Warning
More than half a century of quantifiable evidence, proves beyond all reasonable doubt that what has become popularly known as 'Multi-Level Marketing' is nothing more than an absurd, cultic, economic pseudo-science, and that the impressive-sounding made-up term 'MLM,' is, therefore, part of an extensive, thought-stopping, non-traditional jargon which has been developed, and constantly-repeated, by the instigators, and associates, of various, copy-cat, major, and minor, ongoing organised crime groups (hiding behind labyrinths of legally-registered corporate structures) to shut-down the critical, and evaluative, faculties of victims, and of casual observers, in order to perpetrate, and dissimulate, a series of blame-the-victim closed-market swindles or pyramid scams (dressed up as 'legitimate direct selling income opportunites'), and related advance-fee frauds (dressed up as 'legitimate training and motivation, self-betterment, programs, recruitment leads, lead generation systems,' etc.)
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Decades too late, the US Federal Trade Commission had finally twigged (after being gently kicked up the arse by US consumer groups and short-sellers who encouraged more than 1000 destitute 'Herbalife' victims to come forward) that, contrary to what flocks of grinning 'MLM' bosses, and their propagandists, have always pretended, virtually no members of the general public have ever been regularly buying 'MLM' wampum (based on value and demand). In reality, for decades, countless millions of temporarily-deluded 'MLM' adherents have been handing over their time and money to 'MLM' front-companies in the false-expectation of future reward. In this way, many billions of dollars of unlawful losing-investment payments into hundreds of copy-cat blame-the-victim, closed-market cultic swindles have been laundered as lawful sales (based on value and demand).
The above irrefutable analysis was given to regulators by myself (and others) many years ago, but this tragicomic reality has remained almost unthinkable until very recently.
Even the mainstream US media (albeit in the shape of the fearless British satirist, John Oliver) has finally begun to expose the enormity, and totalitarian cultic nature, of the 'MLM' lie.
In theory, if the 'HLF' racketeers recite the pernicious 'MLM' fairy story anywhere, the 'HLF' US front company can now be closed. The FTC had even implied that the 'HLF' ruling was going to be extended to the entire 'MLM' phenomenon.
In practise, Edith Ramirez' days at the FTC are now almost certainly numbered; for a notorious 'MLM' pitchman/parasite, Donald Trump, will soon have the power to appoint the Chair of the FTC as well as many other key federal officials (including the US Attorney General).
Manifestly, government of the people, by the people, for the people, has now perished from the Earth. The USA will soon (quite literally) have a government of racketeers, by racketeers, for racketeers.
Ironically, had senior US regulators and law enforcement agents, previously done their jobs, and held the likes of Donald Trump to account, he would never have been in a position to run for public office.
http://nymag.com/news/crimelaw/66468/
Somewhere in the dark recesses of Buntner prison N. Carolina, Bernie Madoff must be kicking himself for not thinking of running for US President.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump has been a party in around 4,000 lawsuits over the last 30 years and is currently facing 75 active lawsuits (according to USA Today).
The most embarrassing are several lawsuits concerning the so-called 'Trump University,' which centre on victims who were led to believe the strangely-familiar fairy story that :
Billionaire philanthropist, Donald Trump wants to help ordinary people to achieve the American dream and is, therefore, prepared to share his secrets of how to make money in real-estate (in exchange for $34 thousands).
Since these suits were already filed, no presidential immunity statutes will apply and President Trump will be obliged to attend court if required.
The biggest civil fraud suit was filed in 2010. Low v Trump University; it is set to commence on November 28th in San Diego. Trump's attorneys have now asked for the trial to be delayed until next year, because their client needs time to work on the transition to the presidency. They have also indicated that Trump is open to negotiating a financial settlement.
Previously, Trump had ignored his victims' suffering and accused the judge, Gonzalo Curiel, of having 'an inherent conflict of interest,' because he was born to Mexican parents.
A second civil suit, Cohen v Trump, also filed in San Diego, alleges Trump's so called 'school' was really a front for a criminal organisation as defined by the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act. Attorneys are still arguing over what evidence can be allowed and a trial date hasn't yet been set.
A third case filed in New York in 2013, alleges Trump's so-called 'University' stole a total of $40 millions (£32 millions) from New Yorkers by means of fraud. A judge ruled last March that the case would go to trial, but Trump has appealed.
David Brear (copyright 2016)
How anyone can believe anything Trump says is a huge mystery.
ReplyDeleteSadly Anonymous, the more that vulnerable people believe what Trump says: the more he believes it himself.
DeleteThat said, Trump has the chameleon-like facility to adapt his act to his audience.
I'm wondering how long it's going to take before the majority of Trump's current fans fall out of love with him?
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteI began visiting this site when your number of pageviews were in the 5 digits...that is to say, you were highlighting the enigma of now Pres. Trump long before anyone could believe he would be elected. So now, in your opinion, do you think these lawsuits have any chance whatsover of trial and/or punishment? I mean, when he was a mere mortal, he was all but untouchable...now that he has been elevated to the highest office of the land, it seems the chances are about nil. Your thoughts?
