As Schwede65 says you need to ensure you're on the latest version of SolidCoin . Soon this won't be a factor as the client most will use is independent of most of the network related code itself. The benefit being you don't need to download the chain or wait for anything, it's all instant.
How federal reserve of you. I have as much interest in replacing one system of central bankers with another as I do of getting the Ebola virus.