Let's make "Too Big to Fail" "Too Small to Matter" Local Economy

    Was it $700 billion dollars that all those big banks needed to pull out with after they used our money to play with on Wall Street? I could be wrong on that figure - but I am pretty sure it wasn't less.  Why did the government bail them out? Oh yeah - "too big to fail" - they had to survive so they could take care of us - right?  They needed the banks to keep loaning money so our economy could keep growing and put people back to work.
   Who has the money?
The largest 20 banks in the USA have 57% of bank assets averaging  $380 billion
The mid size banks have around 11%  - averaging $1-10 billion each
small banks - 11%  $1 billion and under
   Who does the lending?
The largest 20 banks  - 28% of loans
Mid size banks - 20 % of loans
small banks - 34% of loans
  So the small banks with the least amount of money are lending the most to help to grow our economy - while the big banks are probably playing on Wall Street again and making their investors happy - why did we bail them out again?
Why are we giving them our money?  If we want a better local economy - doesn't it make more sense to put our money in a bank that believes in your community? After all the mistakes they have made in the past I would be afraid to leave my money in the hands of heartless corporate fat cats.
   I say we invest in Main Street - Not Wall Street !!!!!
Here is your chance to make a difference without changing your lifestyle a bit - move your money to a local bank or credit union - keep your money local and help your community - prevent Too be to Fail again - if we all move our accounts - they become - Too Small To Matter - the next time they make a bad investment - let them go down - the way they should have to begin with. 
If you love your community - take the time and move your accounts - a minor headache - should have been done a long time ago. Follow the money trail and start keeping your cash at home - I will continue to seek out the easiest ways to help solve the shop local buy USA issues - this is the easiest one.  You will be doing your part everyday without even knowing it.
With all the talk from the Obama administration about jobs and the economy - you would think that things would have turned for the better by now - I guess it really is left up to us to get control.   The key is to keep money at home.
More local and made in the USA = more jobs -   we need banks that are on board to achieve this.
So Support your LOCAL bank!!!!!

Imports Claim Another Victim

My heart sank today after reading about a town in Nevada that will cease to exist (zip code and all) after June 20, 2011. The town was called Empire and was once home of the United States Gypsum Corporation. They have operated there 100 years and produced drywall. They are a fortune 500 company. People will say because of the slump in house building the company had to close the plant - I blame the imported drywall. Does anyone remember the news about all the toxic Chinese drywall that they used in those newer homes in Florida? Why were those builders using imported products to begin with - Oh yeah - the price was cheaper. Cheaper because of the lower standards and now people have lost their homes and have serious health problems as a result of their builders greed and our GOVERNMENTS negligence. That's right - I am blaming the government on this one. WHY does the government allow sub-standard products in our country? Why do American businesses have to live up to such a high standard to protect the US citizen and then the government allow toxic imports in. Double standard?   If we are going to get poisoned then why not by other Americans - at least that way the money would be in our country and we wouldn't be in a recession - or here's a better idea - why not make the imports coming into our country be at American standards - then at least the prices would be even and the American businessman would catch a break - as well as our country not being over run with health issues.
Want to cut health care ???  KEEP POISON PRODUCTS OVERSEAS - our country needs to turn it's nose up to these cheap plastics and protect ourselves from the damage they cause to our bodies.
We have to change our spending habits now and quit KILLING our country in every way possible.
Empire, Nevada - my heart breaks for you. United States Gypsum Co. is reportedly helping the town with free housing, etc...  It is nice to hear someone trying to do their part to help fellow Americans - Isn't it time we do ours and sacrifice the pleasures of imported doo dads and buy what we really need from local vendors and American made if possible?  KNOW where your money goes - even when you bank - who owns the "American" companies we buy from?  Find a locally owned gas station and start using it for God's sake - WE OWE THIS TO OUR KIDS - they would rather have a country to grow up in than a cheap plastic Chinese toxic toy!
Amanda Schalau
Average American