G-20 over, predictable result. Viral e-mail ..no evidense of major distribution as yet, which probably means it is not good enough.
I think the idea is sound but the execution very good..but not good enough..it needs more work and possibly needs to be less UK specific.
I have some holiday over easter but for now I am going to become an investment banker this weekend and put a few pounds each way on ”offshore account” (33-1) running in the Grand National.
Wish me luck!
Contact your local elected officials - for free
by kiki-dread
03 Apr 2009 at 12:36
There seems to be an ebb and flow with comments. The past couple of weeks have been a flow – now it’s time for an ebb, a rest, some time away and a breath of fresh air.
Looks like the G20-Geezers got their ideas promoted, but they say the devil is in the detail for the poor old poor..
.. Maybe there could be forums for real sufferers to air the views such as Unemployed, People threatened with Court Action, Homeowners / Repossessed, people threatened with job losses etc
As some bloggers may have too much pride to discuss their personal difficulties, it would be a good idea if they could post anonymously.
(and it may prevent jaqui s. catching anyone with their trousers down)
by CoralBloom
03 Apr 2009 at 14:30
Jericoa,
Good luck with the bet. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself and your efforts. The folk who replied back to the email (that I sent out from own email account) loved it.
I also hear on the grapevine that the number of new accounts taken out by one very ethical bank with an office around Gordon Street area of Glasgow has increased by 70% recently. It isn’t likely to be much to do with the email, but the idea is there and people to some degree are acting on it.
What I won’t do here on this public blog without everyone agreeing first is publish how many requests for the email came through. My instinct says not to, I know!
Kiki you are right to want to see the detail. I am highly sceptical of the whole show – all that was missing was a group of Las Vegas dancers!
The IMF is not my favourite organisation… If you can, catch what was said last night on This Week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jkrlg/This_Week_02_04_2009/
by John Bray
04 Apr 2009 at 11:03
Fascinating though the G20 undoubtably was I have been busier with more serious matters (my wife Vicki keeps a track of things). After all whatever these clowns decide to do won’t make my life any better.
by Rahere
05 Apr 2009 at 12:19
Business as usual at RBS – their putative head of the Audit Board has a brilliant CV, see my blog…
by Alexander Curzon
05 Apr 2009 at 13:50
G20 as no surprise was a NON event.The mere mortals who have to live by their wits just get
on with it.
Business continues at a lower volume on tighter
margins. . . but all our governments want a bigger piece of the pie to pay for their pathetic
attempts at putting things right.
by Jambo
05 Apr 2009 at 16:29
Broke up with GF last weekend – that’s my excuse for being abit out of it all.
I’m increasingly nervous about all this, my confusion over the Co-op banks e-mail is that I’m not really sure the advice is… sound.
If GB et all are committed to printing money to prop up the bad banks any £ denominated account is dangerous.
Voting with your wallet and taking away from RBS et all who are clearly to blame (But much less so than those who created the trade imbalances and poor regulation) is all good and well but the Tax payer is now the major shareholder in these banks, so it doesn’t help you as you’ll just get taxed more to pay for it.
But then I’m not really sure what makes sense in terms of taking action really! So don’t wanna just be a negative type when you’re at least doing something!
by Jericoa
06 Apr 2009 at 09:55
Jambo,
I know what you mean from a purely financial perspective, the intention is to prompt a culture change at the banks, if RBS adopt an ethical banking code, no need to leave them. The issue is DESPITE them being owned by us or propped up by us as tax payers we still do not get any say in how they are run. How does that work?
I saw it as a way to protest from the comfort of your living room as well without having to fight your way through cordons of journalists to spray a message on RBS (or similar) headquarters windows.
Trying to engage this apathy ridden society of ours to find a way they may be prepared to actually do something in advance of being directly affected by it, something that would require minimum effort.
I have afew days off coming up so I may try another tack / have another go along similar lines.
by CoralBloom
06 Apr 2009 at 12:44
I wonder how much is apathy and how much is knowing that know matter what you do it won’t change anything.
Kind of like: When football supporters stop going to the match are they apathetic or refusing to play along any more?
That just makes it easier though. So perhaps mass unemployment (as much as I don’t want it) may be the only way. No workers, no taxes.
The pbs link on Peston’s blog today is an absolute joy in exposing the game.
Good old PBS – anyone with a brain over there sticks with PBS for a reason.
The Best Way to Rob a Bank: Own One!
http://creditcrunchedoutinuk.blogspot.com
Jericoa, I’ve no interviews lined up this week so if you want some elbow grease or thoughts…
Shame you lost your bet at the weekend
by Jericoa
06 Apr 2009 at 13:14
Funny that just like an investment banker my grand national bet on @offshore account’ flatered to decieve, I watched the race and he was in the running near the front until near the end, my hopes were high.
Then when it came to the business end ‘offshore account’ suddenly dissapeared out of the running never to be mentioned again.
Good job i only had £5 each way on it…
I should have guessed the joke would be on me and just stuck a pin in the newspaper like i usually do!
by Goldtop
09 Apr 2009 at 03:18
Good morning from Canada. Apologies for my absence but I've had a very hectic month. The G20 passed me by completely but I did catch Obama'a Q&A (as it was all over the TV when we were in that country below this one). The usual empty platitudes and soundbites. No surprise there.
My partner informs me that I have a letter from the House of Commons at home. This must be the second reply that my MP promised after he had consulted the Bank of England about quantitive easing. I'll let you all know what it says shortly.
Congratulations to all who were involved in the email, good to see something going on although I am still disappointed at the lack of contributions in the members area.
Re: Regrouping & John's angry post (12th March). Forming a society would take half a dozen persons and a PO box. Anyone here in the London area and would like to meet up IRL and discuss this?
by Jericoa
09 Apr 2009 at 11:29
Goldtop,
Nice to hear from you, I still plan to keep plugging away, trying to find the right vehicle to catch the imagination. i would be up for meeting IRL, the only issues from my perspective are practical ones, i.e. I have a young family and a full time job which neither leaves much time or funds for expeditions.
I do go to london occasionally on buisness though so i will let people know when that next happens and if it is mutally convenient the first round will be on me!
Jericoa.
by Goldtop
09 Apr 2009 at 11:45
“I do go to london occasionally on buisness though so i will let people know when that next happens and if it is mutally convenient the first round will be on me”
Sounds good. Lets keep in touch, I’m back in the UK on May 10th.
by CoralBloom
09 Apr 2009 at 11:53
If I’d enough advance warning I could find the train fare for any deals (think it’s best with around 6 weeks notice) I could track down. Would have to be the O/N train back up north.
by Goldtop
09 Apr 2009 at 18:34
“If I’d enough advance warning I could find the train fare for any deals (think it’s best with around 6 weeks notice) I could track down. Would have to be the O/N train back up north”
Excellent, thank you.
by Jericoa
10 Apr 2009 at 01:02
Rather the opposite for me Im afraid, I may get a weeks notice I am needed there if i am lucky…
Will just have to take the chance if it happens.
by John Bray
10 Apr 2009 at 12:14
Might be cheaper to come to Spain for a meeting. Anybody fancy a night out in Malaga?
by CoralBloom
10 Apr 2009 at 13:48
But they are going to charge passengers to pee!
by Goldtop
10 Apr 2009 at 15:37
“Might be cheaper to come to Spain for a meeting. Anybody fancy a night out in Malaga?”
Not via Ryanair ‘cos they don’t fly there! Shame really, until recently a friend’s family had a villa in Nerja.