Open-borders euphemism of the day: “Unbanked”

By Michelle Malkin  •  January 24, 2008 07:58 PM

There’s an op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal co-authored by Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger. If that sets off your B.S. alarm, join the club:

The American dream is founded on the belief that people who work hard and play by the rules will be able to earn a good living, raise a family in comfort and retire with dignity.

But that dream is harder to achieve for millions of Americans because they spend too much of their hard-earned money on fees to cash their paychecks or pay off high-priced loans meant to carry them over until they get paid at work.

Here is one initiative that can unite progressives and conservatives as well as business leaders and community activists: helping the “unbanked” enter the financial mainstream by opening checking and savings accounts, and working collaboratively with financial institutions and community groups to develop and market products that work for this untapped market. This will put money in the pockets of individuals and grow the economy. And it won’t cost taxpayers a dime.

“Unbanked?”

If it reminds you of another open-borders euphemism– “undocumented”– there’s a reason.

Chris Kelly exposes how the push to aid the “unbanked” is a scheme to help banks profit from money that was earned illegally: “Instead of fighting against such government corruption, Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger are promoting it. Pardon me if I have difficulty thinking of both of them as little more than crooks.”

***
Flashback: Bank of Illegals in America backlash

Flashback: Bank of Illegal Aliens in America

Flashback: The Illegal Alien Gold Card

iagoldcard.jpg

Flashback: Banking on illegal immigration

Flashback: Banking on American stupidity

Flashback: Businessweek “Embracing Illegals – Companies are getting hooked on the buying power of 11 million undocumented immigrants”

See what others have said

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Comments


  1. #226411
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:08 pm, flenser said:

    Can I also break the law and still be one of those “people who work hard and play by the rules”? Or is that privilege reserved for non-citizens?

  2. #226416
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:14 pm, MrScribbler said:

    #1 — That’s a privilege reserved for illegals and Bill & Hillary.

    Oh, yeah. Not to mention Marc Rich.

  3. #226417
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:16 pm, gayle said:

    Can we renounce our citizenship to qualify for all these incentives?

  4. #226421
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:24 pm, brooklyn red said:

    “This will put money in the pockets of individuals and grow the economy. And it won’t cost taxpayers a dime”.

    Hmmmm, not so much.

    I would prefer to see a law (yes, I know, Govt. regulations, blah, blah.) where interst rates are linked.

    For example, credit charges can not be more than twice the rate paid for savings, or even 3 times the rate…

    But paying depositors 2 or 3 percent and then then lending their money out at 21% lol! No wonder people trust banks as much as they do politicians.

  5. #226427
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:28 pm, fred5676 said:

    The American dream is founded on the belief that people who work hard and play by the rules …

    This excludes all those who broke a rule to enter our country. Can we hold them to their word?

    Nah. I didn’t think so.

  6. #226428
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:31 pm, d1carter said:

    So, now everyone has a constitutional right to a bank account…?

  7. #226429
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:36 pm, zorro said:

    Pardon me if I have difficulty thinking of both of them as little more than crooks.”

    No worries, they are both crooks.

  8. #226431
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:38 pm, Gabe said:

    helping the “unbanked” enter the financial mainstream

    “Unbanked?” Who are they kidding? There’s a Bank of America in Annandale, VA with hordes of aliens surrounding it looking for day labor in the shopping center(and they are definitely using the bank). There’s a Western Union that looks like it gets great business (our money going straight to Mexico and El Salvador).

    If they are “unbanked,” why did my new check register from Wachovia now have Spanish translations?

    And it won’t cost taxpayers a dime.

    What?! By encouraging aliens to stay in our country, we are paying for their kids in public schools (much higher funding for each alien than for each American because of the low student-teacher ratio for ESL classes and special ed classes), we are paying for their hospital bills, we are paying for increased number of police officers because of all their crime and gangs, we are paying a huge amount in Virginia to replace traffic signs “tagged” by Latin alien gangs.

    We are paying much, much more out than we are getting in return for illegal labor.

