Business: Economics
National Rob the Bank Day   (+10, -4)  [vote for, against]
Trickle up voodoo economics

A date is set, say April 23rd.

Flyers are posted on telephone poles about a month prior to the event. Emails are sent out, phone calls are made. People in key positions are recruited.

There are more banks than police officers! They can't catch us all! Do your part to end the recession, Rob the Bank.

On Rob the Bank Day, the power goes out in many areas of town. (should have paid those telecom guys a little better, no?) Thousands are arrested, but millions are not. Possibly billions of dollars are out there just burning holes in people's pockets.

Suddenly, Demand for products is higher than supply. People have to be hired to meet increased production levels, who in turn find themselves in a better consuming position, further benifiting the economy.

It's your regular Trickle up voodoo economic classic scenario.

I just wish I had finished my bank robbing ROV before it all went down. I should have paid better attention in my Chemistry class so I wouldn't have had to do all these sulfuric acid on concrete tests. There's always next recession, and I may get a raise out of the economic turnaround. I should probably send some thank you cards to the city jail.
-- Zimmy, Mar 18 2008

I employed Pedro to look after my stash http://graphics8.ny...al/02recon650.3.jpg
[skinflaps, Mar 18 2008]

Tibor Fisher - The Thought Gang http://www.amazon.c...scher/dp/0684830795
Or "How to rob banks in style". Read it. [wagster, Apr 21 2008]

cool Idea

But will it work being that the bank will now weeks in advance?
-- dev45, Mar 18 2008


It may work. If the banks don't take the threat seriously and remain open that day it very well might. My problem is the "they can't catch us all" bit. I'm the guy that'd get caught. Still, I've always wanted to rob a bank. You know, casually, not enough to actually do it.
-- Noexit, Mar 18 2008


More like trickle up inflation. Trying to encourage the economy by suddenly giving out cash is like trying to slow a hurricane with a firehose. Even if the sums are large the impact on the real economy, the market and manufacture of things and services is not positive. Bank insecurity is a crucial trigger for economic depression in capitalist economies as it removes a key form of capital liquidity. Mob economics is a disaster in any form.
-- WcW, Mar 18 2008


There are multiple bank robberies every day in the Atlanta area alone. According to the idea, we can assume it's been a godsend to the local economy.

So why only one day? If we keep the spirit alive in the hearts of our families, every day is National Rob the Bank Day.
-- Amos Kito, Mar 18 2008


i can't bun this idea, if only because of all the commercial marketing that would invariably follow this.

RTBD costumes, cards, events at bars, specialty foods, flowers, expectations by loved ones, automotive promotions, etc.
-- normzone, Mar 18 2008


What about armored cars? Are they up for grabs that day, or do I have to wait for national carjacking day?

I know the route for a Wells Fargo truck and a RPG that I'm just dying to use...
-- KineticKill, Mar 18 2008


I thought that this idea was going to be some national celebration for a bank named Rob.
-- skinflaps, Mar 18 2008


I was kinda under the impression that the banks don't have any money left for us to rob...
-- DrCurry, Mar 18 2008


Choose the date based on the Unabubbian Calendar so the banks will be making their preparations for extra security measures on the wrong day.

Unless they've heard of the halfbakery.
-- Canuck, Mar 18 2008


\\Trying to encourage the economy by suddenly giving out cash is like trying to slow a hurricane with a firehose.\\ For whatever reason I can't get this metaphor out of my head.

[+] for the idea.
-- hidden truths, Mar 18 2008


\\trying to slow a hurricane with a firehose\\ [marked-for-tagline]
-- Canuck, Mar 19 2008


[+] I like the idea but like Noexit said, I'd be one of the guys that gets caught.
-- Jscotty, Mar 19 2008


Also known as 'National Run on the Bank Day,' ca. 1929. Lather, rinse, repeat. Banks don't carry enough money for this to happen.
-- RayfordSteele, Mar 19 2008


(from a stainless steel rat is born by harry harrison)"Without us [criminals] the lives of all the sheep-like citizenry would be so empty that mass suicide to escape it would be the only answer. Instead of pursuing us and calling us criminals they should honor us as first among them!" ... "It is so because we give the police something to do, someone to chase, some reason for rushing about in their expensive machines. And the public—how they watch the news and listen for the latest reports on our exploits, how they talk to each other about it and relish every detail! And what is the cost of all this entertainment and social good? Nothing. The service is free, even though we risk life, limb, and liberty to provide it. What do we take from them? Nothing. Just money, paper, and metal symbols. All of it insured. If we clean out a bank, the money is returned by the insurance company who, at the end of the year, may reduce their annual dividend by a microscopic amount. Each shareholder will receive a millionth of a buck less. No sacrifice, no sacrifice at all. Benefactors, my boy, we are nothing less than benefactors.
-- copycat042, Mar 21 2008


This is coming up in a few days! ha ha!

//Trying to encourage the economy by suddenly giving out cash is like trying to slow a hurricane with a firehose.//

[WcW], I know. I wish someone would tell Congress & the other W this.
-- Zimmy, Apr 21 2008


//I know the route for a Wells Fargo truck and a RPG that I'm just dying to use//
"I've got a copy of Dungeons and Dragons, and I'm not afraid to use it"
-- coprocephalous, Apr 21 2008



random, halfbakery