In the run up to the 2016 US Presidential election, Donald Trump tried to rewrite his key-role in peddling the pernicious 'ACN/MLM' fairy story.
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 universally-recognised as narcissistic charlatans, have found it much easier to become widely-accepted as authentic Messiahs.
Despite Donald Trump's repeated boasts to be as pure as driven snow, since 2006, in return for millions of (stolen) dollars, the Trump name and image has been used to promote blame-the-victim 'MLM income opportunity' cultic rackets in general, and the one known as 'ACN' ('American' a.k.a. 'All Communications Network'), in particular.
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These are just a couple of examples of the unreserved praise which Mr. Trump has publicly heaped on the 'ACN' racket and its instigators.
'Well, ACN has really been a great company, and you Greg have been doing a great job, you and your whole staff and group of people. It's an honour to be with you. And believe me, if you were not amazing, and if your company wasn't a great company, I wouldn't be doing this.'
'First of all, I'd say stay at ACN. You know, I'm asked to do this, what I'm doing here with you, many many times, and I turned down many many proposals. Because for one reason, I don't have the time, but for another reason, I don't like the company. And we do a lot of research, before we agree to do something like I'm doing for you. And ACN is a great company.'
Faced with a few mainstream US journalists finally beginning to ask mildly-searching questions about 'ACN,' Mr. Trump now recites a very different fairy story. Indeed, his reality-denying reaction to his participation in the 'ACN' racket, demonstrates that Mr. Trump knows full-well that he's left himself open to an avalanche of lawsuits, and to criminal prosecution, because the majority of persons who have signed up for the pernicious 'ACN' game of commerical make-believe since 2006, undoubtedly did so on Mr. Trump's personal recommendation.
www.wsj.com/articles/trump-made-millions-from-multilevel-marketing-firm-1439481128
In a tragicomic interview with the Wall St. Journal, Mr. Trump now asks the world to believe that 'ACN' had only employed him to give motivational speeches.
'I do not know the company. I know nothing about the company other than the people who run the company.'
'I’m not familiar with what they do or how they go about doing that, and I make that clear in my speeches.'
Let's be perfectly clear about this, Donald Trump has been one of a number charlatan-parasites who (for obvious reasons) have all attached themselves to the ongoing criminogenic phenomenon of 'MLM income opportunity' cultic racketeering. i.e. Mr. Trump has steadfastly pretended to have access to an exclusive secret knowledge which can enable ordinary poor humans to transform into fabulously wealthy superhumans (just like himself), and that he's prepared to share this exclusive secret knowledge with anyone (for a price).
Statutory 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.
- 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 rigged-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.).
David Brear (copyright 2017)
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Disgusting.
ReplyDeleteThere are serious ethical issues with any mental health professional making the kinds of "diagnosis" that appear in books like this. They did it to Bush, they did it to Obama... I don't care who the subject is.
By APA guidelines the FIRST thing before any diagnosis can actually be made is to make a DIRECT INTERVIEW of the patient. Have any of these "professionals" done that? I didn't think so. They watch a few carefully selected video clips and read a few select articles about the man, and voila, he's mentally ill.
http://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.books.9780890426760.pe02
Dr. Lee's excuses of "duty warn" are CYA BS, as well as completely misapplied. These people should be investigated by their respective licensing bodies. Each state has their own “duty to warn” statutes, and they are essentially the same, but it can be summed up nicely by the New Jersey statute:
“A duty to warn arises if the patient has communicated to the practitioner a threat of imminent, serious physical violence against a readily identifiable individual or against himself and the circumstances are such that a reasonable professional in the practitioner's area of expertise would believe the patient intended to carry out the threat; or the circumstances are such that a reasonable professional in the practitioner's area of expertise would believe the patient intended to carry out an act of imminent, serious physical violence against a readily identifiable individual or against himself.” N.J. Rev. Stat. §2A:62A-16 http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/mental-health-professionals-duty-to-warn.aspx
I ask Dr. Lee to please point out the IMMINENCE, identify what the SPECIFIC threat is, and identify the INDIVIDUAL to whom the threat is directed, and provide a REASONABLE belief that DT intends to carry out said threat.
