# So...NOW can we charge the banks under RICO? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426 "2010-07-03T14:25:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/21 "2010-07-04T15:24:22Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > mother of mercy, is this the end of rico? ROFL ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/22 "2010-07-04T17:51:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes Americans being stupid risk averse twats who like to impose their bloody rules on the planet, that’s what. Shrieking on constantly is bloody tiresome. Yet another example of why Americans can’t win. If we take a principled stand and actually allow that stand to regulate our business, we’re “stupid” and overly litigious. If we don’t and simply let the chips fall where they may, we’re irresponsible and “cowboys”. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/23 "2010-07-04T18:16:46Z")
> [@sleeping](#): > > Really don’t see your point there. Banks have obtained all sorts of exemptions, probably more than most industries. Name them. Really name the bloody exceptions from money laundering laws. Name even one “exception.” > [@](#): > > I am not a specialist in finance law; neither is **Bricker**. I should hardly be surprised. > [@](#): > > Having said that, based on the shady goings-on of banks being engaged in predatory lending in the lead-up to the housing crash, it would not surprise if the banks’ conduct _did_ fit the criteria for RICO if it were any other type of institution. “Willful ignorance” is precisely what RICO was intended to address. You’re taking a presumption of your as a fact, in any case “predatory lending” to the extent this is not merely dressed up excuse making for borrowers who are stupid twats who thought they could game the market - is simply sharp dealing. Bringing such things under laws that, as I understand it are meant to attack criminal gangs is sheer idiocy. We’ve had quite enough of that here with abuse of state security (as in anti terrorism) laws. It’s short sighted myopic idiocy to think using such laws is a good idea for commercial sharp dealing. > [@](#): > > Americans are overly prone to litigiousness, this is true. However, in the context of banking regulation and medical research, such caution is very much warranted. Whatever, you’re a bunch of timorous twats. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/24 "2010-07-04T18:45:49Z")
As compared to that nation which so boldly stood firm against our military adventures? The place that used to be Great Britain? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/25 "2010-07-04T18:47:56Z")
> [@wmfellows](#): > > …Bringing such things under laws that, as I understand it are meant to attack criminal gangs is sheer idiocy… It makes the point that crime is crime, whether committed by swarthy thugs or white men in crisp suits. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/26 "2010-07-04T19:48:38Z")
I am not an expert, but I have accounts in US banks. Let me tell you, for a non-resident alien opening an account in a US bank is like taking a loan to buy all of Beverly Hills. You have to justify every cent going into that account beforehand. And I get frequent calls about unusual transactions. To be fair, Dominican banks are equally anal about this. All in the interest of stopping me from potentially laundering a few thousand dollars a month. I find it funny that for very large amounts the players seem to have no trouble whatsoever. It’s easier if you are a crook, seems to be the moral of the story. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/27 "2010-07-04T19:51:43Z")
Are you a white Republican banker in a pricey three-piece suit? Well, there’s your problem: lack of planning. ---
**Author:** ![sleeping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/28 "2010-07-04T19:51:44Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > I find it funny that for very large amounts the players seem to have no trouble whatsoever. > > It’s easier if you are a crook, seems to be the moral of the story. If this is the case, it goes straight to the heart of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/29 "2010-07-04T20:39:53Z")
#Sung to the tune of the Mr. Ed TV program# #A crime is a crime of course, of course Unless that crime was commited by The wonderful Mr. Whitey!# #All must pay for crimes of course But who ever heard of crime so coarse That it could be charged to such a force As the corporate Mr. Whiteys!# ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/30 "2010-07-04T21:08:34Z")
See? When US banks try to follow the letter of the law, we’re “timorous twats”. I do so wish all of our various colonies, like Great Britain, would try to be consistent. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/31 "2010-07-04T21:29:36Z")
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the world’s primary complaint about America were our timorous reluctance to engage in military adventure? That would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/32 "2010-07-04T21:30:35Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the world’s primary complaint about America were our timorous reluctance to engage in military adventure? That would be cool. Yeah, but you just know it would be said in a condescending, hateful manner. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426/33 "2010-07-05T18:43:14Z")
High-fructose-corn-syrup-slurping pacifist monkeys? I’ve been called worse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-can-we-charge-the-banks-under-rico/545426.md?page=1)