Bankster n. A portmanteau of “banker” and “gangster”, popularized by (among others) the economist Murray N. Rothbard, used by him to attack what he held to be the inherently fraudulent nature of Fractional-Reserve banking (as opposed to 100% gold reserve banking, which he defended as the only honest form of banking). Frequently used in reference to The Fed.
In more recent popular usage, often refers in a vague way to the forces of “Wall Street”, or to those persons in the financial services industry who grow rich despite the continued impoverishment of those who depend on their services, and despite their apparent inability to succeed in business without constant government assistance.
“The Fed is an organized cartel of banksters, who are creating inflation, ripping off the public, destroying the savings of the average American.”
“The banksters crashed the economy, but thanks to generous federal bailouts, they won’t have to sacrifice their fat bonuses.” (from: Urban Dictionary)
You can also read a revelatory piece from Thom Hartmann at Truthout on the $7.7 trillion bankster heist.
Dylan Ratigan popularized the term “bankster” in 2010 on his MSNBC talk show and his Huffington Post articles (credit is given to him, at any rate).
My spouse and I only keep a minimum balance in a bank, just enough to pay the bills. Not because we fear a bank failure but because whenever we deal with banks we feel dirty and need to go home and take showers. Occupy Wall Street protesters inspired 650,000 people to move their money ($4.5 billion of it) out of banks and into credit unions on Bank Transfer Day on 5 November 2011 (also Guy Fawkes Day in the UK). Still, that’s just pocket change for these swindlers.
The following (ever-growing) links focus on how banks, Wall Street, and corporations mean to make us into slaves
Why No Bankster Has Been Arrested
The Federal Reserve System (not a conspiracy site)
65 Ways That Everything That You Think That You Own Is Being Systematically Taken Away From You
Why Isn’t Wall Street in Jail?
The Big Banks Are Waging Warfare Against the People of the World
The More Countries to do what Iceland did will soon see the End of the Banksters Rule! Time for a Change is now!