David Brooks? For real? Where's his medical degree from? Where exactly did he do his psychiatric internship? Yeah, I didn't think so. He's just another example of ignorant "media" talking heads that fail to do any research into their subject matter. It's likely he scanned the Wikipedia entry on mania and said, "Yep, DT is bipolar!" This is the same guy who judges the POTUS's capabilities on the crease of his pants leg. If Brooks actually experienced true mania, he would then realize his little commentary was totally clueless crap.
I've actually spoken with John Gartner (love his book "The Hypomanic Edge"); he's known for his theoretical diagnosis of historical figures, but he knows better than claiming actual diagnosis based on second-hand observations.
The people who contributed to the book are just that: People. People with their own biases and political positions. If 30 mental health professionals got together and wrote about DT's sanity and excessive fitness for office, to which one should we lend more credence?
Mental illness is not a political talking point; mental illness is not some late night comedy show punch line. By CDC and NIH accounts, 1 in 5 of the people will experience some form of mental illness during their life. Even more will have their life impacted by mental illness through a friend or loved one. There are twice as many people diagnosed with just bipolar and depression than those diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. Where are their telethons? Where is their traveling quilt? Where are their star-studded fundraisers? There are people with mental illness all around us every day. To bash or mock those with mental illness is still socially acceptable in society. I personally cannot think of any other illness that is so stigmatized and ridiculed (which is why hacks like this drag out the mental illness accusations). Can you? To use it as some kind of political chit to bash your ideological enemy brings these “professionals” down to the level of Internet troll.
ReplyDeleteThe irony is that we see Larry's mental defects on display every night on MSNBC. From my own experience, and observation of Larry, he could use his own psychiatric evaluation.
'Mental illness is not a political talking point'
Deletepinkvictim - let me get this straight - are you endeavouring to tell us that under no circumstances, should anyone ever be allowed publicly to discuss/ridicule the mental state of any serving US President?
As far as I'm aware, the only countries where the mental state of those holding power has not been up for public discussion/ridicule, and persons publicly trying to discuss/ridicule it silenced (even to the extent of being murdered, or locked up as "mentally ill" themselves), have been absolute monarchies and totalitarian dictatorships controlled by paranoid megalomaniacal psychopaths.
Given your own position in publicly dissenting from the chapter of the pernicious 'MLM' fairy story entitled 'Mary Kay', might I ask you:
What do you know about Donald Trump's own extensive-peddling of another version of the pernicious 'MLM' fairy story, entitled 'ACN'?
What do you know about Donald Trump's extensive association with Robert Kyosaki - another notorious 'MLM' parasite who has fed off various 'MLM' cultic rackets, including 'Mary Kay?'
pinkvictim - Please note, I've now added a brief explanation of Donald Trump's shameful involvement in blame-the-victim 'MLM' cultic racketeering.
DeleteIt is my considered opinion that, had Mr. Trump been held fully to account for these serious crimes, he would now be sat in a prison cell and not in the Oval Office.
Before he got his mits on the USA's nuclear codes, I personally witnessed Trump in Scotland. I don't think one needs a medical degree to see that he is an arch manipulator with scant regard for the truth and who will try to crush anyone who gets in his way.
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/watch?v=tx3RottHG4E
Thanks Anonymous. For Blog readers who perhaps don't know the tragicomic story of Trump's Scottish Golf course/resort and who haven't watched the linked video...
DeleteIn order to get his way and bulldose a heavily-protected, unique, natural coastal site to construct an unnecessary new Scottish golf course, Trump peddled a fairy story in Scotland about 'his pride in his Scottish roots' , 'economic development' and 'job creation,' to persons (particularly Scottish politicians) who wanted to believe that it was true. Trump organised a propaganda/borderline-legal intimidation campaign against anyone who dissented from his fairy story. When Scottish politicians finally realised they'd been duped, Trump turned on them.