Eric - Your thoughtful comments and questions are always most welcome.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at Trump, one should always bear in mind that:
'He who shouts: 'Stop Thief!,' is often he who has stolen the treasure.'
Another celebrated quote is:
'Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.'
However, it would far more accurate to say that false patriotism has been the last refuge of many a narcissistic charlatan like Trump.
Remember, when Mr. Ponzi realised he might be held to account, be changed his fairy story and began to play the victim and to suggest he was going to enter politics. Also, Sergey Mavrodi (one of the biggest Ponzi schemers of all time) succeeded in avoiding prison for a number of years, by getting himself elected to the Russian Parliament. Although it beggars belief, Mavrodi convinced millions of his victims that corrupt politicians had wrecked his 'MMM' investment scheme and that, if elected, he would make sure that his scheme's losing investors would be fully-compensated. This turned out to be just another chapter of Mavrodi's cruel fairy story.
I feel that in order for a world-class liar like Trump to be held fully to account, public opinion is the key-factor. At the moment, any serious attempt to prevent Trump from taking office, could lead to a blood bath and the collapse of world financial markets. Thus, there is no way that the US authorities will risk doing their duty in the immediate future.
When given the choice between disaster and dishonour, I fear that the US authorities will choose dishonour, but we will get disaster.
What amazes many external observers, is the fact that Trump currently has faced only civil prosecution for his blame-the-victim 'Trump University' racket, and these urgent matters have been allowed to drag on for years. Furthermore, Trump's attorneys are trying to persuade the victims/plaintiffs to settle.
In plain language, America's President-Elect has been attempting to buy his way out of the shit (with stolen money)- which to my common-sense way of thinking, itself forms part of an overall pattern of ongoing racketeering activity. Indeed, I would say that Trump's entry into politics has clearly been part of the same pattern.
Trump's election pitch was essentially no different to his 'Trump University' pitch, except that millions of alienated Americans have bought into this cruel fairy story desperately wanting it to be true.
Perhaps the only scenario which could immediately change public opinion, would be a secretly-shot video of the real Trump sat on a gold plated throne in his gold-plated tower, pissing himself laughing at his bedazzled followers for believing him.
That said, if such a video existed, imagine the control its owner could exert over the US President
Thank you David. Your "common-sense way of thinking" is appreciated. I hadn't considered that pushing for a "settlement" could be perceived as admitting some culpability, if not outright guilt. Why settle anything, if guilty of nothing?
ReplyDeleteI watch in almost utter amazement the hypocrisy on display here.
You are correct about a change in public opinion being necessary, but that is very unlikely to take place here..video or no video. The magic is too strong.
What we now bare witness to in the U.S. is MLM taken to its most logical conclusion.
Much of the American story is mythological, it encourages and protects "legal fictions" thus it is only fitting that her newly appointed leader be a master of such fiction.
Eric - Perhaps I've mentioned this to you before?
DeleteAt one time, I began to study the work of Eric Voegelin - one of the most prolific, and difficult to read, authors of the 20th century. Indeed I wouldn't recommend anyone to try to read pure Voegelin. You need a dictionary on hand.
In the early 1930s, Voegelin (a young German Catholic academic teaching in Austria) was an original observer who openly identified 'Nazism' as a perverted religion founded on a ludicrous 'racial' pseudo-science ('Ariosophy'), but presented in a far more-convincing encrypted jargon of 'nationalist politics.' Even though Voegelin also saw 'Soviet Communism' as part of a phenomenon he described as 'Political Religion,' he faced arrest by the 'Nazi' regime and he fled to the USA.
Voegelin subsequently produced a huge body of work which is a lofty (and linguistically complex) philosophical view of the history of human civilisation. That said, at the core of Voegelin's work can be found a self-evident truth which can be boiled down to the following plain language sentence.
At times of mass-alienation (following: wars, natural disasters, economic crises, etc.), history proves that would-be demagogues steadfastly pretending moral and intellectual authority, whilst pursuing hidden criminal objectives, who (at other times) would have been almost universally-recognised as absurd narcissistic charlatans, have found it much easier to become widely-accepted as authentic Messiahs.
Of course, this is a perfect description of Donald Trump.
"Messiah"...Voegelin absolutely nailed it.
ReplyDeleteDavid, your read of past and present history is refreshing.
Thanks for sharing.
I see that 'Messiah' Trump has now suddenly agreed to hand over $25 millions to settle the 3 'Trump University' lawsuits which his attorneys have been delaying for years.
DeleteThis means that, during the election campaign, Trump lied through his teeth by insisting to the world that he would never settle these outstanding suits, because he was completely innocent and, therefore, was easily going win them. Millions of US citizens have evidently fallen for this particular chapter of Trump's 'Messianic' fairy story. Yet, the victims of the fake 'Trump University' would also have voted for Trump prior to them being defrauded by him.
Trump is currently involved in more than 70 other lawsuits, and the plaintiffs (and their attorneys) must all now smell blood; for Trump undoubtedly realises that no matter what it costs to settle these suits will be a drop in the ocean compared with what he, and his criminal associates, can make via his tenure of the White House.