Make a Payment on Your Credit Cards=TERRORIST!

[Typo Lad]

They paid down some debt. The balance on their JCPenney Platinum MasterCard had gotten to an unhealthy level. So they sent in a large payment, a check for $6,522.

And an alarm went off. A red flag went up. The Soehnges' behavior was found questionable. (http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=RAISEALARM-02-28-06)

What the hey?

[Winslow]

That's messed up . . . .

[Iangould]

Haven't you heard?

Since 9-11 it's every patriotic American's duty to go ever further into debt - just like your Federal government.

[Wesley Dodds]

Since 9-11 it's every patriotic American's duty to go ever further into debt - just like your Federal government.

Geeze, Ian, don't you keep up? It's not a trade deficit, it's a capital account surplus.

[blackdragon6]

well i have nothing to worry about lol

[Callie]

Wow. Maybe I should be worried. I paid off a rather large portion of my student loan and paid off my Credit Card entirely in large lump sums recently. I came into a bit of inheritance and used it responsibly...does that make me a terrorist, too?

[Adam Crocker]

They were told, as they moved up the managerial ladder at the call center, that the amount they had sent in was much larger than their normal monthly payment. And if the increase hits a certain percentage higher than that normal payment, Homeland Security has to be notified. And the money doesn't move until the threat alert is lifted.

Oh for fuck sake's. Is anyone else getting the feeling that the so-called 'War on Terror' is getting more and more absurd by the second?

[blackdragon6]

. I came into a bit of inheritance and used it responsibly...does that make me a terrorist, too?
filthy terrorists

[Slam_Bradley]

Wow. Maybe I should be worried. I paid off a rather large portion of my student loan and paid off my Credit Card entirely in large lump sums recently. I came into a bit of inheritance and used it responsibly...does that make me a terrorist, too?


Why do you hate freedom?

[blackdragon6]

Why do you hate freedom?LMAO :D she must be stopped

[Forefinger]

Oh for fuck sake's. Is anyone else getting the feeling that the so-called 'War on Terror' is getting more and more absurd by the second?
Hopefully we only have a couple of more years of this BS. I'm getting sick of my FREEDOM being eroded by powerhungry bastards who are acting under the guise of a War on Terror.

[Winslow]

Oh for fuck sake's. Is anyone else getting the feeling that the so-called 'War on Terror' is getting more and more absurd by the second?

The government has the "competence" to investigate private banking transactions . .

But we can't mobilize emergency resources to save lives in New Orleans.

WTF is going on?

[blackdragon6]

The government has the "competence" to investigate private banking transactions . .

But we can't mobilize emergency resources to save lives in New Orleans.

WTF is going on?
preach it brotha preach it.

[Forefinger]

The government has the "competence" to investigate private banking transactions . .

But we can't mobilize emergency resources to save lives in New Orleans.

WTF is going on?
Ahem. Ray Nagen. Ahem.

[Solaris]

The government has the "competence" to investigate private banking transactions . .

But we can't mobilize emergency resources to save lives in New Orleans.

WTF is going on?


You know what? The worst thing about predicting bad things is seeing them come true.


Before Bush was elected the first time, I was concerned about his attitude toward Wiccans in the military ("It's a cult, not a religion, let's get it out") and his signing into law "Jesus Day" as governor of Texas. All that told me that he would actively promote erosion of separation of Church and State, and tolerance of other religions than his own. Since that time we've seen several laws altered or enacted which do indeed erode those freedoms... along with the gathering strength of the extreme religious right in both elections and in laws passed which further limit or deny people's rights. This includes, but is not limited to, laws banning gay marriage, and the proposed laws to ban gay adoption and the So. Dakota "proposed and nearly passed" law that limits abortion to the point of non-existence, even for victims of rape, incest, or those who have a health risk with pregnancy. (No, that climate is not all on Bush or Congress... but his election, on his platform, set the stage for it.) I think we can look for even *more* laws that repeal or outlaw rights, coming down the track, on every single issue that the Christian Coalition promotes.

