The financial section of the newspaper is starting to read like thescript for a far-fetched crime movie. A group of villains hatch a plotto steal trillions of dollars from unsuspecting Americans. They drivethe country into economic chaos, funnel money from families and smallbusinesses into their own pockets, then leave all of us to clean uptheir mess. And not only do they get away with it, they pay themselvesbillion dollar bonuses and throw lavish parties to celebrate theirconquest.
But this isn't a movie, it's really happening. WallStreet bankers have taken $17.8 trillion of our tax dollars throughbailouts and turned them into massive pay and bonuses for themselves.Goldman Sachs alone is expected to pay more than $23 billion just inbonuses this year; that's more than $43,000 a minute, every minute.
So, my question to you is: if you could get all the architects of this scam together in one place, what would you say to them?
Hurryup and decide, because they'reall getting together in Chicago this weekend -- and we'reheaded there to meet them.
The big bank execs are gathering inthe Windy City for the American Bankers Association conference. It's afour day celebration of wealth and opulence; some of the items on theagenda include a roaring 1920s swing dancingparty, a luxurious riverboat cruise, and celebrity appearances fromNewt Gingrich and George Will. And it's all funded with our tax dollars.
Outsidethe conference, thousands of taxpayers will be gathering to remind thebankers that their scheme is not a victimless crime. People from morethan 20 states will be there; people who have had their homesforeclosed, their jobs eliminated, and their live savings wiped away.We're going to demand that bankers stop using our money to lobby against reforms that would prevent another financial crisis.
OnSunday, we're literally putting the big banks on trial. The Americanpublic will make the case against the Wall Street greed that caused theeconomic collapse. On Monday, taxpayers will be holding demonstrationsat big banks throughout the city. And, on Tuesday, more than 5,000taxpayers will march on the ABA conference, demanding that they stoplobbying against financial reform with our tax dollars.
This isgoing to be the largest protest against big bank greed since thefinancial crisis first hit. Will you join us? Let's show the Wall Street bankers that Chicago is the beginning of the end for their unchecked greed.