How 37 Financial Institutions Became Four (Graph)

This wonderful graph, which was originally shared by Lucas Rohenaz, has floated around the net for the last month or so.  It has been shared on Facebook alone nearly 13,000 times.  It shows how, since 1990, 37 financial institutions have merged into the four largest banks in the nation: Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

The most egregious of the Wall Street offenders is Bank of America, taking over twelve other banks in the course of the last two decades.  I worked for BofA in 1993, shortly after their buyout of Security Pacific Bank.  I was also employed by Chase Manhattan Bank (now JPMorgan Chase), shorly after their merger with Chemical bank in 1997.

Mergers are messy.  They are tumultuous for both customers and employees alike.  Upper management rarely gives a shit.  As long as stock value continues to rise, their yearly bonus increases as well.

Below is a clear example of why people are demonstrating in more than 80 cities nationwide.   These four corporations effectively control 40% of the nation's economy.  If that is not a motivation for action, I don't know what is.

Video: Wall Street Workers Openly Mock Protesters, Drink Champagne

On Friday afternoon, as the Occupy Wall Street protests were entering their sixth day, a number of the "haves" decided to step out on the balcony and see what all the fuss was about.  As they sipped champagne, they smiled at the crowds below, waving and taking video with their cell phones.  Disgusting.

Breaking: Twitter Hashtags "#occupywallstreet/#takewallstreet" Being Censored Within U.S.

THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS HARDLY COVERING ANY OF THIS!!  SPREAD THE WORD!!

Massive protests have been underway on Wall Street in New York City for the last 36 hours.  Thousands of people are camping out, protesting not only corporate greed, but the role that many in Washington have in lining the pockets of those at the top of the corporate ladder.

Throughout the day, the hashtags #occupywallstreet and #takewallstreet have been used on Twitter in reference to the protests.

Within the hour, it has been learned that somehow, those hashtags that have originated from within the United States have been blocked.

Trendsmap.com is a website that tracks the location of where hashtags are trending.  If you go to the site, and do a search of #occupywallstreet and #takewallstreet, you'll find not one tweet coming from the U.S.  According to Twitter, neither of the two hashtags are even trending within New York City.  I'm only following #occupywallstreet, and have at least 20 new tweets every 30 seconds popping up.  Keep in mind, that it is currently after 3:00AM EST.  Something illegal is happening, pure and simple.

I will try to keep you posted as I get more information.

Correction: The #occupywallstreet protests have been going on now for 8 days, since September 17th.  There has been absolutely zero media attention given to these protests, even though hundreds of people have been arrested (93 on the 24th alone), and dozens have been injured by NYPD officers.  I first caught wind of the protest through Buzzfeed.com last night, after police brutality had taken a sharp up swing in recent days.  What outside media personnel that are trying to get into the protests are being refused entry.  According to numerous sources, two PBS journalists were arrested and detained Saturday morning.  Most information from the scene is coming from bloggers and amateur cameramen.

Update 4:07AM EST:  It appears that #takewallstreet is finally starting to show up on Trendsmap.  When looking at an image of the globe, you cannot see the United States.  It is completely covered with the hashtag.  #occupywallstreet still is not showing.