I had the privilege of a family trip with Alison and young Benjamin to Colonial Williamsburg and Washington, DC. It was a trip to show Benjamin the historic roots of our country and our republic. Even though it's difficult to fit in these types of vacations, both monetarily and to carve the time away from work and other family obligations, we thought it important to do, for Benjamin's civic education and because there were only a few more years left that Benjamin would even want to be on vacation with his parents.
The highlight of the trip to me was a street theatre performance in Williamsburg. It moved and went up and down the street and we followed it. It included not only confrontations between men representing the American and Tory points of view, but also discussions among women and slaves (who briefly thought the British might free them). Everything culminated in a very dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence. It started with the first paragraph being read by a government official from the second floor balcony of the Capitol. But then it broadened out to include slaves (reading "all men are created equal"), women, the wealthy, the tradesman, the farmer, the poor.
It made you realize that the Declaration of Independence and our constitution are not stagnant, unchangeable documents, but a living promise and force for progress towards a better and more complete democracy. It took hundreds of years, and efforts by many determined people to fulfill that promise. Abolitionists, African Americans, immigrants, suffragists, progressives, unionists, counter culturists, the LGBT community, our brave soldiers - these and many more have expended heroic efforts to make our republic more democratic and inclusive. Never had I been more proud to be an American and part of this great journey.
There have been setbacks, some of horrible consequences. The oppression and near genocide of our native American population is a terrible blight on the American soul. The defeat of slavery, only to fall back into the morass of Jim Crow was very sad and disillusioning. And in present day, to watch hard fought for voting rights be shaved away by voting suppression efforts by Republican state legislatures, makes me realize that the battle is never over. It must be constantly fought by each generation, a never ending battle for truth, justice, equality, basic human rights and dignity - the American Way.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday Political Soap Box 14
Just a short one this time to ask about Move Your Bank Day. Are any of my friends doing this? Where do you bank and are you happy with it?
Where I bank is a community bank, and I have been pleased with their minimal fees and good customer service. I feel in general they have been a positive force in the community.
When we first moved to Blackshear we tried to go with the same megabank that we used in Rockmart (north Georgia). But we were so ill treated, asked to do so many things over again, that we just felt like if we were going to have to start everything over, why take the abuse? We picked a local bank, which we stayed with until they sold to a larger bank from outside the area.
I understand, everything else being equal, that local banks and credit unions are a more positive force in a local community, have greater knowledge of the area, and are more responsive to the customers that are also their neighbors. But there is a downside to everything, which is why I am a checks and balances guy. Local banks can also be too tied into the good old boy network, and be more generous with the already established 10% that rule the roost sometimes in local communities. They also, I would believe, redline (discriminate against qualified minority borrowers, particular if they want to come into certain neighborhoods) at a higher rate than the megabanks. Local banks can be like George Bailey and his famous Savings & Loans in It's A wonderful Life. But they can also be like Henry Potter. So sometimes you need to do a little more than just simply choosing a local bank and/or credit union. You have to evaluate whether the institution is a genuine positive force in the community.
So to repeat the question above...are you moving your money away from the big banks? Are you happy where you bank? What effect do you think any of this will have?
Where I bank is a community bank, and I have been pleased with their minimal fees and good customer service. I feel in general they have been a positive force in the community.
When we first moved to Blackshear we tried to go with the same megabank that we used in Rockmart (north Georgia). But we were so ill treated, asked to do so many things over again, that we just felt like if we were going to have to start everything over, why take the abuse? We picked a local bank, which we stayed with until they sold to a larger bank from outside the area.
I understand, everything else being equal, that local banks and credit unions are a more positive force in a local community, have greater knowledge of the area, and are more responsive to the customers that are also their neighbors. But there is a downside to everything, which is why I am a checks and balances guy. Local banks can also be too tied into the good old boy network, and be more generous with the already established 10% that rule the roost sometimes in local communities. They also, I would believe, redline (discriminate against qualified minority borrowers, particular if they want to come into certain neighborhoods) at a higher rate than the megabanks. Local banks can be like George Bailey and his famous Savings & Loans in It's A wonderful Life. But they can also be like Henry Potter. So sometimes you need to do a little more than just simply choosing a local bank and/or credit union. You have to evaluate whether the institution is a genuine positive force in the community.
So to repeat the question above...are you moving your money away from the big banks? Are you happy where you bank? What effect do you think any of this will have?
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