  9. #226432
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:38 pm, txvet2 said:

    brooklyn red said:

    credit charges can not be more than twice the rate paid for savings, or even 3 times the rate…

    Pardon me if I point out that using credit cards is 100% voluntary? If nobody used those 21% cards, the interest rate would drop. Same with store cards. Only a fool would pay those rates when you can get a card with a 7-8% rate, or even better, use a debit card and pay nothing.

  10. #226436
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:41 pm, trinitytim said:

    Arnold and Bubba together, Scary but not surprising!!!

    Add in McCain and Graham and you have a foursome fit for a 72 hole tournament starting in Tijuana on Thursday and ending in San Diego on Sunday. I’m sure CBS or ABC would carry the event. La Raza could sponsor it and Miller could host the festival once it’s over.

    Only in America….

  11. #226438
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:43 pm, fred5676 said:

    People outside of the financial mainstream are the heart of America.

    “Heart of America?”

    What alternate universe do they live in?? The heart of America is made up of hard-working, over-taxed, law-abiding CITIZENS, who have no problem at all getting a checking account with zero or bare minimum fees.

    This is nothing less than harboring illegal aliens.

    I’ll think I’ll call ICE and report them.

    A person (including a group of persons, business, organization or local government) commits a federal felony when he:

    assists an alien whom he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him to obtain employment,

    encourages that alien to remain in the U.S., by referring him to an employer, by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or

    knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

    Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime.

  12. #226440
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:47 pm, fred5676 said:

    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:38 pm, Gabe said:

    If they are “unbanked,” why did my new check register from Wachovia now have Spanish translations?

    Check here for a bank that does NOT cater to illegal aliens. I moved all my accounts (B of A AOPA credit card, 5 Wells fargo accounts) to one of the “good” banks last year.

  13. #226446
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:51 pm, winemkr said:

    Is Ahnold trying to be prezidential. He should worry about calyphornia and stay away from the real terminators, the clintons.

  14. #226449
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:54 pm, brooklyn red said:

    txvet2 – #9, Yes you are absolutely right… I myself have good credit & pay even lower rates that what you mentioned.

    I was referring to, “pay off high-priced loans meant to carry them over until they get paid at work.”

    Rush had a parody on today about the “Amigo Card”… the pretence was the bank in question was “against illegals until they figured that they could pay 21%”

    Anyone know what happened to the Bank of America scheme to offer credit cards w/out a SS#?? pls advise.

  15. #226450
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:56 pm, Lifeofthemind said:

    and play by the rules

    For Clinton everything is like the meaning of the word IS! Some of us think that “play by the rules” means that you, now get this, play by the rules.

    /snort

  16. #226452
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:57 pm, Boomer said:

    With the way we are being taxed no wonder they see non tax paying illegal invaders as the engine that runs our financial markets. After all most of us that actually produce anything and pay taxes will no longer have enough left over after paying for the basic necessities that we can no longer invest in American through the stock market once the housing bail out and the big stimulus package bill comes due for each of us to pay.

  17. #226453
    On January 24th, 2008 at 8:58 pm, brooklyn red said:

    THANKS fred5676… I was looking for a reason to go w/Commerce.

  18. #226460
    On January 24th, 2008 at 9:06 pm, malkin_fan said:

    It just goes to show you that EVERY politician becomes a crook once in office.

    Adios AAAAAhhhhhhhnold

  19. #226472
    On January 24th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, Miss Ladybug said:

    I was listening to Rush today, too. Missed the “Amigo Card” bit – must have been while I was in the grocery store… Anyhow, he had several callers who said they were “unbanked”: one in particular doesn’t trust banks, and another “can’t” open an account because he said during his divorce, his now-ex overdrew their account, and that tag is still on his credit after 10 years. Can’t help but think SOME bank would still let him open an account after all this time… But, I do agree that, overall, this is aimed at catering to illegals. I work a part-time retail job to supplement my income until I get a full-time teaching job, and we have non-English speaking, Matricula Consular card-having illegal aliens in the store all the time. I don’t speak Spanish, and they often have their kids (who go to OUR public schools) translate in the event they need help and one of our two employees who know Spanish (to differing degrees) isn’t available. Also, A LOT of those non-English speakers have wads of cash and can plop down one or more hundreds to pay for their purchase. It irritates the snot out of me knowing these people shouldn’t even be here, but I can’t do anything about that…

  20. #226474
    On January 24th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    helping the “unbanked” enter the financial mainstream by opening checking and savings accounts,

    Doesn’t the Bank(rupt) of America already do that?