When Congress and the President pushed through the Patriot Act, and set up Homeland Security, and (IIRC) later added to the strenght of the Patriot Act, I knew our individual freedoms were not just threatened, but were actively being whittled away, under the guise of "security". Many people in the U.S. were fine with it, and supported it... because they felt it would only happen to "Middle-Eastern Foreigners (citizens or not)." Out of fear, our country endorsed the government taking enormous power into their hands, and laws that violate our Bill of Rights.

When the Administration started pushing for war in Iraq, I was very suspicious that we were going in there, not because Saddam was a dictator abusive to his people, nor because he was close to obtaining weaponry dangerous for the world... but because either those in charge wanted a war to give them further chances to grab more power, because Bush had a "thing" against Iraq, or both. I was also concerned that it was very poorly planned. Later reports from the war proved I didn't predict badly enough, considering the terrible, haphazard way our troops have been supported with supplies, pay, etc., the apparent lack of planning on handling (what should have been obvious problems going in) cultural conflicts within Iraq, and most especially, the heinous treatment and torture prisoners faced from our own military personnel, with complete approval from higher ups.

By the time Katrina rolled around, all it took was for me to watch a weather report before landfall, and then watch a press conference where the Administration was "pooh-poohing" the effect, to know that we were in for an unmitigated disaster that would cost many lives. The fact that the govt.'s preparation and disaster response was a complete shambles didn't shock me... I knew who and what we were dealing with.

The truly sad part in all this is that it took Katrina, and the price the Gulf Coast paid, to wake up a majority in this country to see that Bush was not a "Patriot American Poster Boy;" and even now, many who have turned on him still won't question the laws and principles he and his cronies set into motion... which will continue to violate and erode our rights, long after he and they are gone. I have yet to see a general public outrage over that... and somehow, I doubt I will until it's gone so far that it's directly affecting a large number of our citizens, or a large group, as Katrina did.

I feel sick.

[Valmore]

Darnit, people! The government didn't send you $200 rebate checks years ago for you to go and wisely use it on paying off your existent debts!!! You're supposed to spend, spend, SPEND!!! Get out there and buy a Hummer already!!!

[Typo Lad]

Get out there and buy a Hummer already!!!

Presidents get 'em for free. Just ask the last Democrat in office.

[Slam_Bradley]

Darnit, people! The government didn't send you $200 rebate checks years ago for you to go and wisely use it on paying off your existent debts!!! You're supposed to spend, spend, SPEND!!! Get out there and buy a Hummer already!!!


Oh, a Hummer. I thought you said a hammer. Those cost about $1500 at Government prices.

[Charles RB]

I'm guessing the idea is "that's a lot of money- THEY MUST BE A TERRORIST!". But what self-respecting terrorist is going to use a tracable credit card?

[Sanagi]

I was briefly tempted to break my self-imposed ban on making Nazi comparisons, but frankly I don't think the Nazi leaders were this stupid.

There must be a mentally ill or at least severely anal-retentive person in the Bush administration that thinks up these policies.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I'm guessing the idea is "that's a lot of money- THEY MUST BE A TERRORIST!". But what self-respecting terrorist is going to use a tracable credit card?

The ones dumb enough to actually get caught? I forgot who on here said it (or if it was even on here) but "The only reason there hasn't been another Sept. 11th is that the people were hunting happen to be dumber than the people who hunt them" summed it up rather well.

[Charles RB]

I was briefly tempted to break my self-imposed ban on making Nazi comparisons, but frankly I don't think the Nazi leaders were this stupid.

They invaded Russia at the worst time of year to try invading Russia, whilst simultaneously trying to invade Britain by not targeting military targets. I think it's safe to say the Nazi leaders were on crack.

[Typo Lad]

I think it's safe to say the Nazi leaders were on crack.

Meth, actually.

Really. Hitler was a tweaker.

[Charles RB]

Meth, actually.

Really. Hitler was a tweaker.

Goering was a cocaine addict, if I remember my history lessons right. And it was on Red Dwarf, so it must be true.

"That means the fat bastard must've been Goering, must've been. He was a cocaine addict and a transvestite. It's funny, if things had been different, he had all the makings of a major Hollywood film star."

[dingo]

This reminds me a little bit of something that happened to a friend of mine here in Australia.

