On Friday, more than 50 marchers organized by TakeAction Minnesota and Minnesotans for a Fair Economy demonstrated in front of Wells Fargo Bank to protest the outrageous bonuses and tell Big Banks to get their priorities straight by creating jobs and helping families stay in their homes – instead of dispersing bonus money to the super-rich.
One of the demonstrators, Grace Bowman, an unemployed data analyst from Minneapolis, recently travelled to Washington, D.C., as part of a hundred person delegation to “Take Back the Capitol” -- an event designed to turn politicians’ attention to the needs of the 99%.
“Money is fungible,” Bowman said. “The money big banks spend on huge bonuses and give to politicians and lobbyists could be spent helping underwater homeowners instead.”
The New Bottom Line coalition estimates that the seven largest U.S. banks could write down the principal of underwater mortgages at a one-year cost of $71 billion, which would save underwater families and average of $543 per month, pumping billions into the economy and creating up to one million jobs. Those at Friday’s demonstration claim Big Banks have the money but not the will to do what will help the economy.
Eleven demonstrators held signs, one-per-person, which spelled out $141,083,671.00 on one side, the total amount of bonus and compensation money the top five Wells Fargo executives received in 2008, 2009, and 2010, the three years immediately following the crash. On the reverse side, the signs spelled out what this money could be better spent on: Jobs, Social Security, Mortgage Reductions.
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| Demonstrators carried signs that showed where the bonus money could have been spent to benefit more people. |
"I hear that John Stumpf, CEO of Wells Fargo makes $8,500 an hour. With that amount of money here in Minneapolis we could feed a thousand people for a month, house eight families, and fund a safe-zone after school program," said Vaughn Lodge, of the American Indian movement, who also travelled to D.C. to lobby and protest for the 99% agenda.
Research on U.S. Bank indicates significant amounts of money spent by the bank’s PAC on Minnesota’s congressional delegation in the last two election cycles, including $34,800 to Republican members and $30,539 to Democrats in 2008 and 2010. Representative Erik Paulsen, who represents Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, led with $12,000 in PAC contributions.
“It’s a vicious cycle for working people. Big Banks and Big Finance lavish fat bonus checks on their top executives who turn around and hand out big donations to their favorite politicians, the ones that maintain their tax breaks and loopholes,” said Chris Conry, an organizer with TakeAction Minnesota. “The 1% continue to get richer while the 99% continue to suffer unemployment and the other effects of an economy these banks wrecked.”
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On Friday, more than 50 marchers organized by TakeAction Minnesota and Minnesotans for a Fair Economy demonstrated in front of Wells Fargo Bank to protest the outrageous bonuses and tell Big Banks to get their priorities straight by creating jobs and helping families stay in their homes – instead of dispersing bonus money to the super-rich.
One of the demonstrators, Grace Bowman, an unemployed data analyst from Minneapolis, recently travelled to Washington, D.C., as part of a hundred person delegation to “Take Back the Capitol” — an event designed to turn politicians’ attention to the needs of the 99%.
“Money is fungible,” Bowman said. “The money big banks spend on huge bonuses and give to politicians and lobbyists could be spent helping underwater homeowners instead.”
The New Bottom Line coalition estimates that the seven largest U.S. banks could write down the principal of underwater mortgages at a one-year cost of $71 billion, which would save underwater families and average of $543 per month, pumping billions into the economy and creating up to one million jobs. Those at Friday’s demonstration claim Big Banks have the money but not the will to do what will help the economy.
Eleven demonstrators held signs, one-per-person, which spelled out $141,083,671.00 on one side, the total amount of bonus and compensation money the top five Wells Fargo executives received in 2008, 2009, and 2010, the three years immediately following the crash. On the reverse side, the signs spelled out what this money could be better spent on: Jobs, Social Security, Mortgage Reductions.
|
| Demonstrators carried signs that showed where the bonus money could have been spent to benefit more people. |
"I hear that John Stumpf, CEO of Wells Fargo makes $8,500 an hour. With that amount of money here in Minneapolis we could feed a thousand people for a month, house eight families, and fund a safe-zone after school program," said Vaughn Lodge, of the American Indian movement, who also travelled to D.C. to lobby and protest for the 99% agenda.
Research on U.S. Bank indicates significant amounts of money spent by the bank’s PAC on Minnesota’s congressional delegation in the last two election cycles, including $34,800 to Republican members and $30,539 to Democrats in 2008 and 2010. Representative Erik Paulsen, who represents Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, led with $12,000 in PAC contributions.
“It’s a vicious cycle for working people. Big Banks and Big Finance lavish fat bonus checks on their top executives who turn around and hand out big donations to their favorite politicians, the ones that maintain their tax breaks and loopholes,” said Chris Conry, an organizer with TakeAction Minnesota. “The 1% continue to get richer while the 99% continue to suffer unemployment and the other effects of an economy these banks wrecked.”