Suburban Ohio Man Resists Forclosure with Direct Action

(Stony Ridge, OH) For decades a quiet neighborhood in the suburbs of Toledo Ohio has been home to working class Americans and the place where their children were raised. There is even a local park and playground right around the corner complete with Little League field. Its idyllic serenity has not been spared from the pains of the current economic and housing crisis. On the morning of May 3rd, one working-class anarchist and laid-off auto-worker facing eviction resulting from just one more of the nearly 1.5 million foreclosures in the U.S., decided that now was the time to stand his ground.

Keith Sadler, 53, a 15 year homeowner at the corner of Broadway and Fremont, the heart of quiet Stony Ridge, decided that enough was enough and no one else had stood up to do something about this and that the loss of his own home was the best place to stand. “It's time people should come together as a community to defend what is already theirs. I think we've already been shown that simply asking or hoping for change isn't going to make it happen.” He held a press conference on Sunday night with several supporters in attendance, where he announced that he was not leaving voluntarily and the police would have to enter the house on their own and physically remove him.

There are five people, all from the Toledo area, who are taking the stand with him. There are also supporters who have come form as far away as Florida to show their support and several even camped out in Keith's yard over night, in spite of the rain. The total of six people, ranging in age from 20 to53, have sealed themselves in to Keith's home and have all agreed to stay there as long as it takes and not only brought in food and water with them, but also music and they have planned for a concert on Keith's front porch at noon on May 3rd as well.

He also stated that he had no intentions of doing anything other than simply “not leaving” and would gladly vacate the property voluntarily immediately after the Sheriff publicly announces an indefinite moratorium on foreclosure related evictions in Wood County. “We're not armed. We're not violent. We're not coming out. Not until there is justice for the people.” On May 20th of last year, he was forcibly removed from a Sheriff sale of foreclosed homes in Lucas County, where deputies carried him bodily out as he decried the bailouts and foreclosure crisis as “legalized robbery“ (1). Keith is one of the founding members of the Toledo Foreclosure Defense League (2), and other members and area supporters have stepped in to stand with him.

He has also gained national-level support from Take Back the Land, a movement started in Miami, FL, that has been focusing on exactly the same injustice that Keith and millions of other Americans are going through with direct action. Max Rameau, one of the Take Back the Land organizers came up from Miami to stand with Keith. “In the face of this severe economic crisis, people are rising up. They rail against the bailouts and bonuses, protest the lack of lending, rebel against unfair credit card rate hikes and, most dramatically, fight back against losing their homes.“ (3)

glasscityjungle.com...

stopforeclosurefraud.com...

www.foxtoledo.com...

swampbubbles.com...

www.wtol.com...

(1) Toledo Blade – Man Protesting Foreclosures Arrested During Lucas County Sheriff's Sale
www.toledoblade.com.../20090520/NEWS02/905209964
(2) Toledo City Paper – A League for the Home
www.toledocitypaper.com.../The-City/City-Side/a-league-for-the-home.html

(3) Take Back the Land: May 2010 Month of Action
www.takebacktheland.org...

I dont understand.

He obviously went and did what lots americans did, overbought.

Now that he cannot pay for it anymore, he wants to keep it any way??

I dont support him or have sympathy because he is part of the problem of gross overconsumerism in the first place.

He was an auto worker who got laid off. But instead of ADAPTING to the changes in our world, he decides to dig in and become more of a part of the problem.

Why not try REAL empowerment? Like, for instance, begin with not consuming. Just give it a try it is nearly impossible, but focusing on a life with less would be somewhere this guy should focus.

reply to post by hotbakedtater


[snip]

"The Traditional Monkey"


It all started with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, a banana was hung on a string and a set of stairs was placed under it. Before long, a monkey went to the stairs and started to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touched the stairs, all of the other monkeys were sprayed with cold water. After a while, another monkey made an attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys were sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, anytime another monkey tried to climb the stairs, the other monkeys tried to prevent it.

