The System
Sacred Truth: How the System Screws You
The financial system is rigged to keep you broke and dependent. Banks, corporations, and regulators pretend to protect you, but their rules and tools—credit cards, BNPL schemes, inflation, data grabs—drain your wallet and freedom. This page breaks down the traps, from the Dodd-Frank Act's hollow promises to the latest fintech scams, so you can see the game for what it is.
Credit Card Debt Trap
Credit cards hook you with rewards and "convenience," but their 20-25% APRs turn small purchases into years of debt. The Dodd-Frank Act (2010) capped some fees, but banks dodged it with loopholes, keeping interest rates sky-high. In 2024, Americans owed $1.1 trillion in credit card debt, with average households paying $1,500 yearly in interest alone. You're not a customer; you're a cash cow.
BNPL's Hidden Sting
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) apps like Affirm and Klarna promise "interest-free" shopping, but 18% of users missed payments in 2024, racking up late fees up to $35. New York's 2025 BNPL Act requires licenses and fee caps, but exempts big banks, leaving smaller lenders squeezed while consumers still face surprise charges. The CFPB's 2024 rule to treat BNPL as credit cards was scrapped in May 2025, leaving you with vague disclosures and no real protection.
Inflation's Silent Theft
Inflation eats your money's value while banks offer 0.5-1% interest on savings. From 2020-2025, food and gas prices jumped 25%, but wages grew only 10%. The Federal Reserve's money printing fuels this, propping up markets while your grocery bill doubles. Your savings rot, and the system bets you won't notice.
Cash's Decline
Cash use dropped 18% from 2019-2024, pushed out by digital payments that track your every move. Merchants charge 2-4% fees for card transactions, inflating prices. Meanwhile, banks profit while you lose the anonymity and control of cash. The system wants you traceable, not free.
Data as Currency
Your personal data—spending habits, location, searches—is harvested by fintech apps and sold to advertisers. In 2024, 60% of BNPL providers shared user data without clear consent, per CFPB reports. Dodd-Frank's data protections are toothless against these leaks, leaving you exposed while corporations cash in.
Regulatory Betrayal
The Dodd-Frank Act (2010) vowed to curb predatory lending post-2008, but its 2,300 pages let banks slip through with fine print. In 2025, the CFPB slashed oversight of BNPL, citing "taxpayer relief," while 21% of credit holders used BNPL, many juggling multiple loans. Regulators serve the banks, not you, leaving debt as your master.
Break Free from the System
The system is designed to keep you trapped. But knowledge is power, and real assets are freedom.
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