99 Lies

99 Lies
A Book Of Secrets
By
Steve Gillman
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Copyright 2006 - 2011 by Steve Gillman

Introduction
Government officials, politicians, doctors, lawyers, businesses, and

probably your friends and family are lying to you. Why do they lie? For
power, votes, money, influence, a feeling of importance, or anything else
they value more than the truth, or at least more than you knowing the truth.
The object is not truth but persuasion. - Thomas Macaulay
Of course people often believe their own lies, and we often want to be lied
to. This is most evident in the realm of politics. We want to believe that
government can solve this or that problem, despite the fact they usually
make things worse. We prefer to believe in simple solutions to complex
problems. Politicians of course, tell us what we want to hear.
All lies and jests, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the
rest. - Paul Simon
We lie to ourselves as well, to make ourselves more comfortable and defend

the status quo. Change isn't very comfortable at times, even the simple
changing of one's mind. This type of lying includes excuse-making, one of
the most disempowering habits a person can have. Many people are masters
at finding good "reasons" (lies) for not taking actions that would lead to
greater success or happiness.
Humankind cannot bear very much reality. - T.S. Eliot
A lie to make a profit is perhaps the easiest type of lie to understand,

because the motivation is clear (and universal). We may not like it, but we
expect salesmen and business owners and corporations to at least exaggerate
the truth if not invent it. However, even when expected, these types of lies
are not always easy to spot, as you will see in the chapters to come.
Lying is one of our most profitable activities. - Anonymous
Some of these 99 lies are straightforward. Read them and you can stop
being fooled, and even save some money. Others will introduce you to
things you may know nothing about, and change how you think about the
world. Then there are the more personal lies that may challenge how you
think about yourself. You'll also see a lot of "half-lies" on this list, because
they are perhaps the most dangerous, or at least the most effective for the
teller.
If you wish to strengthen a lie, mix a little truth in with it. - Zohar
Are we better off not lying at all? That's a difficult argument to make. But
we're almost certainly better off if we see through other people's lies, and
stop lying so much to ourselves. Hopefully this book will help with both of
these goals.
Table of Contents
Lie # 1
You Should Change The Oil Every 3,000 Miles
Lie # 2
A Daily Aspirin Is Good For You
Lie # 3
Raising Tax Rates Raises Revenue
Lie # 4
Bottled Beer Is Better
Lie # 5
DDT Causes Cancer
Lie # 6
Coffee Or Tea Dehydrates You
Lie # 7
Speculators Hurt The Economy
Lie # 8
Collision Insurance Is Needed On Used Cars
Lie # 9
Free Trade Agreements Are About Free Trade
Lie # 10
An "Open House" Is Meant To Sell Your Home
Lie # 11
Free Markets Are The Reason For U.S. Prosperity
Lie # 12
Hospitals Are A Safe Place To Be
Lie # 13
Financial Advisors Will Help You Beat The Market
Lie # 14
Shortages Can Be Fixed By Governments
Lie # 15
There Is An Official English Language
Lie # 16
The Customer Is Always Right
Lie # 17
Democracy Is A Moral Political System
Lie # 18
Premium Gas Is Better
Lie # 19
Mandatory Sentencing Is A Good Idea
Lie # 20
You Have To Register Your Work To Have A Copyright
Lie # 21
Drug Tests Can't Be Beat
Lie # 22
Government Regulation Makes Things Safe
Lie # 23
Millionaire's Always Buy New Cars
Lie # 24
Correlation Equals Causation
Lie # 25
Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Are Best
Lie # 26
Businesses Don't Want Regulation
Lie # 27
Whole Wheat Means Whole Wheat
Lie # 28
You Need Hiking Boots For Backpacking
Lie # 29
You Should Spend Two Months Salary On A Ring
Lie # 30
Just A Little Sugar For Flavor
Lie # 31
Free - Just Pay Shipping And Handling
Lie # 32
Illegal Immigrants Don't Pay Taxes
Lie # 33
Hard Work Guarantees Success
Lie # 34
A Juror Has To Judge Only The Facts
Lie # 35
Low Fat Diets Reduce Heart And Other Problems
Lie # 36
You Need Life Insurance
Lie # 37
Fluoridation Of Water Prevents Cavities
Lie # 38
You Need Money To Make Money
Lie # 39
Buying A Home Is Always Better Than Renting
Lie # 40
Social Security Is A Retirement Fund
Lie # 41
Rental Regulations Are Meant To Help Renters
Lie # 42
Money Can't Buy Happiness
Lie # 43
New Airline Safety Rules Are All About Safety
Lie # 44
Money Isn't Important
Lie # 45
Real Estate Values Always Go Up
Lie # 46
Public Health Officials Work For Your Health
Lie # 47
You Need The Right Money Making System
Lie # 48
It Only Costs...
Lie # 49
You Have No Money To Save Or Invest
Lie # 50
Experts Know What Is Best For You
That's not a lie, it's a terminological inexactitude. Also, a tactical
misrepresentation. - Alexander Haig
More Lies
Lie # 51 - You Can Patent An Idea
Lie # 52 - Antibacterial Soap Is Better
Lie # 53 - The Bigger Size Is Always Cheaper
Lie # 54 - You Shouldn't Drink Alcohol When You Are Cold
Lie # 55 - Cousins Shouldn't Marry
Lie # 56 - Life Is Getting More Expensive
Lie # 57 - Traveling By RV Is Cheaper Than Hotels
Lie # 58 - Overweight People Are Lazy
Lie # 59 - News Can Be Objective
Lie # 60 - We Shouldn't Pollute
Lie # 61 - If It Saves One Life It's Worth It
Lie # 62 - We Will Run Out Of Oil Soon
Lie # 63 - We Are A Nation Of Laws
Lie # 64 - Rights Come With Duties
Lie # 65 - Alternative Medicine Is Dangerous
Lie # 66 - I Don't Have Time