After a couple of days, the cold water was removed. One monkey was removed from the cage and replaced with a new one. The new monkey saw the banana and wanted to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attacked him. After another attempt and attack, he knew that if he tried to climb the stairs, he would be assaulted.

Next, another of the original five monkeys was removed and replaced it with a new one. The newcomer went to the stairs and was attacked. The previous newcomer took part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, a third original monkey was replaced with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.

Every time the newest monkey took to the stairs, he was attacked. Most of the monkeys that were beating him had no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they were participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys had ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approached the stairs to try for the banana.
Why not?

Freedom is that banana.

Who created the money that was used to purchase that house or build it?

Did the bank create the money or did the person's signature create the money?

The bank could not have created the money without a signature, just as a credit card company could not.

Money is an illusion. If it was actually based upon an actual thing, like gold, I would say you are right. But since we live in the day of fractional banking and fiat money systems, who actually created the illusion? The banks or us? I say everyone that owes anything to any bank or credit card company, there illusion of debt does not exist, because I say it doesn't.

Debt in a fiat currency is an illusion of existence. Nothing was actually borrowed was there? No, of course not. A debt vehicle such as a mortgage is just that, a vehicle to remove true assets from people.

I can see through the illusion and create my own. Can you?


Mod Edit - removed remark referring to another member.

[edit on 3-5-2010 by elevatedone]

He lived in the house for 20 years [snip]. Overbought?! It's an 80,000 house that devalued to 50,000 but the ARM exploded the payments so much that he was working three jobs just to try and make his interest payments. Overbought? You're part of the problem because you're obviously heartless and care more about the rights of banks and thieves than you do real people.





Mod Note: General ATS Discussion Etiquette – Please Review This Link.

[edit on 3-5-2010 by 12m8keall2c]

reply to post by endisnighe


I don't get what nyou're trying to say, but it sounds like you're trying to say it's his fault.

Have you forgotten the last 4 generations of being raised to believe that the banker is the most trustworthy memeber of our community and that he will nevel tell you to do something that will hurt you in the end? Have you forgotten that bankers were telling people to lie about their incomes on their loan applications (back to do what the banker tells you because he's smarter/better/more upstanding).

A Priest once told me, that whenever you point your finger at someone (you calling him a "Traditional Monkey") there are always three fingers pointing right back at you.

reply to post by hotbakedtater


I simply cannot rasie the strength to berate you properly - and you certainly deserve it!!!

So, I'll just point out the one obvious factor that you seemed to have missed - HE LOST HIS JOB!!!

Your attitude is the problem, not the solution.

I don't immediately think that the man overbought, maybe he did, but it is not my first thought. I do think that he did under-plan however. He was an autoworker that has had the home for 15 years, so he would have been 38 when he purchased.

As a Toledo autoworker he was either at the Jeep plant or the Mazda plant, maybe the Bentley plant, but not too sure. But either way, as an autoworker it would have been hard to foresee such a downturn in the economy and impossible to replace his rate of income.

That is why I say he under-planned versus overbought.

Traditionally loans were gambles that the lender would make a set amount of money in a certain timeframe. Given that all loans are made by fractional reserve banking practices now, there is no gamble because there is no risk to the bank. Sure, the guy is on the hook for xxxxxx dollars, but the bank is not out xxxxxx dollars. They are only out the xxxxx dollars that they would have made in interest.

I could only wish that the local sheriff would go and cover my money when I bet at the casino. But keep it up banks, eventually people will build on their own with the cash they have on hand or can save up.

It is my dream that one day America will have thousands of empty banks and government buildings instead of thousands of empty factories. Maybe then, Americans will be free again.

Originally posted by kozmo
reply to post by hotbakedtater

 

I simply cannot rasie the strength to berate you properly - and you certainly deserve it!!!

So, I'll just point out the one obvious factor that you seemed to have missed - HE LOST HIS JOB!!!

Your attitude is the problem, not the solution.

Oh, how so?

Let me begin by saying if your first response is to berate me like a child, that should tell everyone here your maturity level.

