The Real Story: Money Trumps Everything: Bank of America & More
Posted on Sunday, February 18 @ 23:41:39 EST
Topic: Illegal Immigration News in the US
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 Updated February 16, 2007
For months now we've covered story after story about illegal
immigration --- everything from illegals getting in-state college
tuition rates to U.S. border guards serving 11 years in prison for
doing their job. None of it, none of it, has made any sense --- until
now. Last night I told you that had somewhat of an epiphany earlier
this week during a Presidential press conference. President Bush was
responding to a question about a topic completely unrelated to
immigration, but his answer brought everything together for me ,
"...let's put it this way, money trumps peace, sometimes. In other
words, commercial interests are very powerful interests throughout the
world."
Since I'm not planning to run for anything, let me be a little more
honest with you then he was. The Real Story is that Money trumps
Everything.
Last week I told you about a promising new cancer drug that can't
get off the ground because there's no patent available on it. No patent
means no profits and the drug companies aren't interested.
Money trumps everything.
Topics: Illegal Alien Illegal Immigrants, Illegal Immigration
Coalition, Boycott Bank of America, credit cards, loans, NIIBC, Miller
Brewing, Greed, Money
Then, of course, we have the story about Bank of America expanding
a program that allows people, or, more accurately, illegal immigrants
-- to obtain credit cards without a social security number. But even
though Bank of America is making all the headlines now, Citibank has
been doing something similar with virtually no scrutiny and Wells Fargo
has been offering mortgages without Social Security numbers since last
year. Why? Because there are between 12 and 20 million illegal
immigrants in this country and money trumps everything.
Last spring, Miller Brewing faced boycotts from Latino groups after
donating money to a U.S. congressman who sponsored a bill that would've
cracked down on illegal immigration. Well, you obviously can't have the
$700 billion dollar Hispanic market not drinking your beer so the
geniuses at Miller came up with a plan. A few months -- and $30,000 --
later Miller sponsored a large street demonstration to support the
rights of illegal immigrants or, as Miller called it, quote "the free
movement of people." Ohh, that's so beautiful, I'd hoist a beer in your
honor if I wasn't a recovering alcoholic.
Not surprisingly the boycotts quickly disappeared. Money trumps everything.
You know, I'm the biggest capitalist around, I believe with all my
heart and soul that free markets and real competition will solve almost
anything. But the keyword is: "almost" because every once in a while
capitalism has to stand for something other than the bottom line.
John D. Rockefeller -- a guy who was known for his extraordinarily
aggressive business tactics once said, "I believe that every right
implies a responsibility; every opportunity an obligation; every
possession a duty." Bank of America, you do have the right to market a
credit card to illegal immigrants, but you have the American
responsibility not to.
Today, the Bank of America declined our invitation to come on the
show and instead sent us a statement saying their program fully
complies with the U.S. Patriot Act. You know what? They're absolutely
right; it's completely legal. It's also legal to market lottery tickets
to gambling addicts and vodka to alcoholics -- but that doesn't make it
right -- or responsible, it just makes it profitable.
The greatest thing about capitalism is that everyone's got the
right to make choices. You can sit there and get mad; get frustrated;
scream at your TV; and yell about how everyone's only looking out for
themselves; how your vote doesn't even matter anymore -- or, you too
can make a choice -- a personal choice -- to support the people and
companies that support what you stand for. For every Bank of America
there's another bank that has no interest in selling to illegals; for
every beer like Miller there's a microbrewery that has no interest in
political agendas. For every company that's part of the problem, there
are two others that want to be part of the solution -- but it's all
about Personal Choices.
The Constitution is an amazing, living document. "WE THE PEOPLE"
are its first three words and they're the answer to every problem we
face; every injustice we endure. Like you, I am mad as hell -- our
country has been hijacked and I WANT IT BACK. But instead of naively
sitting there thinking that it's my vote that counts, I realize that
the real currency -- as always -- is cash.
They're absolutely right: Money does trump everything, including
those businesses selling out their country just to make more of it.
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