He came from a moderately wealthy family and had been saving money for about a year, from the age of 16 to 17, to buy a new computer.
He went into the bank, filled out a withdrawl slip for $3000 and went to the cashier.
She looked at him, slightly gothic, then looked at the withdrawl slip, then looked at him again.

"What is this for?" she asked/

"Its a withdrawl slip, for getting out money" he said, not thinking. She took that as attitude and wasn't going to take that from a kid.

"Don't be smart, I want to know what the money's for"

If she hadn't added "don't be smart" then he would have just told her, but as it was she was being rude so he just said "spending"

"On what?" she asked

"None of your business"(true)

"Yes, it is!"

"No way in hell!"

"You are only 17" (18 is an adult here)

"What's that got to do with it?"

"You could be buying anything"

"So". He was yelling quite loud at this point, so the manager comes over to look over the cashiers shoulder.

"You may not have permision to be using this money"

"From who?" he asked, he was a bit calmer now the manager was there.

"your parents"

"But I opened the account"

"And?"

"well I didn't need their permision to open it, I didn't need their permission to make a deposit, so why should I need their permission to get money out?"

"You just do"

"So you were quite happy to take my money but now you wont give it back" (yelling again)

At this point the manager asks us to leave. We protested a bit, and left. We got about 2 minutes down the street and realised he had haded over a signed withdrawl slip but got no money, so we went back to get it. At this point the manager, saw us come in, decided he would put up with no more of our teenage $#!+ and went straight to calling the cops. We asked nicely to have the deposit slip back of the cashier, as we felt that they could abuse it, and she gave it back to us, but it was too late by then, once the cops are called in Australia, they pretty much have to come out. Especially at a bank.

It took months for that to blow over.

It was quite funny though when about 50 kids from the high school all turned up on the same day to close our accounts though

[Spike-X]

Damn, that's harsh. Dare I ask...which bank?

[dingo]

Damn, that's harsh. Dare I ask...which bank?

:D

Dude.....if you are from Australia, that is hilarious

If not, let me explain.

The Commonwealth bank has had an advertising campaign that always ends the add with "Which bank?.......The Commonwealth Bank". Kinda dumb but it is their thing.

And yeah, it was the Commonwealth

[Spike-X]

I am, indeed, from Australia.

And yeah, the Commonwealth are arseholes.

[nubly]

i would question ex-hippies too!

[Sir Tim Drake]

We've allowed so much of our freedom to be slowly eroded. This Thursday, while going through security at the airport, I was subjected to a very intrusive screening procedure in which I had to unbuckle my belt. I didn't even complain, because I knew it wouldn't get me anywhere.

We are no longer living in a free country, and I don't think there's anything we can do to change that.

[Valmore]

We are no longer living in a free country, and I don't think there's anything we can do to change that.

We've never lived in a completely free country. It's just that the level of restriction has gone up over the past 5 years.

[nubly]

ive lived in other countries. i like how things are run in the US. its not the best system but its my system.

if youre so unhappy with the way things are, why not stop whining about it and start doing something about it?

[Valmore]

ive lived in other countries. i like how things are run in the US. its not the best system but its my system.

if youre so unhappy with the way things are, why not stop whining about it and start doing something about it?

Probably because Tim Drake's phone line has been wiretapped....

[Night]

Maybe it's because Homeland Security figured they were terrorists because they realized they had SPENT $6500 at J.C. Penney.... only terrorists would have so little fashon sence to spend so much money at an outdated store.

[Justin Davis]

It was quite funny though when about 50 kids from the high school all turned up on the same day to close our accounts though

That is funny and smart. I really hope those kids had some money and not a collection of accounts with no more than $2.50 in them.

Wow. Maybe I should be worried. I paid off a rather large portion of my student loan and paid off my Credit Card entirely in large lump sums recently. I came into a bit of inheritance and used it responsibly...does that make me a terrorist, too?

Yes. A PM-ignoring terrorist at that.

[Dan Apodaca]

ive lived in other countries. i like how things are run in the US. its not the best system but its my system.

if youre so unhappy with the way things are, why not stop whining about it and start doing something about it?

What makes you so confident that he's not doing something about it?

Or are you just being a jerk?