IrishBeat.com

I read a good article about banking and the ways their sales material tries to fool the consumer into believing the bank is working for them. It’s an interesting read. Here’s the link.

10 Things Your Bank Won’t Tell You
by Jim Rendon
Monday, August 18, 2008provided bySmartMoney.com

Great article pointing out the reality of the banking industry. One thing he missed is the technical aspect that banks have lobbied Congress into allowing them to decrease the time for clearing collection transactions, yet left the hold time for deposits as it’s been for over 60 years. This means banks can hold your money for up to 10 days on a deposit, yet ensure they take it from you immediately. There are huge profits made on this float, and it’s a legal loophole that they want to ensure does not close. The fact is that the transactions clear in the same time frame with little difference as to the timing. Banking for the consumer is a farce and another example of corporations focusing on profit and not the consumer…

I recently starting receiving the email below. It’s amusing the first couple times so I thought I’d share. Interestingly, it’s hit my inbox from multiple sources which makes me think it’s the latest in a viral campaign. It also made me wonder what the original source was. First, here’s the email text:

Email

“Leave it to the Irish to cut through the crap and make the whole issue crystal clear…Â Thoughts from across the pond…… An email from Ireland to the brethren in the States…a point to ponder despite your political affiliation: ‘We, in Ireland, can’t figure out why people are even bothering to hold an election in the United States! On one side, you have a pants wearing woman lawyer, married to a lawyer who can’t keep his pants on, Who just lost a long and heated primary against: A lawyer who goes to the wrong church who is married to yet another lawyer who doesn’t even like the country her husband wants to run. Now…On the other side, you have a nice old war hero whose name starts with the appropriate “Mc” terminology married to a good looking younger woman who owns a beer distributorship. What in Lord’s name are ye lads thinking over there in the colonies??”

Now, I’m a big fan of the no nonsense approach of McCain, although I disagree on some of his approaches on the environment. But I also like the excitement that Obama can bring to a crowd. His pulpit-like speaking tones make people feel like he really wants change. So the questions are: Do you think the email is part of a viral email campaign? and With both these candidates technically having Irish heritage, does it play any part in your decision for whom to vote?