And I would see eating out a lot less often than we do now if it seems to be more of a hassle.

The Banks threaten….. and it is just EXTORTION just like the way the Government is attempting to threaten things to EXTORT more taxes from us all…. The Banks are threatening retaliations in order to extort support from customers to call their Representatives from enacting the new CC regulations/protections……

Banks/Credit-Card-ServiceAgencies are using the same tactics to avoid legislation against Credit Card rule regulation changes, Banks are THREATENING (Extortion tactics) to raise the Annual Fees, Cut peoples lines of Credit, saying you won’t get your free toaster, no more Frequent Flyer Miles programs, and on and on and on, in order to forestall any crackdown on their pathetic APR games they play!!! This is NOT Government spending programs, so even if they do raise some fees not capped by new regulations and drop some incentive programs…. THEY WILL GO BACK LATER….. It’s called competition….. They will again fight each other for your business, don’t be fooled by this short term changes they will impose to EXTORT your support for their right to rip-off your fellow citizens in APR, and other, fine print! They can and DO make money behind the transactions in fees charged to Merchants for equipment and in per transaction hold-back.

How the two relate…. the other Extortion…..

The Governator greatly upset me (over many things many times, but really really so this time) with his sounding like Democrats [I expect these extortion tactics from them, we're getting it here in MI with Gran(munist)holm] and going on about how Police, Fire, Garbage service, School days shortened, etc…. will all have to be cut …. it is ALL BS in an attempt to EXTORT Tax increases from the citizens and ward off actual and real Fiscally-responsible Cuts/Reductions in so many wasteful Govt agencies…..

The Governator should be ashamed of himself. This was/is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY for you to DECLARE VICTORY FOR YOUR ORIGINAL DAYS AS GOVERNOR AND WANTING CUTS!!!!! The citizens are speaking and saying you must make cuts…. If you would have held the line on the Conservative ideals, you would have had the moral high-ground, but you pissed it away by taking the EXTORTION low-road and sounding like your wife… er…. Democrats…..

When the Taxes are voted down… you have all the proof you need that citizens in even the most Liberal CA – DEMAND CUTS AND A SENSIBLE BUDGET – FOR A CHANGE!!!!!!

As for the Credit-Card regulations it is up to everyone to decide whether they want the CC reforms on the reforms own merits — not because you are being extorted to by the Banks!!!!

Then, to make matters worse, I actually pay my credit card bill on time! What was I thinking? Darn personal responsibility!

Sigh. Progress, baby! Hopeandchange (TM thingie)

Amen.

And it meant – gasp – living within my means and doing without for a period which now seems very, very short. There is no softer pillow than the one that results from being in control of your finances.

What’s behind this is the unintended consequences of allowing the geniuses in DC to limit what credit card companies can charge irresponsible card holders in interest and penalties so the card companies have no choice but to shift costs to those of us who use their credit cards responsibly.

So…thank your Republican Senators who voted en-mass to help the one pass this foolishness!