Hold that thought! First, #ToughTalkingTroy wants to set this record straight. Whether Occupy Wall Street (#OWS) is a good thing for consumers or not is relative to each person’s perspective. What is important is that OWS has gotten millions of Americans to finally take note of credit unions. Thankfully, credit unions are now on the “A” list.
For over 75 years, credit unions have been trying to break the glass ceiling of consumer ignorance about the value of credit unions. During this time credit unions have endured one bank attack after another regarding taxation, an increasing burdensome amount of regulation from Washington, and the lack-luster consideration of consumers who claim to make well-informed decisions about their finances, yet ignore credit unions as an option.
Now it is popular and trendy for every self-respecting investment guru to freely steer folks to cooperatively owned and operated financial institutions. Today, credit unions, unlike no other time in financial history, are being named the “Financial Institution of First Choice!”
How we connect the dots from OWS to Bank Transfer Day (BTD) is quite frankly irrelevant. The most important aspect of this part of the conversation is the motivation factor that gets people up off the couch to become financially responsible. If a day like BTD was needed, then so be it! But, the reality is that none of us needed someone to say, “Geez, you’re paying way too much for that, why not go over there and get a better deal!”
So, does Tough-talking Troy think OWS efforts are misdirected? A very tough and solid … YES. Because the root cause is not Wall Street; it is a street called Pennsylvania Avenue. And since “Occupy Washington” sounds too close to the original, Tough-talking Troy is offering an alternative to the 99%, and that is his personal movement called: “Occupy Voter Booth.”
Really? Yes, seriously. Statistics prove that Americans do not exercise one of the democratic principles that this country and credit unions were founded upon: To Vote. The turnout for local elections is even worse, statistically, than national or gubernatorial contests. People simply have taken the “right to vote and make a legislative difference” too casually.
Tough-talking Troy’s tips for today…
- Run, do not walk, to your local credit union and beg forgiveness for failing to recognize it as a viable financial institution of first choice.
- Take action, do not take for granted, the privilege to vote and make your voice heard at every election.
- Start now, do not wait, and vote on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at your local precinct and then again during the 2012 Presidential race.
This is our time (sorry, Footloose) to be part of the 100% who make a difference. Join Tough-talking Troy in his personal movement: “Occupy Voter Both.”
