Most of the presidents critics say “well, why didn’t he do it this way?” or “why did he do that?” and then proceed to label him with the talking point of the day. This nation elected a man, not the son of Jor El as he so famously quipped at the annual Al Smith charity banquet in 2008. He is not Superman. He has had more of an up hill battle since his inauguration than any president in recent memory. He can not do everything all alone. You can count his staunch allies in his own party on 2 hands and still have fingers left over. The rank and file Democrats seem to have abandoned him and his agenda. Here is where we as citizens can make a difference.

We have all been outraged by the obscene profits that Wall St has realized while sticking us, the tax payer, with the bill for their failed GAMBLES and speculation with investor money. De-regulation of  Wall St. begun full throttle in the Reagan administration was either left unchecked or expanded under both Democrat and Republican administrations. What was once a relatively safe haven for fastidious investors to grow their money has become the world’s largest casino where the house always wins. The house then looks to the tax payer purporting that they are TOO-BIG-TO-FAIL. A misconception perpetuated by the very lieutenants that this president has appointed to help fix the mess. Tim Geithner has proven to be a true clubhouse mole for Wall St in the administration with his Goldman Sachs pedigree. He did not ask for a single condition to the monies GIVEN to the bailed out banks. CEO’s, managers and executives were then allowed to reap billions off of the taxpayers fear of financial system collapse. He does this president no good service by not being a zealous steward for the people who pay his salary. Feel frustrated? Powerless?

A movement has grown out of these feelings of powerlessness and frustration whose simplicity is really genius. The movement is called, MOVE YOUR MONEY. It has been touted by the likes of Bill Maher and Arianna Huffington. The idea is to move most if not all of your deposits and investment accounts from the TOO-BIG-TO-FAIL banks who, by the way, are not lending to small business -  JOBS or those hard working tax payers seeking mortgages, to smaller community based banks and Federal Credit Unions. The products the smaller institutions have are similar if not better than the TOO-BIG-TO-FAIL guys. The best part is that often you are known by name and not just an account number. Click Arianna Huffington‘s link for the community bank story.

I can personally attest to the difference and love it. I moved my meager assets from a huge bank to a local federal credit union and will never look back. The reason I chose the credit union is because of the cooperative structure where all depositors have an interest in the success or failure of the union. Most credit unions even allow the election of officers by their membership. I am greeted by name and treated with respect – how refreshing!

Follow the link above to the TOO-BIG-TO-FAIL site mentioned by Maher and Huffington and decide for your self. You may not like their politics but their logic in my opinion is flawless. Do you want to continue being angry, frustrated and powerless or would you rather regain some control of your finances? Do you want to become a critical part of your community’s growth and development?  Do you want to help create more jobs? Whatever you decide, let us as citizens, never again accept the excuse that ANY business entity is TOO-BIG-TO-FAIL.

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Originally posted 2010-04-02 21:42:30.