Once upon a time, the great legendary showman P.T. Barnum remarked, “there’s a sucker born every minute.” His colorful life was made into a Broadway musical in the 1980s with award-winning stage actor Michael Crawford and a recent movie with the versatile Hugh Jackman.
Both portrayed the facets of his marketing genius with a glib tongue and a quick wit. Barnum was a genius as a circus king who could sell anything to everybody. The variety shows in the big tent featured a Swedish nightingale soprano, elephants that could dance the polka, prancing horses, midgets who did tricks. The Siamese twins and odd-looking characters (freaks) attracted a variety of audiences.
Talking a mile a minute, He convinced people to buy snake oil potions and exotic concoctions that they did not need. Such was Barnum’s style. He made tons of money, entertained the audience and laughed all the way to the bank. If there were doubts, he dispelled them instantly. His manner was showy, yet he was suave. He was a pioneer in false advertising who peddled fantasies. He attracted thousands of people who needed an escape from humdrum grim reality.
The musical Barnum! was a big hit because it was so grandly colorful, entertaining and magical.
After the illusion and hype — the bubble burst. And evaporates into nothing. That happens with the drumroll and the cymbals.
The reality in our lives is that there are con artists who are so deviously talented and charismatic that they can conjure glamorous illusions of beauty, youth, perfection, or financial schemes (pyramids). These manipulative experts can seduce and mesmerize the innocent and the gullible into believing their “magic.”
Sir Francis Bacon once wrote, “Hope is a good breakfast but it is a bad supper.”
What is incredible is the fact that many people are vulnerable. They easily fall for flaky promises, get-rich-quick schemes, and fairy tales of romance. They do not see beyond the glossy surface.
The current political circus is a variation of P.T. Barnum’s show. We see and hear incantations of the showman in young aspirants and dinosaur politicians who want the power, pork barrel money, and the perks.
The multi-media and social media advertisements and praise releases are self-serving promotions. Will these characters really serve the public? Or just enrich themselves and grab power as they immerse themselves in corrupt practices? Thus, we pray for miracles.
A form of false hope is that one that is offered by some medical practitioners who market an experimental therapy that is not FDA-approved in the USA. But they can convince desperate rich patients that this expensive therapy will cure them. They conduct clinical studies under the protective wings of the big shots who run the hospital or center.
The package is endorsed but there are no guarantees. They are not covered by medical insurance. There are no official receipts given for the exorbitant fees charged. No taxes are paid. Professional ethics are compromised.
It is a big risk for the patients but they grasp at straws to try to prolong their lives. There have been families of terminally ill patients who had to take big loans to pay cash up front.
Car dealers are the salesmen who offer the “best price” and discounts for cars. Caveat emptor.
One sales rep of a popular car tried to sell a sleek model that has been used for more than several trial drives. He discreetly turned off the mileage counter/gauge. Luckily, the prospective buyer noticed that the numbers were not moving as she drove around the block twice. The sales rep did not disclose this important item. No wonder the price was relatively low. The buyer had been a regular client of the dealer for the past 15 years and had bought several cars for the family. That was not fair at all. Dishonesty and the sin of omission. She asked and he mumbled some excuse. Then she cancelled the order and moved to another recommended dealer. She bought a brand-new car without the discount.
After-sales service is also an issue. Some dealers charge so high just to diagnose a small problem. They change parts that are still functioning — to meet a certain quota per month. They also break things intentionally to force the owner to pay for new air conditioning filters, brake pads, and other items. It comes down to a matter of trust.
Gift certificates and staycations of prestigious hotels and airline tickets won at raffles have so many restrictions. Winning is fun but that disappears when one reads the fine print. No free luggage allocation. The airline can accommodate the winner only at midnight. The airline is on strike and the ticket expires in one month. The free room is only for weekdays — no weekends, no holidays. Sometimes, the GC or the free ticket is a “false prize.”
On the personal side, the ardent beau who becomes the perfectly packaged fiancé promises a happily-ever-after life to his beloved bride-to-be. Undying love and devotion, heaven on earth.
However, nobody is perfect. The bride stops trying. Years later, the fangs and claws appear. Gaslighting and misogynist remarks diminish the couple. When times are hard and the pressure builds, dysfunctional traits become more evident. The bubble bursts not long after the honeymoon glow fades. It takes a miracle to keep the show running…
Maria Victoria Rufino is an artist, writer and businesswoman. She is president and executive producer of Maverick Productions.