  21. #226531
    On January 24th, 2008 at 9:39 pm, Gabe said:

    Fred5676,

    That is a great resource. Thanks for that.

  22. #226601
    On January 24th, 2008 at 10:06 pm, right_on said:

    …[The American dream] is harder to achieve for millions of Americans because they spend too much of their hard-earned money on fees to cash their paychecks or pay off high-priced loans meant to carry them over until they get paid at work.

    The objects of their effection are Latin Americans, not Americans.

    Someone send Clinton this message: Hey Bill…you’re not in office anymore…butt out, you prevaricating blowhard!!!

  23. #226649
    On January 24th, 2008 at 10:24 pm, txvet2 said:

    right_on said:

    Hey Bill…you’re not in office anymore…butt out, you prevaricating blowhard!!!

    You haven’t been paying attention. This whole election thing is about getting him back into office, at least in effect if not in name, Constitution be damned.

  24. #226702
    On January 24th, 2008 at 10:51 pm, BobJones-77 said:

    Go to a Bank of America and ask for a withdrawal slip. It’s now bi-lingual with the word DEBITO in the upper right corner that is larger than any English word. It has so much spanish on it, that you have to look hard to find any English words. Unfricking believable. It’s not readable because of so much spanish. It’s like going to Lowes or Home Depot and finding all the boxes stocked on the shelves with the spanish side facing out.

    Welcome to Mexico folks. They are taking over without firing a shot (just fireing loads of babies). The southwest will be gone in a few more generations with the current level of invasion and birth rate.

  25. #226703
    On January 24th, 2008 at 10:52 pm, normsrevenge said:

    Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    Third Way idiots.

  26. #226723
    On January 24th, 2008 at 11:16 pm, shooter said:

    Bank of America Corporation
    (Public, NYSE:BAC)
    BOA is at $39.90 ( was $33 dollars on the 18th, six days ago) DOWN from $51.45 on Sept 15 2006 right after they announced their “illegal immigrants can bank with us” plan, that’s -22.45%.
    Since 9/2006 it is one of the WORST investments you could have made.
    I hope their stock goes even lower.

  27. #226728
    On January 24th, 2008 at 11:22 pm, Alphonse said:

    Nobody with a mattress is “unbanked.”

  28. #226745
    On January 24th, 2008 at 11:54 pm, Brent said:

    Check out Rush’s website, he’s got a Paul Shanklin parody today called Bank of Amigo: http://mfile.akamai.com/5020/wma/rushlimb.download.akamai.com/5020/clips/07/02/Amigo-card.asx

  29. #226753
    On January 25th, 2008 at 12:18 am, SHoward said:

    I wonder if these new Amigo Accounts come with immunity from IRS scrutiny.

    If they do, sign me up! I’ll be happy to start wotking on the side again, and banking my cash with the confidence that my account can’t be accessed by the IRS.

    Oh, wait….I’m an American citizen. I guess I’d still be subject to the law..

    Just Musing a possible nuance to this insane policy direction.

  30. #226761
    On January 25th, 2008 at 12:55 am, blues said:

    How far is the left field wall?They gotta be real close by now.

  31. #226779
    On January 25th, 2008 at 2:10 am, Pat said:

    I am now one of the un-partied.

    Both the Dems and Reps stink!

  32. #226794
    On January 25th, 2008 at 4:28 am, graysonret said:

    Gabe (#8)…I live near that bank and use the shopping center every week. Those day laborers are all over the place there. The Western Union is conveniently located at the Exxon station across the street. Saturday mornings at 9am, the bank has people crowded all over the bank. Mostly Hispanic. Radio Shack is the only place that I know, where you deal with Americans who speak English. Anyway, BOA has a great business going there…all foreign.

