Since the 1920s, when marketing developed
into an art, the American public has been deluged with a cascade of ingeniously
foisted merchandise. Examples are
endless. If you’ve recently tuned into the
radio talk shows, you’ll learn that the advertisers currently promoting My Pillow, are touting it as a superb
product which will ensure the soundest and most comfortable sleep possible. They don’t mention it sells for $58; you
should note that a competitor, Wamsutta, sells a remarkably fine pillow for
$19. This is the way the world of
advertising operates.
Ingenious marketing is now a part of the
presidential nomination process. One of
the Republican candidates—Donald Trump—is, if nothing else, a master of
marketing. I recall my involvement
several years ago attending his 3-hour seminar, billed as a unique perspective
into the art of investment. To my
dismay, the entire period was devoted both to extolling the wealth and personal
virtues of Mr. Trump, as well as peddling a several-thousand-dollar follow-up
seminar. It was the hardest sell I’d
ever experienced and induced many naive attendees at the event to sign up.
Apparently deviousness in marketing goes hand
in hand with general unreliability. It’s
certainly evident in Mr. Trump’s case.
You should be aware that on 9/3/15 he signed a loyalty pledge to the
Republican Party that he would support the Republican nominee in the 2016
general election, thereby ruling out a possible third-party or independent
run. At an event at Trump Tower in New
York, surrounded by backers, he vowed: “I will be totally pledging my
allegiance to the Republican Party and the conservative principles for which it
stands.” Nonetheless, this didn’t
dissuade him from announcing on 11/21/15, at a rally in Birmingham, Alabama,
that he would be open to running for president as an independent if he
concludes Republicans aren’t treating him “fairly.” You may interpret this as you choose.
I don’t deny Mr. Trump has certain
abilities. He’s rich; he’s confident; he’s
most certainly forceful. Perhaps these
traits are sufficient, so that forthrightness and dependability become
unimportant qualities in the President of the United States. If so, then I have the perfect slogan for his
campaign: “Put your confidence in a man who knows what the word confidence
means. Donald Trump . . . a real
confidence man.”
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If you enjoy this
weekly Straight Talk by Al Jacobs, you’re invited to check out my monthly
Financial Newsletter, as well as my new book, The Road to Prosperity
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