SECOND, please go brush up your comprehension skills, because I most certainly DID address the fact this man lost his job. Go cry me a river, we have known the economy is tanking since 08, or before. It is 10 already. IF you work in a dying industry, you ADAPT to our new world or YOU DIE.

Frankly I want those who cannot adapt to die because they hold society back as a whole. Archaic thinking, trying to hold onto to the past is failure.

If this man were any count, he would take this as a blessing and a time to change and learn a new skill.

Ever hear the saying, What is the definition of insanity? THIS MAN IS the definition.

Instead he is digging into a home he can no longer pay for thus does not deserve any more, and is going to stay until he is forcibly removed.

How is this guy doing anything that resembles a smart choice? Is this a positive move for his future? No. It just shows how dull witted he is.

reply to post by 4by4dave


Well, what I was trying to say, people that cannot see why someone would do something like this, are being one of the monkeys.

Attacking them for an unknown reason. Because he did not follow the normal thinking.

That is what I am trying to say.

Just like someone that is trying the sovereignty movement or fighting the IRS. You have people say well that is not right, not because they know, it is what they have been taught to think.

Get it now?

I try not to be a monkey, I try to see beyond my conditioning at the hands of society.

If the government truly wanted to fix our economy and not just perpetuate the control of the banks, they could have given all the bailouts to the people with mortgages. They could have actually paid off all the mortgages and that would have done the exact opposite of their actual intent.

It would have solved the problems of the toxic mortgages.

It would have solved the problem of the economy.

It would have WORKED. But like I said, I try not to be a monkey that does what society tells me to do. Just what I believe to be true.

One thing I believe to be true is that fiat currency that is a DEBT vehicle can only lead to one thing, where we are at right now.

reply to post by hotbakedtater


Did you read the story. If not, read it, I will then return and see if you understand my analogy.

Originally posted by 4by4dave
He lived in the house for 20 years [snip]. Overbought?! It's an 80,000 house that devalued to 50,000 but the ARM exploded the payments so much that he was working three jobs just to try and make his interest payments. Overbought? You're part of the problem because you're obviously heartless and care more about the rights of banks and thieves than you do real people.





Mod Note: General ATS Discussion Etiquette – Please Review This Link.

[edit on 3-5-2010 by 12m8keall2c]

And just who signed up for the ARM? Who twisted his arm (haha) into that? Maybe if this man had made wiser financial choices he would not be making a fool of himself right now. It all comes down to choices. And quit ASSuming that I love banks or thieves. I loathe thieves and by wanting to live somewhere he is not paying for, makes HIM a thief.

I'm at the home of Keith Sadler right now. Sitting in the yard, actually. There's about 40 people here so far, and more showing up by the minute. Every third car that passes is honking their support and local residents are here in support. I came down from Michigan after I saw it on the news last night.

Out of everything I have seen people do to try and do SOMETHING about this, this is the best I've seen so far.

Yeah. He under-planned. That's exactly where most Americans are who are in this situation. He, like millions of others, was assured by the bank loan officer that everything would be good and he had no worries. It wasn't even a real-estate deal. He bought the house from his Dad.

Everything about people getting kicked out of their homes is so messed up it's beyond words. I've seen 6 of my neighbors hauled out of their houses by these Sheriffs who are "just doing their jobs." That was the Nuremberg Defense too. It's completely inexucsable.

Originally posted by endisnighe
reply to post by 4by4dave

 

Well, what I was trying to say, people that cannot see why someone would do something like this, are being one of the monkeys.

Attacking them for an unknown reason. Because he did not follow the normal thinking.

.

It looks to me he IS following the normal thinking, for what seems to be an alarming number of Americans, especially those who use and abuse credit (most). The GIMME society, give me something free, I will pay later, oops, the dying auto industry laid me off, boo hoo, what can I do now? Oh, let's see, I will quit paying my obligations and expect to retain the same lifestyle I was already accustomed to. NO ADAPTABILITY.

Being tethered to something like a home or a bank note or a credit card has become a way of life, and not all of us agree it is the way to go. In fact it is people who just had to have all those things (consumerism) that were as MUCH of the problem as the evil banks and corporate crooks.