Lie # 67 - You Should Give 110 Percent
Lie # 68 - We Should Wait For Scientific Evidence
Lie # 69 - Commercials Are Just For Selling Products
Lie # 70 - Greasy Food Causes Acne
Lie # 71 - The Military Draft Is A Necessary Evil
Lie # 72 - Statistics Are Objective
Lie # 73 - Food Irradiation Is Unhealthy
Lie # 74 - Homeopathy Is Scientific
Lie # 75 - Your Standards Are Correct
Lie # 76 - Formal Education Is A Necessity
Lie # 77 - Dealer Invoice Is The Dealer's Cost
Lie # 78 - Honestly, It's A Size Six
Lie # 79 - Check Bouncing Protection Saves You Money
Lie # 80 - The U.S. Is A Capitalist Country
Lie # 81 - You Need A Job To Buy A House
Lie # 82 - You Make More Money Selling Your Own House
Lie # 83 - You Need A Lot Of Money To Travel
Lie # 84 - Marrying A Citizen Makes You A Citizen
Lie # 85 - Mount Everest Is The Highest Mountain
Lie # 86 - We Need Animal Flesh To Be Healthy

Lie # 87 - FDIC Insurance Protects Your Bank Account From Theft
Lie # 88 - Anyone And Everyone Can Make Money Online
Lie # 89 - Reading In Poor Light Will Hurt Your Eyes
Lie # 90 - Cracking Your Knuckles Will Cause Arthritis
Lie # 91 - You Need Eight Glasses Of Water Daily For Health
Lie # 92 - Kids Are Good For A Marriage
Lie # 93 - A Business Is Riskier Than A Job
Lie # 94 - Build It And They Will Come
Lie # 95 - You Need Heavy Exercise To Be Healthy
Lie # 96 - We Need Oil From...
Lie # 97 - Food Labeled "Natural" Is Better For You
Lie # 98 - You Are Pre-Approved For This Credit Card
Lie # 99 - Creative Ideas Only Come Spontaneously

Lie # 1
You Should Change The Oil Every 3,000 Miles
The Reason For The Lie
Why has 3,000 miles become the standard for oil change frequency in cars?
Is it because that's what's best for your car? No! It is because it has been
effectively promoted by the oil change industry. This lie makes them a lot of
money.
Even though no auto manufacturer recommends such frequent oil changes,

they have no reason to dispute the idea. Extra oil changes do no harm, and
will likely have some small positive effect on engine longevity.
The Truth
Most manufacturers suggest you change the oil in their cars every 5,000 or
6,000 miles (check the owners manual). They pay for any damage while you
are under warrantee, so they wouldn't suggest waiting too long. The truth is
that changing the oil every week might make the engine last longer, but the
money savings don't equal the cost if you change it more often than the
manufacturers recommend.
Why It Matters
This lie costs you money. If you own a car for 100,000 miles, and you
change the oil every three thousand miles instead of the manufacturer's
recommended 6,000 mile frequency, you'll have an extra 17 oil changes. At
$30, that is an extra $510. Over your lifetime, this could be thousands of
dollars thrown away.
Lie # 2
A Daily Aspirin Is Good For You
No big surprise here. The companies producing aspirin have funded

research showing "benefits" of the daily regimen. They promote the idea,
and make more money when aspirin sales go up as a result.
The Truth
William Campbell Douglass II, MD recently reported in his newsletter Real