Many folk still don't understand how Trump got away with this. The site of his course was supposed to be protected by law. Trump was warned if the natural balance of this unique part of the Scottish coast was disturbed, the consequences could be bleak for everyone
DeleteIronically, as many people predicted Trump is now fighting a losing battle against nature.
Shades of King Canute?
ww.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/28/environment-agencies-oppose-trump-plans-scottish-golf-course-aberdeenshire
Yes, as an SSSI (site of special scientific interest) this could not have been more-heavily-protected legally. It beggars belief that Trump didn't just intentionally damage an SSSI, he actually was allowed to tell lies in order to obtain permission to destroy one. To date no investigation has been launched to discover what else Trump might have done to place himself above the law in Scotland.
Deletehttp://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/national-designations/sssis/
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are those areas of land and water (to the seaward limits of local authority areas) that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) considers to best represent our natural heritage - its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms, or a combinations of such natural features.
They are the essential building blocks of Scotland's protected areas for nature conservation. Many are also designated as Natura sites (Special Protection Areas or Special Areas of Conservation). The national network of SSSIs in Scotland forms part of the wider GB series.
SNH designates SSSIs under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. SSSIs are protected by law. It is an offence for any person to intentionally or recklessly damage the protected natural features of an SSSI.
Yes, I see that you added a bunch of material about Trump's connection to pyramid scams. It wasn't necessary. I believe you have confused me with someone defending Trump. I am not. I am well aware of Trump (along with Kiyosaki, Buffet, Branson, Gates, Ramsey, etc... etc...) pimping for the pyramids. If you want to bash him for that, and rightly so, have at it. Only, save me a few whacks.
ReplyDeleteWhat disgusts me is medical professionals who abuse their position to "diagnose" their ideological enemies as mentally ill. As I explained, and Dr. Lee admitted, the method of "diagnosis" utilized in this book is outside their own professional body's diagnostic guidelines.
My second point was that Dr. Lee attempts to excuse their admitted transgression from accepted practices under the color of a spurious, wholly inapplicable claim of "duty to warn." I pointed out the very narrow circumstances under which the duty to warn is required. Dr. Lee's situation fails to meet all four required elements.
Perhaps "political talking point" was an incorrect term. Political tool... political weapon... those would probably be more accurate. Sure, late night comedians crack jokes (in poor taste) about those with mental illness, even politicians become the butt of these jokes, but that's all they are - jokes. Pundits and bloggers speculate (with no idea what they are talking about) about the mental capacities and stability of politicians, but it is merely speculation.
These professionals aren't making jokes or speculating. They are (falsely) rendering diagnosis. It is a breech of their ethical and professional duties.
It's appropriate that you mention totalitarian regimes... As you pointed out, those are the exact types of authoritarians that actually do engage in political abuse of psychiatry to silence their critics. Just like the kind of political abuse of psychiatry practiced by Dr. Lee and the mental health professionals contributing to her book.
pinkvictim - I have studied the involvement of members of the medical profession in totalitarian regimes. It's a pretty extraordinary leap to make, to suggest that the growing-number of medical professionals publicly offering their opinion of the mental state of Donald Trump (and warning that he is dangerous) are all (secretly) ideologically motivated and therefore, essentially the same as those who committed heinous crimes under the orders of the psychopathic leaders of brutal regimes like the 'Nazis', 'Soviets', etc.
DeletePerhaps you've read Prof. Robert Lifton's, 'Nazi Doctors.'
I'm not interested in whacking anyone, least of all you. What I am interested in, is the truth (no matter how unthinkable this might be), and the (unthinkable) truth about Donald Trump's character/mental state is revealed by his background and long-term behaviour.
Based on Trump's background and long-term behaviour, it would be very difficult to find anyone less suitable to be placed in charge of any nation's: finances, millitary, etc., least of all those of the nation with the world's most-complex economy and largest nuclear arsenal.
