Having worked with the Amazon Herb Company in the past, trying to promote their products and cause, I had heard the accusation that it is a “Pyramid Scheme.” As I have just gotten involved with another MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) Program, helping market Privately Minted Coins (Gold, Silver and Copper), I decided it was a good time to address this issue, and address the biggest Pyramid Scheme currently being forced upon the American People and the World.
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketing
“Multi-level marketing (MLM) is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they recruit, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation.”
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme
“A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves promising participants payment or services, primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, rather than supplying any real investment or sale of products or services to the public. Pyramid schemes are a form of fraud.”
The Federal Reserve Pyramid Scheme
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollar
“…the United States Dollar was defined as a unit of weight equaling 371 4/16th grains (24.057 grams) of pure silver, or 416 grains of standard silver (standard silver being defined as 1,485 parts fine silver to 179 parts alloy). It was specified that the “money of account” of the United States should be expressed in those same “dollars” or parts thereof. Additionally, all lesser-denomination coins were defined as percentages of the dollar coin, such that a half-dollar was to contain half as much silver as a dollar, quarter-dollars would contain one-fourth as much, and so on.”
I make a point not to simply cover problems on this website. If I’m going to bring up a problem, I make sure I’ve got a solution ready to present. The News does a great job at creating Anxiety and a feeling of Helplessness by blasting people with all the horrible events going on in the world; War, Corruption, Crime, etc. While it is important to understand the problems, I think the ratio at which we should focus on them is summed up perfectly with this quote:
“Focus 90% of your time on solutions and only 10% of your time on problems.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo
Right now, it seems that the Mainstream Media spends about 99% of the time on the problems, and only 1% of the time on the solutions (see what I did there?).
With that in mind, I will only cover what I believe to be the biggest Pyramid/Ponzi Scheme of all time; the Federal Reserve, in conjunction with what I believe is a solution to it; Competing Currencies.
I’ll embed a video below that talks about the general corruption and creation of the Federal Reserve, however, I’d like to attempt to explain the basic principle of fiat currency and how it steals the wealth of the people as it is printed.
I’ll do this using a hypothetical scenario. In this scenario, there are only 1 Million (1,000,000) “Dollars” in circulation. Each dollar is worth a gallon of gasoline, or rather, the price of a gallon of gas is $1.00.
Now in this scenario, as is in real life, the Federal Reserve decides to print more dollars. To make this simple, we’ll print out another Million. So now, there are 2 Million “Dollars” in circulation. Under supply and demand this would then drive the price of gasoline to $2.00 (as there are no twice as many Dollars while there is the same amount of Gasoline), or, now the Dollar is only worth a half-gallon of gasoline.
First, let’s look at what this does to someone who worked for and saved money. If you put aside $1,000 thinking you’d be able to use that to buy 1,000 gallons of gasoline (say you planned this out because all you would need for the next year was a 1,000 gallons of gasoline). Now, through simply printing money, the Federal Reserve has “taken” half your wealth, now your $1,000 only buy 500 gallons of gasoline.
What makes it worse is that the price of gasoline doesn’t change immediately, since the newly printed Dollars aren’t put directly into circulation. They are often given to a select group of people (for example, to Wall Street Bankers during a bail-out). At that point, each Dollar is still worth a gallon of gasoline. So, as the money is then used to buy property, it slowly reaches the Market, and then, slowly reduces the value of every other Dollar in circulation. This is also called, “Inflation.”
So not only does printing money steal your wealth, but it also allows those who first get the printed Dollars to use them at their full value, usually to buy land, factories, and other resources. Now those with the ability to lobby Government and use the Federal Reserve system are able to acquire property without earning it, as the buying power of the Dollar (and those that work hard and save) is reduced.
What makes this even worse than that, is that the People are forced into this system. They must pay their taxes in Federal Reserve Notes, and thus, must remain within the system. However, there are options, such as converting your “Dollars” into real property; land, machines, tools, etc. Or even, converting into Gold and Silver in order to save and retain your wealth.
AOCS Member’s Mint Saves Your Wealth!
A couple of years ago I started investing in physical Gold and Silver. By physical I mean; I would buy it and have it shipped to me so that I could hold onto it. In that time period the money I invested almost doubled. I also stopped putting money into my 401K and my Saving Account. If I wanted to save, I bought Gold and Silver coins. It actually became a hobby in of itself. I’d research different coins, go on eBay and get the best deals.
