http://www.mlmlegal.com/pyramidyn.html

"In a promotion called "Dare To Be Great" ... like other pyramid schemes, the only "commodity" that moved through this program was money. No viable goods or services, sold at fair market value, accompanied the recruiting activities."

Man, that sounds like the American financial system, doesn't it? The commercial paper flowing through this market was not a commodity either.

I was working in Florida when the "Dare to be Great" Ponzi folded up, and the principals went to prison after a spectacular trial. The funny thing about it was the reaction of my co-workers. They thought it was great that this guy had "beat the system", and they expressed admiration for his skill at business and entrepreneurship. He was the little guy that had beat the big boys, the underdog, Rocky.

I was flabbergasted, this guy was no businessman, no entrepreneur,he was a cheap crook, and the victims, his investors. were working folks, just like them. I guess the victims, by expressing admiration for the criminal, can isolate themselves somehow from the humiliation of being taken to the cleaners by a common sleaze in a suit.

They couldn't see it, and continued making excuses for the crook. They rooted for this guy, the way we root for the guys pulling casino heists in those Clooney caper movies.