"I'm forced to use banks because the government won't protect me from criminals if I shove cash under my mattresses." Oh please.

The irony of your ill-informed statement is that if you want to put your money in places where it can't be loaned out to others without your consent, where you should really put it is a brokerage - at least, one in the US, where there are regulations ensuring your funds can't be loaned without your consent, and your assets are protected by SIPC insurance.

Are you dense? Do you know how money works? Do you know capitalization methods modern banking has been using for nearly 2500 years?

They do have your consent - thats how banks work and you agree that when you deposit money in one. It seems that you are unhappy about having to consent? But, what I'm confused about is what you are upset - your money in a bank is FDIC insured, so, unless you have account that exceed the limits of that insurance, you have no risk from you bank going insolvent. So, what's the problem?

Just rent a deposit box at the bank and put your cash there. They won’t touch it. Just like having it under your mattress but probably safer from criminals.