Utah, the Fraud Capitol of the US

[_Mahonri]

Utah leads the nation in fraud. From Jake Garn and the Garn-StGermain bill that screwed the economy by allowing rampant fraud in Savings and Loans to the #1 ranking in bankruptcy and major financial fraud schemes to the #1 ranking in pyramyd schemes. Garn avoided grand jury indictment by suddenly finding his family very important and announcing he would retire from office rather than seek another term. This a direct result of his Garn-StGermain bill that screwed the country and had the great benefit of the Keating Five, including John McCain, now a presidential candidate.
Utah is ripe with fraud not because the people 'are so trusting' but because they are so damn greedy. The gospel of Paul Dunn is pervasive. "God blesses me for being righetous and those blessings are measured in dollars, big homes and lots of possessions" and to hell with those unrighteous who live in poor wards... they are getting what they deserve.

Utah is full of this type of LDS and they are not liked away from the LDS Strongholds in nearby states and SoCal. Greed is the God and the real belief is in worship of The God of this World. All who can think and hear or read the temple ceremonies know who that is, the real God they worship with their incessant drive to amass more and more toys, bigger homes and cover it all with the 'brother humble' mumbling speech patterns and self effacing mannerisms just this side of lisping homosexuality.

Greed is the reason. It has nothing to do with faith in their fellow human beings. It has nothing to do with prayer or asking the Holy Ghost for the indigestion or heartburn to confirm the latest investment scheme or multi level marketing scam. It has everything to do with greed, from copying the works of others and simply re-naming it (board games) to marketing from ward and stake lists to fellow Mormons. These wolves know just how to play on the greed of the sheep who so desperately want to reach wolf status.

Utah is the Fraud Capitol of the US because it is the Greed Capitol and too many believe God owes them the money.

[_Gadianton]

I think you make some good points, Mohonri. And these same people who gladly turn over their money to hucksters are the ones who line their shelves with church books and apologetics that they find convincing.

I would wager that there are more LDS who have been fleeced by rather obvious financial frauds who own and attest to the scholarliness of Hugh Nibley books than there are real antiquarians who do.

[_moksha]

Don't forget Senator Orin Hatch's contribution of allowing for claims from non-FDA approved sources such as naturopathic remedies, vitamins, and Extenz - that enlarges that certain portion of the male anatomy. Many of these claims and sales are by companies owned and staffed by members of the faith.

[_SUAS]

You mean I can't buy my Amway...or Herbal Life..or Tupperware...or Four wheelers..then get a payday loan for 25% interest then declare bankruptcy???

Dang...Oh Well....must find water....free water that is

[_ludwigm]

It is weird. The membership in Hungary is interested in pyramid schemes above the national average.
I thought it is typical only here.
Is it the case in Utah, too ? Really ?? Unbelievable !

[_The Nehor]

From http://www.mudrow.org/Herb/FKM1.html

Orthodox Mormons

Orthodox Mormons have polished Mormonism to a high, seemingly functional gloss. Many OMs embrace multi-level marketing plans in the covert belief that the three degrees of glory provide a factual basis for such programs. Lifelong OMs are hazy on the differences between Church-mandated missionary discussions and heartfelt testimonies on the significance of soap.

OMs will sometimes make tons of money off the gullibility of other Mormons who believe a lifetime of honest tithe paying has blessed them with a keen eye for such safe multi-level marketing plans as "How to be a Melchizedek Priesthood Robber Baron" or "Loot Thy Neighbor". Despite strong popular belief to the contrary, this category of Mormons contains the highest number of convicted felons.

OMs are big on gospel trappings: temple tie tacks, missionary name tags, and vinyl, suitcase-size, scripture covers. They adorn their homes with portraits of obscure general authorities and tole painted crafts made in Relief Society. Slathered with primary drawings and meeting schedules, the refrigerators in the homes of OMs look like religious kiosks.

Name dropping is a trait quite common to OMs, who believe the veracity of any story or rumor, no matter how outlandish, can be sealed up to truth by the inclusion of a general authorities name, as in, "Yup, I heard tell President Thomas S. Monson shoots a .300 Savage. Good enough for me then, I guess."

Left to their own devices, OMs would make a gospel ordinance out of bringing dry cereal to church in Tupperware bowls in much the same way they've made the right hand more sacred then the left for purposes of taking the sacrament.

OMs believe that 100 percent church attendance is mandatory for a celestial glory. They would not miss the practice hymn for the death of a relative. They would not lick a postage stamp on Fast Sunday.