  33. #226795
    On January 25th, 2008 at 4:30 am, swj719AWG said:

    The American dream is founded on the belief that people who work hard and play by the rules will be able to earn a good living, raise a family in comfort and retire with dignity.

    But that dream is harder to achieve for millions of Americans because they spend too much of their hard-earned money on fees to cash their paychecks or pay off high-priced loans meant to carry them over until they get paid at work.

    Now class, point out the mutually exclusve concepts that live within these two paragraphs…

  34. #226801
    On January 25th, 2008 at 5:20 am, graysonret said:

    One concept…we’re all victims that need the democrats to bail us out. I’m still looking for something that is victimizing me…well, besides the democrats.

  35. #226813
    On January 25th, 2008 at 6:30 am, TMoney said:

    Globalistas!

    Although I think a single world government would be pretty spiffy, I can’t see that that government would have MY United States Constitution as its guiding force. So much for the dream.

    The elites in government- Clintons, McCains, Arnold(Kennedy), Kennedy(the big one), Grahamnesty, etc. – are pushing harder and harder. The list is long and we need to get them the hell out of the power seats.

    /rant off/

  36. #226837
    On January 25th, 2008 at 8:27 am, Ron said:

    Aren’t people “unbanked” because they need to provide a valid driver’s license and Social Security card to open an account? Or has it been so long since I opened my last account that I’ve forgotten the process? How can they report your interest earnings to the IRS unless they have valid identification? But now that Arnold and the Billster have come out in favor of this scam, I’ll be McCain’s backing is just minutes away…what with his NYT backing, and all.

  37. #226870
    On January 25th, 2008 at 9:45 am, Right_Wired said:

    I’ve worked in the Banking world for 10 years now, and when we call someone “unbanked”, we’re referring to people who live paycheck to paycheck, and always use a combination of check cashing stores and money orders bought from 7-11.

    It doesn’t necessarily mean they are illegals.

    However, there is a big push in the banking industry for Latino Initiatives, where Latios are specifically marketed. The bank I work at is starting a new program offering FREE wire transfers to Mexico. They also investigated the possibility of Muslim Bankign, where checking, savings and loans were in compliance with Sharia law.

    It makes me want to throw up.

  38. #226884
    On January 25th, 2008 at 10:00 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    If US Banks are willing to Mexicanize what’s stopping them from becoming sharia compliant?

    The campaign to introduce sharia is back. Last time, the campaign took a populist approach, invoking multiculturalism. This time, the pro-sharia lobby is dangling the carrot of new niche markets and has the backing of Canada’s major banks. Such icons of the corporate world as Citibank NA, HSBC Holdings PLC, and Barclays PLC have endorsed sharia banking and have started offering Islamic financing products to a vulnerable Muslim population.

    More here.

  39. #227073
    On January 25th, 2008 at 12:47 pm, Gabe said:

    I live near that bank and use the shopping center every week. Those day laborers are all over the place there.

    GraySonret,
    I go to St. Michael’s church near Little River Shopping center. I live in a different area of the county, but I like that church. I often eat at that Taco Bell at Little River and am always stunned at how many day laborers are out there. I estimated one time 400 from the Exxon to the 7-11 towards 495. Where is Immigration and Customs enforcement?

  40. #227330
    On January 25th, 2008 at 5:43 pm, amigoneus said:

    The American dream is founded on the belief that people who work hard and play by the rules will be able to earn a good living, raise a family in comfort and retire with dignity.

    But that dream is harder to achieve for millions of Americans because they spend too much of their hard-earned money on fees to cash their paychecks or pay off high-priced loans meant to carry them over until they get paid at work.

    taxes. There, fixed that for them.

  41. #228399
    On January 28th, 2008 at 12:05 am, meatpieandtatters said:

    The New World Order crowd is simply polishing up their Spanglish…

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