XPost: nf.general 
 From: tsanford@nf.sympatico.ca 
  
 "JustBrowsing"  wrote in message 
 news:1119693341.965295.220780@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com... 
 > Again ..."the Bid Bad Banks" It seems that it's the big 3...Banks, 
 > insurance companies and lawyers. Many arguements on both sides of the 
 > table on any one of these. Neither of these profess to be charities, 
 > yet all three contribute to charities on a regular and substantial 
 > basis. Services rendered have to be paid for. If I do a job ,I expect 
 > payment. I'm willing to bet that many of the people here don't even 
 > read the bank statement, or even read in detail the insurance and legal 
 > documents sent to them.I didn't say all...many. People have a mental 
 > picture of some big guy smokin a cigar counting his plie of gold coins 
 > to be the bank. It's the shareholders...common people that is the cigar 
 > smokin big guy.They want more amd more....Bottom line in most of this 
 > stuff is greed and holding on to every penny. Don't give it to anyone 
 > else...keep it all for myself. I am a single parent...no 
 > alimony/support...I don't expect not to pay for things. This day and 
 > age it is a fact of life. Gone are the days a tin of Carnation milk 
 > costing .25 cents.  When was the last time anyone here took a detailed 
 > look at a bank statement? I bet not many. And yes...I work in a bank. 
 > Not far up the ladder, not making a big wage..not close to teachers, 
 > civil servants and many more. If you sat on the other side of the desk 
 > for a day you would see where I am coming from. It's ALL about the 
 > money! Nothing else...manners...respect etc. Just the money. However I 
 > still have a good outlook...people are just human. It's just that 
 > bickering over money is such a waste of time. Save some money spend 
 > some money...thats' what it's for. 
 > Check with your bank and see if there is some way to save on the 
 > service charges. Many times there is. That's it for me. Have a nice 
 > day...it's gonna be a nice one. 
 > 
 > 
 TO: Just browsing. Great posting! 
  
 I think you have a good attitude. Life is NOT all about money and for those 
 of us who can manage to live on what we get we do understand that one 'gets 
 what you pay for'. 
  
 The reason I started this whole thread and any other similar comments is 
 more to encourage all of us to be more intelligent and conscious consumers. 
 To make best use, as it were, of our resources. In the same way I will look 
 at my kitchen chairs and decide whether to fix them one more time or that 
 the time has finally come to replace them. And replacing, by the way doesn't 
 necessarily mean with new! Next visit is to the 'used' store. So aiming to 
 be a careful and caring consumer. 
  
 So as to never have trouble sleeping at night. Also agree don't have that 
 vision of the 'Big bosses' raking in the gold! 
  
 Not that big business higher management has shown itself to be 'ethical'! Or 
 even caring? Just adjusting/faking their 'executive' pension funds, eh? 
  
 Enron, Conrad Black (of purchased British citizenship and a dukedom!), the 
 scandal of Nortel accounting; and even in politics (well maybe 'even' is the 
 wrong word?) ............. In politics (in Canada) we have seen some very 
 'dubious' goings on. Without listing any more detail, is it not strange that 
 we are not, all of us, a lot more cynical and disbelieving of our financial 
 and political leadership? 
  
 It's almost enough to make one a 'socialist'. Not that most people would 
 understand that remark and, by the way note that it is 'socialist' not 
 communist; and especially not 'liberal' in the sense the Americans now use 
 it. 
  
 So bottom line; this has been an interesting thread; we have strayed into 
 the area of ATM/ABM machines operated by various organisations, including 
 and other than banks etc. 
  
 To go back to the beginning; I'm not worried about an extra 25 cents here or 
 there; as long as I know. But is it not IMPORTANT  in a democracy to be an 
 informed consumer. 
  
 I meet people who don't even know how their interest rate works; and maybe 
 when it comes down to it it's the monthly payment that you can afford that 
 matters! But many of them are thousands of dollars in debt and not getting 
 good use of their hard earned cash! 
  
 Sermon ends! Amen. 
  
 BTW have fun out there in consumer land. 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)