Operation George Bailey
On Monday, go to your bank. Withdraw as much money as you feel you can. In cash.
There are two reasons to do this.
The most important reason is to send a message to our politicians, and to our plutocrats alike, that we the public will no longer allow ourselves to be victimized by our own government. Letters and phone calls do not seem to work quickly enough, so let us speak the language of cold hard cash.
A run on the banks would get their attention. It always has. It's become a thing of the past thanks to the FICA insurance. There is no longer a reason for it anymore in normal times. So what better way to say, "Things are no longer normal"?
If a budding bank run fails to communicate, a cash shortage will remedy that. As we all know, there is a lot more money in on the books than there is paper currency to cover it. If thousands of people start withdrawing thousands of dollars in currency, it will not be long before banks start having trouble supplying local businesses with daily cash for the till.
In order to maximize the effect, ask for rolls of quarters and dimes along with packets of $10 and $20 bills. Focus on the denominations that will most affect routine daily cash transactions.
If the government comes back down to Earth on Tuesday, the money goes back in the bank. A day or ten's interest at <1% annual rate of return does not add to up to a big loss.
Small-scale currency and specie shortages have occurred inadvertently in the past. They cause businesses headaches - and they make the news. A cash shortage caused intentionally will dominate the news. And business people will breathe fire at politicians. plus, everything out of the ordinary makes bankers and stockbrokers nervous.
If the Citizens Untied ruling says America is now a One Dollar : One Vote nation, then let us give the Supreme Court a little taste of what they have created.
The other reason to do this is for your own skin. The idea occurred to me tonight that I should go to my bank on Monday and withdraw about $10,000 in cash. If the government defaults and the economy grinds to a halt, cash will be a good thing to have. Who knows if banks will be able to stay open if this goes on awhile? I figure I am better off with a shoebox full of green persuaders than I am without it.
Naturally about five minutes later the implications of thousands of people doing the same thing hit me. So, I know this is not much of a plan or much of a diary, but time is of the essence. No coordination is required.
In the spirit of George Bailey, make a run on your bank! Stash your cash and let this message go viral.