if you'd like to contact me, David Carroll, I can go over my account and explain why I should get my money back. This is one way you can hear the voice of a citizen. In the future, when someone doesn't want overdraft protection, that's exactly what they mean. If my account is to low for purchasing something, I expect to find that out upon 'declined' at sale. For those like me with alternate credit cards with alternate banks, we have other forms of paying, so it's not a big deal really to have funds run out on some cards. We just use our alternate banks. Maybe everyone should consider using an alternate bank than Wells Fargo. 

Ryan Dies
91401

Sorry to hear that Americans are treating you so badly | 2  

Brian,

I wanted to make a suggestion for how you can cheer yourself up next time you feel misunderstood by the 99%'s. if you take about 5% of that overblown salary of yours, (probably your "walking around money") and stuff it in your underwear you can relish the thought that your balls are nestled in more cash then the average worker makes in a year. For a wanker like you that should be comforting and possibly even a bit exciting.

I hope that helps, but be cautious not to use fesh bills, paper cuts on the Johnny sound really painful.

BTW - my credit union is doing a great job handling the $30k balance my business pulled from BofA and I am saving about $65/mo.

Jim Begley
33603

Progressive Idea for Banks: Apply Yourselves | 0  

Hey. 

I haven't seen a single innovative idea from a bank since the advent of ATMs. So much for taking the place of manufacturing in the USA.

Shifting money around, or finding cover to shift it towards you, or even simply shifting money from someone's checking to savings and calling it a feature, is like calling a skinless banana, an advance. 

You have the advantage of intelligent and hardworking employees, yet have generated nothing to show for it except wealth in their and your pockets and a lot of pain elsewhere. Reasonable rates are fine, but not percentages of stolen wealth. 

Much has to do with the importance of meeting quarterly numbers which, oddly, is more important than growth over measurements of time actually tied to your business. Heard of a lifetime, or is that beyond your stake? Do you have no progressive or non-defensive moves left? Or simply no guts to think that there are more intelligent, sustainable, and profitable goals than quarterly profits?

Your responsibilities are not so miniscule, so inwardly immobile. You must match your company's culture with the anticipated culture of the future. Other companies do this all the time. In fact, it's hard to think of a more complacent arena than banking today. You have enough economists around, at least listen to them sometimes. 

It is your responsibility to understand how a corporation and a society interact. You must feed off of society to advance your company. I've seen none of this. If you are tone deaf to your own customers who clearly state their opinion, I'm sure you have a hard time hearing your own moral state, which takes commitment, nuance and a personality. 

Have we met? No. But when everyone is saying the same thing about you, the humor comes in seeing how long it takes the you to actually hear it. The joke has been told before, and now its on you. If you're not clear, read The Idiot.

Why haven't we seen intellect at all in the banking community? Because ego is intact. Why is ego intact? Because you consider your moves to be successful because you are still presented money for them. It makes sense: rewards are proof, quite often, of successful ventures. The problem is that you're writing the checks to yourself.

And you are still making money for all of your blunders, mostly micro management moves that only take advantage of the insular knowledge of the banking industry. How about acting like a normal human and developing other skill sets that can be applied and actually create innovation as every human and society defines it? 

How about learning another language, putting yourself in uncomfortable positions, traveling alone, listening to artists, writers, poets, philosophers, cooking for yourself for a month, sleeping outside, reading Orwell, Musil, Murakami, Hamsun, and Celine, frying a shiso pepper, buying a record player and searching for Archie Shepp records, dressing like Kukeri, or playing Nomic. Try cleaning your dishes. Or drive across the country staying in Motel 6s. 

How about stop so boring, dudes. Seriously, it shows in your work. 

Cheers,

Jesse

P.S. And when I say dudes, I mean it. More women in positions like yours would have more than likely kept us out of the ugliness we are in. Like I said, too much ego. Whenever you talk, it's as obvious as your tie. Thanks for listening.

Jesse Damm
11217

Wolfie! Tracked you since Scobanco days. | 1  

Those were the days when the pleasant and very competent Emily warded your office. The denizens of Schroder Capital would quake at your passing. We heard tales of your cello lessons with Ms. Du Pre, of your former prowess at fencing, and of your deal-making abilities. You are so well connected it boggles the mind. With the backing of Rothchilds and Rockefellers, you were catapulted into the ranks of the 1%, where you have resided for most of your adult life.

If you truly are a benefactor to all mankind, a benefactor to more than the famous charities that keep you name in the public lights, work to correct the huge economic and social injustices of the financial institutions you have served and created. Be a real mensch, not just a 'Sir' and another rich man with powerful connections. Use those connections and that power to create a legacy that the 99% can respect, not simply the circle of your peers.

You have been part of the giant vampire squid. It is time to swim among the regular fishies and distribute some of that great wealth you and your friends have accumulated. Use your creative mind to help better the lives of those your wealth separates you from. Be a real gift to mankind, not simply another rich leech, as I view you at present, despite the host of 'charities' and boards on which you serve.