These aren't just pyramid schemes that Trump has been deeply-involved with. They are cultic rackets employing co-ordinated devious techniques of social, psychological and physical persuasion in order to shut down victims' critical and evaluative facutlies and convince them that they were entirely to blame.
For a long time, I have contended that 'MLM' cultic racketeers have been getting away with camouflaging and inflicting a form of destructive psychological experiment on millions of persons without their fully-informed consent. I have also contended that these criminal activities have been in breach of the Nuremberg Code.
https://history.nih.gov/research/downloads/nuremberg.pdf
Cults (including those which Donald Trump has fronted) are embryonic totalitarian regimes. And cults are always instigated by persons with severe mental problems.
http://cultcharacteristics.blogspot.fr/
Please feel free to contact me directly.
axiombooks@wanadoo.fr
BTW pinkvictim, I should have added that I know who you are and I do see that I wrongly implied that you are/were defending Donald Trump. I also should have offered you my respect and thanked-you for your thoughtful, and thought-provoking, contribution here.
DeleteI hope that you now see (from my previous comment) that I only posted the link to the MSNBC discussion of 'The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump,' because what these medical professionals are saying publicly (whether or not you agree with their right to say it), broadly ties in with what I have found to be the case in every cult instigator whom I have studied.
Thus, am I correct in my analysis that you are not saying that these medical professionals' diagnosis of Trump cannot be accurate, you are only warning that the involvement of psychiatrists in politics has proved to be a very dangerous path to go down?
Aren't Trump's and Kiyosaki's roles in this shit on an all-together different level to Buffet's or Branson's?
DeleteAbsolutely Anonymous - Buffett's 'Berkshire Hathaway' company owns 'Pampered Chef' which is the corporate-front for an 'MLM' racket preying mainly on women, but which is apparently less cultic than most. That said, as a consequence of this connection, Buffett's name and image have been used (apparently, without his express permission) to promote and peddle the pernicious 'MLM' fairy story all around the world.
DeleteVarious people have tried to contact Buffett to express their concerns, but he has never made a public statement on the wider 'MLM' phenomenon, except once when he claimed to know nothing about 'Herbalife' when challenged by a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder.
Buffett's long-time partner, Charlie Munger, has publicly stated that he agrees with Bill Ackman's analysis of 'Herbalife.' Munger made this statment during a television interview with Buffett sat beside him. Buffett himself was not asked for his opinion. He said nothing, but seemed to nod in agreement with Munger.
As far as I'm aware, the Virgin Brand has only made licensing agreements with 'MLM' racketeers, whilst Richard Branson's own role in these deals remains unclear. Again, as a consequence of these connections, Branson's name and image have been used (apparently, without his express permission) to promote and peddle the pernicious 'MLM' fairy story all around the world.
Sorry for the delay. Reroofing a section of the house, so I have been away from my computer for a bit.
DeleteYou ask if I believe the contributors to Dr. Lee's book are politically motivated? Yeah, I feel sad to say, I do. They are people, they have biases, sometimes biases are so strong, even professionals will cross the boundaries beyond ethical behavior. Do I think they are the same as the Nazis, Chicoms, or Soviets? No. But, that's how it can start.
After looking around a bit more, I came across this Baltimore Sun article from two weeks ago about this:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-gartner-duty-to-warn-20170918-story.html
Thorough, and fills in a lot of what Lopsided Larry leaves out. I am disappointed both the video segment and the Sun article still left out any explanation about the very narrow circumstances under which there is a professional "duty to warn". I believe this is intentional (if not, it’s intellectually lazy and sloppy reporting) and, consequently, uses the fear and stigma of mental illness to sway public opinion against their target.
The section about Dr. Allen Frances (check out his bona fides) really addresses the point I am trying to get across - it's about the process. I am not speaking to the accuracy of the book contributors' diagnoses (I leave that to other professionals); it's their process that is broken, thus rendering their diagnosis void, not necessarily incorrect.
