Hello Again.... It's me and again, I'm PI...issed off about something pertaining to our premadonna banks and the government! Let me preface all of this with the fact that by party affiliation (Democrat) you may be about ready to write off this blog as the rantings of yet another hyper-socialist, government program vs. hard work sorts. NOT! I will get into my politics in another blog. Before I get into today's episode and why I'm PI-issed, let me say I am a free market capitalist. I own three separate, for-profit entities and one not-for-profit, so if the thought is that you're about to read the rantings of someone's employee, that has just not had the guts to get out there, think again!

Now that we've covered that, let's get to my beef! For months, small business owners (liberal and conservative) have pointed out that the federal efforts to stabilize the economy have focused themselves on restoring big business and billion dollar banks.....and rightfully so! I won't waste the space drudging up the executive parties, the tightening of credit availability or any of that, but my most recent issue centers on....well....BILLION DOLLAR BANKS! Let's just reiterate that I know these are billion dollar banks because that's how much most of the ones that I'm talking about got in federal stimulus money. In June of this year....about 10 minutes after I'd completed my first critical blog of my president's administration for not doing more for small business (unpublished), I got information on the SBA ARC Loan Program. This loan program is "The Absolute" BOMB. It is essentially the bailout, scaled down to meet the small business owner, right where he or she needs it. The funds are 100% (that means TOTALLY) guaranteed by the government. The program allows small business owners to borrow up to $35,000.00 at an attractive rate of interest AND no payments are due for the first full year! Go-BAMA!! Right?? Excellent move...RIGHT?? WRONG!

The ARC loan program is to be administered by...you guessed it...Bailout Banks!! Skank of America.....Hells Fargo...... and all the gang. I contacted B of A first. They just flat out don't offer a program yet. They know about it, but just don't know if they'll be participating. Wells Fargo (In Arizona) has taken the proverbial cake though. They are making ARC Loans, but only to small businesses that currently have debt with....Wells Fargo. I'm really trying to be a good Christian and not cuss on this blog.....but really.... Are they THAT bold? To take money that I'll be paying back in taxes for the rest of my life AND that my kids will be paying back...and not pass any of it back to me? Chase bank has given us a list of items to bring them and we'll walk through their process. MI Bank has asked the same, so we'll check them out and see what's what....but.....I have to say (and I'm shame to admit this) I am floored yet again. My biggest criticism of my president is that he's been kid-gloving these banks. That's still my biggest criticism, but knowing that the administration is taking steps has kept me from being totally PI-issed off about it.

BUT...The *%#$@* Banks!!! The public gets the fees, the crazy interest rates, CHEX Systems and a full platter of their assorted varieties of bull based, fertilizer products.... but in addition to the billions that these "Institutions" get from robbing the public, they get billions more directly from our "Elected Officials" (yes, that is supposed to mean those that represent the collective will of the populace) and they still want to act the arss! My hope is that the straight jab, two left hooks and an upper-cut are like the ARC program was when I was concerned that not enough was happening...... It's coming very soon. This class of human does not respond to simple dialog. This is the "Do what you can get away with" crowd that has sucked the life and honor out of, what was, the world’s greatest example of a capitalist society. Now they scream "Socialism" just to keep from being regulated. I agree that America was not built on a government that set limits on a man or woman's prosperity. It was also not built on a rabid greed that would ultimately destabilize the entire nation. I'll tell them like I tell my children, "You need to learn how not to go TOO blessed FAR".

My hope is that you all get just as (or a whole lot more) PI-issed off about this situation. I'm going to share this on both our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Please get the word out and put some pressure on these "All Too American" institutions.