History awaits your response.

Bonnie J. Cross
10021

Haven't eaten in two days! This is college? | 0  

I have been looking for work for over a year, for a simple part time job to supplement my living expenses as a student. I spend 20+ hours a week looking and interviewing, and the overwhelming fact is that I'm now competing with people who have completed PHDs for menial part time jobs. I can't get jobs I did as a high schooler these days, let alone enter the professions. Meanwhile I can't stop thinking about the malicious attack on the poor, myself included, BofA, the bank I still use, waged from the early to mid 2000s. I remember my ATM purchases being stalled, sometimes for weeks, rendering it difficult to accurately track my spending, and then go through in a manner that would cost me hundreds of dollars in fees, often for less than $30 of literal overdraft. I am not alone in this. You are strangling the poorest people in the country. Do you know what hunger looks like? Unemployment? Do you have children? What kind of world are you setting up for them to live in? A feudal world, or a sophisticated world wherein their nation is cutting edge in technology, education, policy, etc.? What you have done is not only unsustainable but cruel. Give me my money back! I'm hungry! It is hard to focus on my studies when my stomach is crying out! I will use it (my money that you have literally stolen) to promote a sustainable future, to correct the horrors your actions have ignited across the country and the world. Join me in this. Return what you've stolen. Let's work together to rebuild our country.

I struggle to get myself through the day, to stay in school. I don't have enough food, or adequate shoes to walk in. I think about the money you stole from me, and it makes me sick. Give it back and regain your humanity.

Rachel Kennedy
94612

When will you have enough money? | 6  

Hello,
My Grandson formerly worked for Home Depot which (at least at that time) did their payroll business with Bank of America. Jeff is a very bright, hard working young man who attended Clark University on full scholarship. When he received his first paycheck, he went to a nearby Bank of America branch to cash it. He was told by the teller that he would have to pay a two dollar fee to cash his payroll check. For the life of me, I cannot understand why Bank of America would need to charge a two dollar fee to a Home Depot employee who earned ten dollars an hour. Seriously, isn't that taking banking and corporate greed to a whole new level? I mean, you've already got the payroll business for a giant corporation who is paying you (I assume you get paid by Home Depot for this service), is BOA so very desperate for money that they must get it off the backs of workers who are paid ten dollars an hour? Corporate payroll accounts are very lucrative. When will BOA have enough money so they don't have to steal from minimum wage workers? The courtesy of a reply would be appreciated and you can reach me at [email protected]

Kate Buckley
03894

mortgage forclosure | 1  

I wrote to you a couple of years ago to try and straighten out a mortgage refinance with gov help that was very mishandled.Your solution was to just sell this mortgage to another bank. Only made things more complicated. If you can't handle the problem open your eyes,don't close them.

Stevie Isle
47802

Thank You! | 0  

Peter,

Just wanted to let you know that those of us with some sense of the difficulties in the global markets appreciate the work you and your colleagues at Citigroup are doing. The evaluation and efficient allocation of capital are crucial to the world economy, and you are adding more value to that economy every day, in spite of all the heckling this rabble sends your way. Please, keep up the good work, the nation needs you.

Sincerely,

Matt

Matt
10034

Eat This | 11  

Dear Mr. Moynihan:

Your transfer of $74 trillion in dubious derivatives to the public trust, that is, to be insured by the U.S. taxpayer who, like me, is literally going without food to pay my property tax, because I believe in taking care of my fellow citizens, is a crime against humanity. I hope I live long enough to see it criminalized, and for you to personally be liable for such a crime.

For you then to start talking about all the good that bankers do in lending money and predatory lending to those of us unable to find work to pay it off is a measure of moral depravity that is hard to understand.

I'd like for you to look at the pictures of employees making fun of the people they rendered homeless at the Baum foreclosure company Halloween party published Joe Nocera in the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/opinion/what-the-costumes-reveal.html?scp=3&sq=joe%20nocera&st=cse

You're not even making fun of us. You have both your hands in all our pockets and you're telling us we should like it because it's good for us.

OK, Brian, you eat oatmeal every night for a month instead of meat and vegetables and you tell me how you like it. 

You live in wonderland, which is a polite way of putting it. Karma will find a way of getting back to you.

Jeannette
87104

Unsustainable greed | 12  

Hi Vikram,
I thought long and hard about telling you about how your bank and type screwed me, my family and my friends, but I realize you would not care.  This would require someone with a conscience.  Why do I think you lack this?  Anyone you makes millions through deceitful ways that are also extremely harmful to others (to the majority at that!!) is certainly lacking in sympathy and empathy.  So, instead of wasting my time over dozens of pages of explaining how your practices (and those of your ilk) have screwed the 99%, I appeal to your common sense: Your greed is unsustainable.  Look at history.  It is only a matter of time.  
If these accusations seem harsh to you, I give you a challenge: prove me wrong!  If you cannot, no worries, I can wait for history to run it course.
Sincerely yours,
Astrid

Astrid
92780