I mentioned before there have been books like this one about Bush and Obama. I found something even more expansive:
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/20/139681339/madness-and-leadership-hand-in-hand
This psychiatrist believes many of our Presidents have had some form of mental illness or another; going so far as to prove that JFK took anti-psychotics while occupying the Oval Office. I even dare to say that his methodology is actually better than the contributors in Dr. Lee's book. The point being, these types of claims have been going on for decades; the opinions - and that's what they are, they are not diagnoses - are all over the place.
Unfortunately, I am fully aware of the thought reform overarching the product-based pyramids. Horribly aware. I've learned more than I ever wanted to know. I've read so many: Joost Meerloo, Robert Lifton, Margaret Singer, Michael Langdon, Steven Hassan, Philip Zimbardo, Rick Ross... Jon Taylor, Robert FitzPatrick, Eric Scheibeler, Stephen Butterfield, Ruth Carter, Robert Styler... blogs, videos, news articles... and more. (I highly recommend Steven Hassan's works as an enhancement to your Cult Characteristics blog.)
I've probably read more in the last year than the entirety of law school. LOL
I've got over a dozen more on my wish list (which keeps growing instead of shrinking). If you have any recommendations, I'll take them...
You ask: Am I correct in my analysis that you are not saying that these medical professionals' diagnosis of Trump cannot be accurate, you are only warning that the involvement of psychiatrists in politics has proved to be a very dangerous path to go down?
I'll answer: Pretty damn close. Only to add that the contributors to Dr. Lee’s books have exceeded ethical and professional guidelines, which should warrant a review from their respective licensing agencies. Not going to happen though.
(BTW, "bash" or "whack" are solely used figuratively; violence over mere ideological disagreement is never acceptable.)
Thanks for your clarifications pinkvictim. Although I'm now burning to know if you've actually been up on your roof hammer in hand perched on a cat ladder, or just employing roofers?
DeleteIn my opinion, there has been surprisingly little of value written on the subject of totalistic cults in general, let alone totalistic cults disguised as 'businesses' (I'm including non-English writers). I rarely recommend any books on cults other than Margaret Singer's.
In the UK, the public debate of the cult phenomenon has been badly restricted by co-opted academics and a couple of charlatan self-styled 'cult advisers.' When it comes to cults, the UK has been a moral and intellectual vaccuum into which some very dangerous types have expanded (despite the best efforts of a few people). That said, I have lately found some new courageous British voices on the Net, who have begun to challenge the 'MLM' fairy story.
In France, the cult phenomenon has been better covered in the media, but little has ever really been done by government/law enforcement. The tragedy of the so-called 'Solar temple' is what attracted widespread attention to cultism in France, in the same way as the Jim Jones tragedy once did in the USA.
I presume you are aware that Robert FitzPatrick is a good friend of mine?
I believe I'm mentioned in Eric Scheibeler's book, although a foreward I sent to him, and which also appears in it, was changed.
I met Ruth Carter many years back when I was still struggling to find an accurate explanation of 'MLM' cults. At that time, my great friend was Dr. Edward Lottick ( the last Chairman of the original Cult Awareness Network). Ed, who was a great friend of the late Margaret Singer and the late Jolyon West, is now sadly no longer with us.
I appreciate your well-informed views on the unethical diagnosing of Presidents in books and the media, but I'd love to know what your own opinion of Donald Trump's mental state is?
You're welcome. I am glad to have gotten the chance to expand and clarify.
DeleteHeh, yeah, actually up there myself, hammer in hand. If I were employing roofers, I'd be sitting in the AC, mojito in hand, surfing the intertubes... LOL. Needed to repair and reshingle less than 500 sqft, contractor wanted $2500. While it takes longer to do it bit by bit during down time, it's only $800 in materials. (It's pretty standard that materials are only a third of the contractor quote.)
Yeah, American awareness of cults is kind of limited to Krishnas, Moonies, Jim Jones and Scientology. Even Waco doesn't register to most people as a cult incident. Heaven's Gate was barely a blip on the radar. The one thing they all have in common is the religious component. Ask anyone on the street about cults, and they will think kooky religious nuts. Talk to them about EST or TM or MLM and they have no clue.
