Former independent Congressional candidate Cindy Sheehan has blogged the following address to be read at San Francisco’s local End the Fed demonstration, part of a nationwide coordination of protests being held today outside of all Federal Reserve branches:
Here we are again in front of the Federal Reserve today demanding that the Robber Class change its “evil ways.”
Thanks for coming out today, but chances that the Robber Class will shut down the Fed and coin money that is debt free and more egalitarian are slim to none; or fat to zero!
What we need to do is change our own systems.
Take your money away from the Robber Class as often and whenever possible.
Take your money out of banks and put it into good, democratic credit unions.
I propose that we start a movement today called: Independence from Banks Day on July 3rd, where we all go to banks, withdraw our money to make a statement to the Robber Class that we are going to start siphoning their wealth instead of the opposite way around. I am going to lead this and remove my business accounts from Bank of America that day. It may only be a symbolic gesture since the Robbers own the Federal Reserve, and we won’t bankrupt them, but if we have enough people we will make an impact and a profound statement. Put your money into Credit Unions that are democratic in leadership/policies and community based.
Sorry I can’t make it today, I am here in Arkansas fighting the Robber Class at every stop but I truly hope you join me on July 3rd to become Independent from Banks on July 3rd…if you don’t have any money in a bank, I would suggest you deposit some money just so you can take it out that day!
Together we can beat the Robber Class. Separately, we will fail.
We have that choice of sinking alone or swimming together, as for me, I prefer to swim.
Cindy Sheehan
Eureka Springs, ArRead in absentia
Better go look at the libertarian policies. Most of her are not libertarian, as you notice that is why she is a DUH GREEN PARTY. SOCIALISM
@29 – That’s called a bank run. Inciting a bank run is a violation of federal law. You could, in fact, be found guilty of a federal crime for saying what you just said. 😉
Gotta love it.
I agree with some of her politics. I am against the wars. She also has some very other good policy positions which agree with libertarians.
There’s plenty that is not, as you put it, “SOCIALISM PERIOD.”
While I commend Sheehan for having the guts to put herself out there, I do not like nor agree with her politics. Look closely. CINDY SHEEHAN issues are SOCIALISM PERIOD. So people look beyond all her exposure and bravery for putting herself out there, her issues are socialist. I am not impressed with ANY SOCIALISM PERIOD.
If everyone went to the bank on the same day to withdraw their money they would not get it – because the banks don’t have all that money. The money is electronic and created out of thin air. It took my wife one week to get $30,000 out of her Bank of America account.
The robber class is going down!
Another circus act that flamed out long ago…
Her and Cynthia McKinney ought to be lesbian lovers, because God knows, they would make such a great couple!
Wasn’t Cindy Sheehan going to make an announcement last week about starting a new party? Any word on that?
When will there be an “End the Government” rally?
Sheehan’s a bit too much of an ambitious sensationalist for my tastes. I’d rather see her supporting ideas than trying to lead them.
If you want to take out all your Federal Reserve notes from a bank and put all your federal reserve notes into a credit union that is OK but note that you are still dealing with federal reserve notes and that all things considered you are really just changing the account number “the Man” uses to track your federal reserve notes.
The Sheehan boycott is a bank boycott, not a Federal Reserve boycott.
If you want to eliminate bank bailouts, eliminate the FDIC and NCUA and require that banks (and credit unions) and their depositors be responsible for their deposits and liabilities.
I would not dispute a plan set forth by the likes of Cindy Sheehan. And, it seems there is something in this idea of boycotting the banks after how they have stole from the American people (aided and abetted by the duopoly.)
I like the idea -for people who are unsure, or nervous – to start by everyone just putting their money in local banks or credit unions. At least a move like that would get noticed. (The Green Part of the US made a proposal and suggested this move awhile ago.)
People have to do something to put a monkey wrench in the gears of the machine. Boycotts and moving money seems a powerful tool.
Do you mean RIGHT NOW or in a “sane” system?
Right now, I’d hold my wealth in something other than cash. Think about it this way: why do you save money? To buy things you’ll need in the future, right? Now if you’re saving for a big purchase (like a car), this won’t do you any good. But otherwise, think of what you’ll need in the future and, instead of “saving” money, buy it now. The value of your dollars is going down. You might as well trade them NOW for things you know you’ll need, which will cost more money in the future. For you specifically, I’d take the money you would be putting into a credit union and use it to buy your chickens, supplies, more gardening stuff, books on the subject, etc.; books in general, “investments” in yourself.
As for a sane system of “the future”: I won’t get into gold and all that stuff, or even into the idea of completely free-market (non-government) banking. But a sane system should certainly NOT allow counterfeiting. It should NOT be based on the same principles that the Federal Reserve System is based on, only “for the people” — it won’t work, and it’s immoral anyway. It’s immoral that the “robber class” is robbing us, and it’d be just as immoral if the proliteriot became the “robber class.” I will just say that the American people, before there was an American government, organically determined what the dollar would be and carried on legal, non-counterfietting banking affairs just fine before the government got involved. The principle is that you can’t loan what doesn’t exist into existence, and when you do, you’re stealing. This “robber class” does that every time they issue a loan. They create money out of thin air and then charge interest on it when you pay it back to them with dollars you’ve earned from your labor. That’s f’d up.
Thanks for explaining that. In a way, it still makes no sense to me, but it seems like it’s something that just doesn’t really make sense if you’re sane.
What do you think would be the solution, rather than putting your money in local banks or credit unions?
