these vs the

there was a debate (if i remember my history correctly) during the infancy/toddler years of the nation over whether twas best to refer to it as these united states (plur), implying a looser confederation or the united states (sing), which carried the idea that it was a unified federation. while not an actual, live, douglas vs lincoln kind of thing, it was spirited (or at least academicians say it was now) and was only gradually settled by the time reconstruction had ended. we were "the united states."

i butted up against that first, looser notion at bank of america on tuesday. the very name implies it is the bank of the whole nation, which while not as whimsical as wamu, gave me as a banker some comfort. move cross country? no problem! you are banking at the bank of america.

turns out there are four states, the lovely, wild california included, that have some arcane banking law which doesn't allow banks in state to share information the same way with banks out of state (or as it turns out, with northern/southern california banks). this means that although being a member since 2001, i had to get all new debit cards and account numbers and start a new "relationship" with the illinois bank of america. new relationship? so there's a hold on my checks, i have to memorize a new account number, and i have a vague recollection that opening a new account screws with your credit rating.

not quite a war between the states, but a pain in the ass for this citizen.

ps: i am sure wamu is a great bank but i can't get over the name or that commercial in which the woman mimes "no hidden fees."