How Bank of America Tempts Fate

The other day I was in the drive-thru line of a fast food chain with a friend. We were both really hungry, so we each ordered the largest combo meal available. Our total was $21.87. When we got to the window, the employee handed us our food and then asked for payment. My friend told them to pass the bill onto the next car as he drove away. Our crime was hardly worth reporting to the police and the abandoned debt is now someone else's problem.

Who cares, right? We were just one car of the thousands that would go through their lines. They're a big corporation and can certainly afford to treat me to a meal once in a while.

Bank of America is giving credit cards to people without social security numbers. People without social security numbers are illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are undocumented and therefore have no real obligation to pay a single cent back.

Although this program is being launched for the good of the Hispanic community in Los Angeles , many Americans feel differently. Some have even acted on their outrage by canceling their association with Bank of America.

Groups like the ALIPAC (National Illegal Immigration Boycott Coalition), which represents over 100 organizations that are fighting against illegal immigration in America , has taken issue with BoA. According to their website, their mission is to encourage people to close their accounts with BoA and sign a petition.

The official anti-site, www.bankofamericaboycott.com was launched on February 15^th, 2007. It's generic in design but provides some interesting facts:

Bank of America has been identified as part of the OBL Open Borders Lobby.

Bank of America gives tens of thousands of dollars to racist groups that support illegal immigration such as La Raza (The Race), MALDEF, and LULAC. They also give money to try and defeat immigration enforcement measures supported by the American public such as Arizona 's proposition 200.

Bank of America chairman, CEO and esteemed nobleman Kenneth D. Lewis isn't dumb, but he'll play it as such for the media. "The program is in full compliance with U.S. laws and the Patriot Act and is intended to help customers build a credit history."

In fact, Kenny is so serious about this effort, and fighting the mass opposition it's received, that Bank of America will retaliate with a new ad campaign featuring the smooth tagline, "Bank of Opportunity". Beginning with the Academy Awards show, BoA will try to show us legal citizens just how awesome they really are. Their previous mantra was "Higher Standards".

Surely some proud American at BoA thinks this stunt is questionable.

Anne Finucane, Bank of America's chief marketing officer, said the bank will spend 30% more on TV ads compared to last year. Almost $160 million was spent in 2006.

The unfortunate side effect to this fresh outrage is that many illegal immigrants are just trying to support their families in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. They're regular people who just happen to have foreign accents and strange foods in their cupboards. Bank of America will make a fortune.

Surely the martyrs at BoA have discovered the program does tempt abuse. They certainly had no problem is discovering how much they stand to gain through high interest rates and late fees.

As Americans continue to finally stand up for what they believe in, the long-term effects of this shady maneuver remains to be seen.

In a time where national security and illegal immigration are constant hot-button issues, and the current administration refuses to take an aggressive roll in handling it, it should come as no surprise when our country is attacked once again.

So far all attempts to get a credit card in Mexico have failed.

Resources:
Delaware Online
www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070223/NEWS/702230371/-1/NEWS01

Official ALIPAC website
www.illegalimmigrationboycott.com

Bank of America Boycott

http://www.bankofamericaboycott.com/

Boston Herald
http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=184485