Re: You Just Can't Lose

[Jeff Lemke <lemke@terra.cira.colostate.edu>]

CatherineW@hotmail.com wrote:
> 
> So, do you want to make money?  If you have ONLY US$6 or a bit more(6
> stamps), you can do it!!!
> 
> *******************************************************
> PLEASE READ ON ABOUT HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL
> *******************************************************
> 
> 1. IS THIS REALLY LEGAL??
> I called a lawyer first. The lawyer was a little skeptical that I
> would actually make any money but he said it WAS LEGAL if I wanted to
> try it. I told him it sounded a lot like a chain letter but the
> details of the system (SEE BELOW) actually made it a legitimate legal
> business.
> 2. Would the Post Office be ok with this....I called them:
> 1-800-725-2161 and they confirmed THIS IS ABSOLUTELY LEGAL! (See Title
> 18,h sections1302 NS 1341 of Postal Lottery Laws). This clarifies the
> program of collecting names and addresses for a mailing list.
> 3. Is this moral? Well, everyone who sends me a buck has a good
> chance of getting A LOT of money ... a much better chance than buying
> a lottery ticket!!!


I think I must have seen about 10 of these pyramid "arrangements" in the
last year, on the Internet, in e-mail I've received, and even letters in
the USMail.  One of the most common words used in these ads is "legal". 
Ah, yes, it appears to be legal.  Good.  That should clear up any
ethical questions about these scams,... I mean, "business
opportunities".  But this one is a little different.  It asks the
question, "Is this moral?"  The answer to that apparently depends on
whether or not it could be lucrative, because the next sentence says you
have a good chance of getting "A LOT of money".  Well then, I guess the
morality part of this issue has also been addressed with a water-tight
answer.  

Hm....  How representative of the new definition of morality I've been
coming across so frequently these days.