Deaf Pundit, apparently some people see SEC a corrupt and unethical agency while others see it an overzealous regulating agency.

Robert, oh yes, it’s extremely easy to manipulate people who are not familiar with how the system works.

Dianrez, it is probably too late, but I’ll send you a link telling you how to deal with these people using numbers to throw you off. I’m saving it for my next purchase! lol

That is exactly what happened to me when I was shopping for a Chrysler minivan. I came prepared with numbers from the Edwards.com website and had a figure I intended to hold firm.

However, the salesman and his boss threw at me numbers regarding delivery, dealer preps, add-ons, accessories, free items, service contracts, warranty extensions and rebates for so long that I said I wanted to take it home and think it over. Then they said they could not hold the “special” offer, it would become invalid when the next day’s sales staff took over.

It took them over three hours of double-teaming me and my escort. They probably gave each other high-fives when I finally bought the car, at several hundred over what I intended. Don’t let them do this to you. Walk out! Don’t take ANY pressure at all! Sheesh!

Regardless, the bottom line is the SEC and any other entities of authority to decide will determine credibility on part of whoever involved, quoted in the press and what not regarding this issue. If any have doubts about anyone involved, quoted or what not check with SEC and certain entities in authority. No hassle here.

The more complicated something like this might appear to the common people the more pressed for time prospects can be to point they say, “heck with the long-winded heavy verbiage, you appear to know what you’re doing, let’s get it over with with an investment and go home.” We’ll just take care of the rest later.

Gotcha! This is how blue and white-collar people can be easily manipulated. The mastermind is operating on the premise that folks don’t have much time. Deliberate smoke of sophistication.

I remember a CODA who’s currently an interpreter. He sold cars and he learned that other salespersons would throw numbers in a way customers would feel overwhelmed with the numbers and stuff. They’d just get it over without due diligence. Not so fast.

Generally, there needs to be more stricter regulations on every level of government pertaining to disclosure strictly in laymen terms. I’m saying this in the context not relevant to intelligence but rather to be safer than sorry. There’s too much people here in America who are so poorly educated and for a part (but not always) its the states’ to blame and they owe it to their citizens to make things more simpler in the interest of good protection.

At any rate, I don’t know what to think about this whole thing. I find it very odd that Jamie would advise Marvin to go to Panama. It would be interesting to know WHEN that email was sent… Hm.

Second impression: the markets took a dive about this time, so any finangling and shady tradings became exposed in full.

Third impression: even with shortcomings that they have, SEC is better than nothing in keeping things honest and anybody that doesn’t respect them is badly mistaken.

Fourth impression: It is good that efforts are being made to return money to their investors, which reportedly is rare in Ponzi prosecutions. Would this have happened if Marvin had not been caught in time?

Fifth impression: it is safer to stick with well-established and reputable trading firms than to go with maverick or sole operators. And in these times, money is safer in interest-earning bank accounts than in the stock markets.

BAH. What this does to one’s faith in humanity.