Oh I need a new couch lets just put it on the card. I need a vacation this auto job is hard, bam on the card. I need to buy a house bam mortgage at the bank. I want a low interest rate right now, by the time the arm kicks in I will surely still be able to afford this loan even if the interest rate goes up so I wont bother to calculate what I might be possibly looking at five or ten yrs from now....



But I get called a monkey.

At least I am debating the article and the concepts of the OP, not individual posters, which is poor debate form.

Originally posted by endisnighe
reply to post by hotbakedtater

 

Did you read the story. If not, read it, I will then return and see if you understand my analogy.

Of course I read it. I strongly disagree with his actions, and you got away with sneaking in a personal attack by calling me a monkey. MY comprehension skills are just fine.

So, he should have seen how his ARM would have skyrocketed beyond personal speculation now, when he started financing over 15 years ago... Right.

It is so easy to have hindsight and be able to acknowledge mistakes and misfortune. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Let something unfortunate happen to you. Say you lose your primary (or only) source of income and are faced with having something you spent almost a quarter of a century working for to have someone else try and take it away.

Let me ask you a question. Where did the material that was used to build his home ultimately come from? Were the bare essentials to create such things here before mankind was? Who is to say we even have a right to place any value upon anything? Let alone threaten to take it from somebody else for not giving you pieces of paper that have even less value than the materials they are paying for.

reply to post by hotbakedtater


There was no sneakyness involved. Sorry if you feel that way.

I think we have to see and get past this paradigm that was created in 1913 and instituted in the 70's.

Fractional banking and currency through debt could be the very thing that has brought us to this point in history.

If we cannot get past the debt slavery that our governments have created, this world will not survive except in perpetual slavery.

Explain to me how the government, with an outstanding debt of over 120 Trillion expects to continue when their ARM kicks in? Our ratings will be dropped soon, just as many other countries have been.

What are you going to say when the government decides to quit paying all SS, Medicare, Medicaid and all other services for the people and only pay the debt and the MIC?

Going to still be one of the monkeys and say it is the right thing to do?

Debt is an illusion. Fiat currency is an illusion. Control parameters instituted to subvert our very freedoms are an illusion.

I do not like illusionists, they piss me off.

Originally posted by hotbakedtater
I dont understand.

He obviously went and did what lots americans did, overbought.

Now that he cannot pay for it anymore, he wants to keep it any way??

I dont support him or have sympathy because he is part of the problem of gross overconsumerism in the first place.

He was an auto worker who got laid off. But instead of ADAPTING to the changes in our world, he decides to dig in and become more of a part of the problem.

Why not try REAL empowerment? Like, for instance, begin with not consuming. Just give it a try it is nearly impossible, but focusing on a life with less would be somewhere this guy should focus.

I don't get it. Do you mean he should work at walmart, live in a shelter, get on section 8 and apply for food stamps? Because that is the system that will catch him. You have no proof that he was an "overconsumer" just as I have no proof that he was an honest worker. What would the middle class be without good jobs, homes and cars to drive? Answer that, because that is where most are headed. I just hope instead of being calloused to a human being that is caught in the machines gears collapsing into the grinder, that you will think of that person.

Originally posted by Kevinquisitor

So, he should have seen how his ARM would have skyrocketed beyond personal speculation now, when he started financing over 15 years ago... Right.

Interest rates are very low thanks to the money printing of the Federal Reserve.

If the payments have shot up it is because the borrower refinanced and took out cash some years ago, and this is the balloon payments.

Originally posted by endisnighe

I think we have to see and get past this paradigm that was created in 1913 and instituted in the 70's.

Fractional banking and currency through debt could be the very thing that has brought us to this point in history.

If we cannot get past the debt slavery that our governments have created, this world will not survive except in perpetual slavery.

"debt slavery" was much worse in the often-deflationary 19th century in the USA, with private banking and a gold standard.

The problem is not money and banks, the problem is lack of paying productive jobs, and a political system which doesn't favor them.

[edit on 3-5-2010 by mbkennel]