Had no idea you were buddies with RFP; he does great work. I was a victim (only lost $50) of the Airplane Game in the late 80's NYC.
I loved Merchants of Deception! That's where I made the MLM/cult/mind control connection, and how I came to contact Steve Hassan.
Ruth Carter's books are very good too. She covers more of the religious manipulation than Scheibeler.
What do I think of Trump's mental state? Not sure if I should go there... lol There's a long version that includes some full disclosures, but I'll make it short here: He's certainly kooky, kind of a buffoon, definitely full of himself and a blowhard, but no more mentally ill (in terms of real mental illness) than many walking the streets today.
I'm impressed, I've always taken great pleasure in saving money myself. Fortunately our old roof, which is very steeply pitched and of the slated variety, is still in quite good shape.
DeleteThe fact that a non-rational dualistic ritual belief system (religion) can be presented using non-religious words and images, is what lies at the heart of my own writing on cults. I had family members who fell for 'Amway' in England in the 1990s. They would never have fallen for an overtly 'religious' cult and, at first, I failed to recognise neither the true nature nor the true scale of the danger.
My desperate attempts to reason with them and show them the truth, only drove my family deeper in their 'MLM' delusion. In the end, my closest living relatives believed that I was being paid to attack 'Amway' by the inventor/industrialist James Dyson (who was involved in a lawsuit with 'Amway'). My brother and mother signed a jaw-dropping deposition to the effect that I had 'confessed to being Dyson's agent.' In reality, I'd only sent them a DVD of a UK televison programme which featured interviews with 'Amway' victims + an account of how 'Amway' once tried to cheat Dyson out of his patents.
Dyson's attorneys then contacted me to find out who I was and what the hell was going on.
My own personal investigations later took me to the USA where, helped by Ed Lottick, I visited with Eric Scheibeler. At the time, Eric was penniless and still in fear for his life and for those of his wife and kids. By his own admission, Eric had been paranoid to the extent that he'd had been on the point of giving up his struggle against 'Amway.' Ed and I wanted to look him in the eye and tell him that we supported his efforts and that he must continue.
Again accompanied by Ed Lottick, I once met Steve Hassan, but he wasn't at all interested in talking with me, or with Ed for that matter.
It's surprising how many cult leaders (who went on to commit serious crimes) were described as being too absurd to be dangerous. I take the view that Trump might once have been exactly as you describe him, but he's lately been feeding off the unquestioning worship of his core-followers to the extent that he's lost even more of his previously-feeble grasp of reality. I also think that Trump has to be one of the most easy to manipulate persons ever to have been elected to high office in any major democracy.
Rep Sen Bob Corker stands with the shrinks! He supported Trump now he says the president is a baby making "reality show" comments leading the USA towards WWIII!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - Bob Corker reminds me of the Scottish politicians (particularly, Alex Salmond) who were first duped by Trump, and who then became the targets of Trump's childish rage.
DeleteBob Corker is just the tip of an iceberg upon which Trump's tragicomic presidency seems doomed to founder. It's a pretty safe bet that Captain Trump will try to escape (and blame his officers and crew) rather than go down with his ship.
Do you honestly think Trump is like a cult leader?
ReplyDeleteAunt Sam - Donald Trump and his core-followers exhibit several of the characteristics which identify cultic groups.
DeleteTrump can't back down from his bat-shit campaign rhetoric and is doing everything he can to turn Iran into a nuclear power.
ReplyDeleteTrump keeps calling N. Korea's leader 'little rocket man' and huffing and puffing about what he will do to him.
There are plenty of people around Trump who realize that the US president is a child and the greatest danger to US security of all time.
Anonymous, I forget who it was (Churchill?) who said:
Delete'You can always rely on the American democracy to do the right thing... after it has tried everything else.'
President Trump undoubtedly falls into the 'everything else' category. Let's hope after Trump there is still an American democracy to do the right thing, because unfortunately, this wise observation was probably made before the advent of nuclear weapons and certainly before the USA lost its nuclear monopoly.