Evil Bankers 1

Are bankers inherently evil?  Shakespeare says, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be."  Does following or not following this advice make someone evil?  That is an answer I am not capable of giving.

I have met some remarkable people in my life and many have left indellible marks on my choice of lifestyle.  When I was 13 years old, I was given a peice of advice that has stayed with me in the many years that have follow.  He said that if someone asked you for money, you should not look at it as a loan that has a time limit, but rather a gift.  If you are willing to part with the money, you should not count on getting it back.  Should the money return to you, consider it a gift.  If you cannot part with money on these terms, then you should not part with your money at all. 

Bankers certainly cannot part with money on anything nearing the terms outlined above.  The reason is that they are building a business on the difference between the have and the have-nots.  In thier model, the have-nots need the bank's service to make housing, transportation (cars), and other high-cost items more affordable.  In the banker's minds, they are merely providing a service in giving the have-nots the means to live life more comfortably in the here-and-now.  They provide financing (lending) to people so that they can buy things immediately that they would otherwise have to wait to buy.  This process does not make items more affordable, in fact, it makes them less affordable.  By charging interest "borrowing fee" on the loans made to these items, the banks can generate an income from the lent monies.

This process has been in place for hundreds of years.  And I personally do not see the harm in it.  bankers give out mony and expect both the money lent as well as a nominal fee back in return.  This fee is adjusted given the likelyhood that the borrower will pay back the money according to the schedule agreed upon.  Pretty evil with someone actually holds you to the promises you make.