I also came across a private mint called “The American Open Currency Standard.” I really liked their “Lakota Nation” coins, to me it seemed like a win-win, I get a product I like, and I get to support a business that is part of the Lakota Community; a virtual third-world nation within the United States. I would buy the Copper coins and give them to friends, or as tips at the bar, and share the information about both subjects (Money and the Lakota). The “Barter is Better” copper coins are equally as powerful.
I recently got involved with the AOCS Members Mint, an MLM set up to help customers save money on shipping (by allowing the staggering of shipments) and allow members who want to help promote the products earn commissions.
Join as a Customer: http://www.membersmint.com/#freeindsun
Join as an Affiliate (after you’ve joined as a Customer): http://www.membersmint.com/club/affiliates/signup.php?a_aid=freeindsun
Amazon Herb Company Saves the Rainforest!
The accomplishments of the Amazon Herb Company are outstanding. Aside from promoting a great health product and addressing the problem of nutritional health in the U.S., the company has helped preserve over 300,000 acres of Rainforest.
http://www.saveourearth.co.uk/soe_links.php
In addition, they have worked to make sure that native tribes secure rights to their land and have even helped form coalitions of tribes in order to empower them even more.
There mission is true and genuine. Their products, while expensive compared to store bought health products, are real and beneficial.
http://www.naturalnews.com/021968.html
And their business model really does help generate revenue for those that help promote the cause. The cause is the health of the planet and the health of people. Becoming involved, even in a passive degree as I am with this website (having a banner, and occasionally writing on the subject), helps me have a positive effect on the Rainforest as I continue my work on other causes.
I’ve been involved off and on with the Amazon Herb Company for nearly a decade. The company is filled with great people. You can become involved as a customer or as an affiliate through this link: seraf.amazonherb.net
Multi-Level Marketing
Multi-Level Marketing is the same as any other business endeavor. If the people involved and/or the product is not genuine the experience will not be solid. If the people involved and the product being sold are quality then the experience will be worth-while. If you do not expect to “Get Rich Quick” and don’t fall for the temptation to try to sell to your friends and family, then you won’t be disappointed. I have found that it is best to play the part of the “Practitioner” rather than the “Marketer.” Some have a great time focusing solely on marketing the product and having that be their primary job and source of income.
Personally, I prefer to work on my writing and my website, and have my MLM Programs represented as Advertising, and allow people to passively get led to them. Others I work with focus on their personal teaching practices, such as health and personal training, and recommend products as they are relevant to the individual.
It is important to be sincere in your promotion of the products.
I only advertise products and companies that I personally support.
There are many ways to go about it; the best way is whichever is most comfortable to you.
Jack Wagner is the Editor of The Free Independent-Sun. Born in Sonoma, California and currently residing in San Francisco, Jack set up The Free Independent-Sun on July 4th, 2009, after sleeping in and not making his usual trip up north for his hometown festivities. He figured he'd do something revolutionary to make up for it. In the Summer of 2010 Jack registered Seraf Media with the City and County of San Francisco as a Sole-Proprietorship. He is dedicated to articulating the finer points of the Revolution in order to bring about a Global Renaissance and Abundant World Economy. He also isn't afraid to get his hands dirty transplanting succulents. 
Great, detailed, fair and well thought out. Thanks for this article on the differences and helping to straighten them out!
This is a great article to tell the difference between “pyramid” and “legit mlm”. To go one step further, one can ask a few questions to find the difference between a good “legit” program and bad:
1) is it possible for each person, regardless of when they enter, to earn more than anyone else in the organization? In a true “pyramid”, the person at the top will always earn more than those further down the line. A simple way to eliminate this possibility is to cap the number of “tiers” that the comp plan pays.
2) does the organization have retail customers, or are all participants “members”? Can a normal person go to the website and buy without joining, or is a ridiculous “fee” charged for the simple privilege of buying the product?
3) does the organization sell a product at a competitive price? Often, mlm’s must bloat there prices by 300+% to create an enticing compensation plan. The downside to this, if a group sells a valuable product at a competitive price, is that the payouts are normally too lackluster to recruit career networkers.
Hope this insight helps.