As I’ve mentioned in the past, my MBNA card was due to be cancelled out of principle.
Now there’s even more reason to do so.
The Center for Public Integrity: “A small number of donations by employees of the credit card giant MBNA Corp. last month was enough to unseat Enron as President George W. Bush’s top career donor.
“The Delaware-based company has given Bush $605,041 over his career, while Enron ($602,625) slipped to second, according to a recent supplement to ‘The Buying of the President 2004,’ a book by the Center for Public Integrity detailing the financial interests behind each presidential candidate.”
Agent: “Is there a particular reason you are closing your account?”
Me: “Because your company is the largest lifetime contributor to George Bush.”
Agent: “The what?”
Me: “The George Bush. I don’t want my money going to support him anymore.”
Agent: Silence.
Case closed. Balance paid off. No more of my money is going to fund Bush. I hate that I have paid interest to a company that gave so much money to him. No more.
In fact, this week we’re also eliminating all our other debt, too, as part of our new commitment to a debt-free existence (aside from the good and necessary debt that is our mortgage and my student loan).
7 responses so far ↓
1 alan // Sep 3, 2004 at 1:56 am
Great job standing up for your principals! Great job letting the company know WHY you stoped doing business with them! Of course, I disagree with your politics, but your have shown one of my conservative values: The Power Of the Consumer. That’s why I’m not anti-big-business. In the long run, they answer to us, the little guys! BTW, GREAT JOB GETTING OUT OF DEBT!!! If any of your readers want to follow in your footsteps, let me reccommend a book. The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey. It has a step-by-step process to eliminating debt. I’m begining the process now. Keep up the work! Tell your friend Dan “thanks” for mentioning me, but I’m not a Republican blogger, I’m a conservative independant. Also, part of the “vast right-wing conspiricy.” -Alan
2 gabe // Sep 3, 2004 at 2:21 pm
thanks for the props, alan! it’s a great feeling to eliminate the debt… now we can save/invest money rather than paying interest on it.
thanks for the book recommendation, and good luck to you, too!
3 kalora // Dec 22, 2004 at 10:03 am
Hey guy…get a clue..All credit card companies and other big corporations contribute to the political parties, including George Bush..So if you are going to get rid of your MBNA card, then you must get rid of all your card and stop giving business to the big corporation and become a hermit. That is the only why you are going to avoid contributing to Bush. Do not get me wrong, I do not agree with everything that this man has done, but I seriously think you need to open your eyes and not just pick on one company over this. It is just niave and childess. Grow Up!!!
4 Gabe A_nderson // Dec 22, 2004 at 10:34 am
Hey kalora-
Grow up? At least I’m doing my small part one company at a time. I know we can’t win all the battles, but we have to choose them.
You seem to have no trouble criticizing my efforts, but at least I’m doing something about it. What are you doing besides spewing negativity? How does that effect change?
And by the way, I carry no credit card debt, so I’m no longer giving ANY money to ANY credit card companies.
So maybe you should get a clue, dude, and take your spite elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Guy
5 kalora // Dec 25, 2004 at 8:00 pm
Hey Guy,
Obviously you missed the point totally. I wasn’t being negative, just honest. I was also not limiting my comments to credit card companies. I stated all big corporations which includes the department stores in which you shop. And I think you should admit to yourself the real reason you closed you credit card is that you cannot control you spending and before you focus on one perceived downfall of one company you should research that company and see all the good that the company does, which includes community donations and helping children go to school. By the way I have no credit card debt either, but my eyes are wide open.
Oh and ps my husband thinks you are a pinko Commie Neo Clintonite!!!
PPS IOW U B A ‘TARD. Here’s your sign.
6 Gabe A_nderson // Dec 26, 2004 at 2:34 pm
Kalora-
Funny. You haven’t made any argument that I haven’t already published elsewhere on my blog. For example:
http://blogmasterg.com/life/2004/12/04/choose_the_blue.php
I can control my spending just fine, thank you very much. I have other cards that are rarely used and, when they are, paid off in full every month.
Do you work for MBNA? Is that why you’re defending it? And sure, what big corporation doesn’t make “community donations” for the tax write-off? And “helping children go to school?” How so? I’ve never heard of an MBNA scholarship, but please, enlighten me if I’m wrong.
Tell your husband thanks for the compliment. But what do you think, Mrs. Eyes Wide Open? We seem to agree that this is not just about credit card companies. Remember, you came here, to my blog, telling me to “grow up” and to “get a clue.” Sounds pretty negative and bitter to me.
What’s your argument? That I should “not just pick on one company over this?” Believe me, I certainly don’t. You just happened to find one post I wrote that addresses MBNA specifically. As I said, you have to pick your battles. I have many:
– I don’t shop at Wal-Mart because I don’t like the way they treat their employees (won’t let them unionize); I don’t like that they give so much to Republicans; I don’t like that they have such a widespread impact on the world economy and manufacturing that forces labor overseas; I don’t like that they censor the media in their stores.
– I don’t go to Starbucks because I don’t like that they force local coffee shops out of business (though I do like that they give 100% to Democrats).
– I don’t eat fast food because I don’t like what it does to my health or the health of so many other people.
– I don’t own an SUV because I think they guzzle our precious natural resources and convey a false sense of security. When was the last time you saw a news story about a car rolling over in the snow and ice?
And that’s just for starters.
What are your battles? What are you passionate about and what are you doing about it?
7 MBNA Employee // Jan 21, 2005 at 1:56 pm
First off, I’m sorry you chose to cancel your card. As I’ve seen reported elsewhere, closing a $0 balance card doesn’t improve your credit score. And hey, more power to you for paying down your debt. It’s a challenge in today’s environment. I’m trying to get there, too.
Check out the URL for the MBNA Foundation. The Foundation provides scholarship money and opporunities for many people in Delaware and Maine that couldn’t otherwise go to college. They may expand past those states borders, but I’m not sure. Employees can also get help with scholarship money, which can eclipse $10K/year, based on how well your kid does in school.
I do work for the Company and I support Bush, although not monetarily. Oh wait, I’m revolving some money on my MBNA card. OK, then I guess I am supporting him. Drat, there goes that moral stance! Well, I guess that stance was shot anyway since I work for the Company……
As for passion, I call Christ my Savior, so that is my primary passion. Of course I have similar positions that come along with being labeled a “right-wing Christian conservative” (that would be the name that others would have for born-agains, but certainly very inaccurate of me–it has very negative connotations)–
Pro-Life
Fiscal Conservative
Bush supporter
but I don’t follow lockstep with the Rush’s and Hannity’s of the world. There is always some truth in what they put out there, but it’s filtering out all the spin to get to the crux of the issue. Believe it or not, I am able to think and reason and see both sides of an issue, too. But, as a Christian, I let God be my guide. And I don’t take a position until I’ve heard both sides of an issue. Unless of course 2 of my kids are fighting with each other…..then they’re both wrong!
I am also passionate about my job, because I enjoy what I do.
As for the SUV comment, I have many kids, and the only device large enough to carry the family is a Suburban. But my wife is a homeschool Mom, so it goes well over a week between trips to the gas station. I drive a little car to work daily to try to do my part. I don’t eat or drink at Starbucks because I don’t drink coffee. I do, however, eat fast food because I enjoy it. I’ve been meaning to schedule that physical with my Doc for a few months now…….
Nothing wrong with being passionate about something, even if someone disagrees with it. Unfortunately, most people are disagreable when they disagree with someone. Like Rodney said, “Why can’t we all just get along”.