To further explain, Ross: In the old days, banks issued paper receipts for gold coin stored in their vaults. This is the origin of “paper money,” at least in post-Constitutional America. The paper was the receipt for the REAL money. The problem arose when the banks would issue more paper receipts (in the form of loans) than they had gold coins backing them. Then, if a “bank run” occurred, the danger was in the bank being exposed as counterfeiters.
Now, the banks do the same thing, but it’s just part of the system. They issue loans with money they don’t really have — they, in essence, “create it.” They loan your money out, but they still have to be able to redeem your money if you want it. This is no different from days of old, when they’d loan out gold and still have to redeem your paper for gold (that they no longer had). The Federal Reserve Act and all the subsequent detachments from the gold standard were designed to INSTITUTIONALIZE the counterfeiting that the banks were doing from Day One. I am always shocked that principled leftists don’t get this; the greatest scam played on poor and working-class people in the history of the world.
Ross – My question was sort of rhetorical. Yeah, it would cause trouble… but why? Why should it? The answer is because don’t HAVE your money. That’s a problem. That’s why the system is inherently fraudulent. They take your money, loan out 90%, and still “have it” to give you — unless you want it at the same time as everyone else. Back in the day, they called that counterfeiting. Now, it’s “fractional-reserve” banking. And while a credit-union is better than a bank in certain ways, those superiorities (which I’m sure you’re well aware of) have nothing to do with the inherent insolvency of the entire system.
Gardening, chickens = good stuff, especially if you enjoy that type of thing. I’m a city person by nature, and even I am thinking about giving the rural life a try. It’s sad that we have to be “self sufficient” — civilized economies are supposed to be based on specialization and voluntary trade for mutual benefit. But if this whole f-ing thing collapses, as I expect it to, you’ll be glad you have your chickens and your garden, and you’ll wish you hadn’t stored your wealth in Fed Notes or kept them in a banking institution of any kind.
GE – actually I am putting some of my money into a credit union. I ain’t no economist but doesn’t everyone withdrawing their money at once create trouble?
@15 – now there’s something I can agree with! I’ve decided (for now at least) I want to become a farmer so I’ll be at least moderately self-sufficient. I’m actually getting chickens within the next couple of weeks, so that’s a start (in addition to the pretty large garden I have in my backyard).
Good idea, too, Rocky. I don’t know what all goes into that. My thinking is that vodka is a high-density value proposition: i.e., a large amount of value in a small space that can be traded, potentially, at a later date if shit gets that nasty. First and foremost, buy stuff you’ll consume (and not too much vodka!). A still would go in with my “equipment” category.
@ #15 – G.E. writes “[buy]… and vodka”
Build a still instead! Learn how to distill spirits and brew beer.
Buy consumer goods you’ll need in the future. Invest in your own education and resourcefulness. Buy equipment you can use to produce things you’ll need or can trade. Buy guns and ammo. And when you run out of room to store this stuff, THEN buy gold and silver… and vodka.
Withdraw your money buy Gold, Silver 1oz coins to hedge the crisis buy a good gun learn how to use it safely and properly. Good luck patriots
But it’s good to see the far left, far right and libertarians working together. With individuals parties self-destructing (yes, very entertaining, by the way), people will soon realize that Robert Milnes’s progressive alliance strategy and my Fringe Alliance strategy are the only viable options, even if they do compromise principles a little.
I have just been busy with life issues, I didn’t attend a fed administration. In fact, even though I love Cindy Sheehan, I support the fed, though I think it needs a new chairman and a lot of reform, and when the world government arrives, it will be a completely different system.
Don’t wait to take your money out on the same day. Do it now and ASAP.
“Everyong withdraw their money from banks on the same day? Wouldn’t that cause some financial troubles?”
Why should it, Ross?
I personally like Sheehan’s idea. My wife and I are already talking about switching banks, so this might be an added incentive to do so.
So what’s up with Cindy Sheehan’s plans about the new party or joining an already existing one?
With both the Green and Libertarian Parties apparently in self-destruct mode, why would she even think of joining either party?
Watching a hissy-fit from afar can be entertaining, but who in their right mind wants to be a part of it?
OTOH, watching the self destruction of my own party is debilitating. Why would she want to become part of that?
PEACE
So what’s up with Cindy Sheehan’s plans about the new party or joining an already existing one?
I was at the ‘end the fed’ demo and rally in NYC today, it had a pretty good turnout (a couple hundred people at its height), and was organized by Campaign for Liberty activists. They are calling on people to phone their house reps on Monday to support HR 1207, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, which was sponsored by Ron Paul, and reportedly has upwards of 90 to 100 co-sponsors at this point.
I spoke at the End The Fed Rally in Minneapolis, at the 9th District Federal Reserve Bank.
I was told that my speech was one of the best.
//:-)>———
It is soooo nice to be working with people who help and encourage allies, instead of attack ands smearing. My speech centered on the rotten pro-war, corporate corrupted two party system along with the cowardice of those who will not seriously resist it.
One of the other speakers was Ron Paul’s son. Dr Paul Jr..
I’ve just been busy with school.
Oh! Is that where everyone is?
It seems that there have been very few comments on anyone’s posts for the last couple of days.
And, my fellow writers have not been prolific.
I knew I was missing something…
The Federal Reserve demos…probably something lots of people in the IPR community are attending/working with….
I love it. Cindy Sheehan you rock.
Everyong withdraw their money from banks on the same day? Wouldn’t that cause some financial troubles?