Health Breakthroughs, on the dangers of aspirin therapy. Contrary to what
the mainstream may say, it is not a safe practice to take aspirin daily. The
University of Maryland Medical Center did a study and found blood platelet
clumping - which can lead to heart attacks - in 64% of daily aspirin-takers
whose blood cholesterol levels were considered too high by modern medical
standards (LDL over 130).
In other words, daily aspirin may increase the risk of coronary events, not
decrease it.
The American College of Chest Physicians, in a May, 2004 study, found that
people who STOP taking daily aspirin after doing it for a while risk serious
heart problems. They analyzed the medical records of 1,236 people
hospitalized for heart attacks and other acute coronary events. More than
10% of people taking daily aspirin were hospitalized within a week of
stopping the therapy. Interestingly, none of these patients had been in the
hospital for heart-related events before stopping their daily aspirin.
Aspirin seems to be relatively safe for normal use. Using it every day,
however, is not nearly as safe as the mainstream doctors claim. In fact, it
may be very dangerous.
Why It Matters
It isn't just that is it potentially dangerous to take aspirin daily. The pop-a-
pill mentality encouraged by this may discourage many people from making
the dietary and lifestyle changes that are much more valuable in the
prevention of heart problems.
Lie # 3
Raising Tax Rates Raises Revenue
Raise tax rates, collect more in taxes - it seems logical. It isn't, but rather
than educate the populace, politicians play to their ignorance for political
purposes. Mostly it is just their own ignorance as well. However, there is
always some political power to be derived from hurting the wealthy for the
pleasure of those non-wealthy voters who are envious.
The Truth
What is lost in all the debate over tax increases versus tax cuts, is science.
For example, the Laffer curve described by Arthur Laffer, shows the
relationship between tax rates and tax revenue collected. I'd guess that less
than 5% of people understand this simple principle, but it is crucial to
proper governance. It is the idea that as you raise taxes, you reach some
point where the actual amount of revenue collected starts to drop.
You can understand this at the extremes. If the government took 95% of
your income in taxes, would you work much? Do they get any taxes if you
don't work? No. More money will actually be collected if they take a lower
percentage, right? Of course high taxes will chase businesses and at some
point even residents away to other, lower-tax countries too. Add to that the
fact that every dollar the government takes can't be invested into new
businesses, which would create more income, and therefore more taxes, and
you can see that there is a point of diminishing returns.
Where is it? The science isn't that exact yet, but it seems to be somewhere
between 15% to 25% as a total tax burden (federal, state and local). What
this means is that if tax rates go higher than that (the top of the curve), the
government actually collects less money. So even if a person or society
wants all sorts of social welfare programs, they have to realize that there is
an ideal rate of taxation to get the most money to pay for these programs.
Tax more heavily, and you get less, not more.
One more example. Imagine a restaurant that is making profit of $60,000

per year. The owner pays $15,000 in taxes, uses $30,000 to live on, and
reinvests $15,000 to grow the business. Five years later he has several
restaurants. He makes $300,000 per year, and pays $75,000 in taxes. In
addition, he has hired dozens more to work in his business, and all of these
people pay taxes too. The government is taking in much more money - even
at the same tax rates.
Now imagine that before this happened, the government raised the tax rates,
and the owner had to pay $30,000 in taxes on his $60,000 profit. Since he
needs the other $30,000 to live on, he has nothing left over to invest into the
business. It stagnates, and five years later the government is still collecting
just $15,000 in taxes from him. They could have been collecting five times
as much (and that's not counting the taxes on the new employees). Higher
tax rates often mean less revenue, not more.
Politics trumps science, of course. Imagine if the most socialistic politician

out there announced to his constituency, "We have scientifically determined
the most efficient rate of taxation, and we must lower corporate tax rates
and the income tax rates of the rich in order to increase collections." I
suspect that no amount of truth here would overcome his constituents desire
to both have their social programs and screw the rich. They want the lie, and
there will always be a politician to serve it up.
Update:
Forbes magazine recently reported on a great example of this phenomenon.

Iceland cut it's corporate tax rate step-by-step from 45% in 1991, to 18% in
2001. What happened? Tax revenues went up step-by-step, perfectly
demonstrating the Laffer Curve. They tripled by 2001, and tripled again in
the next five years. Lower rates meant more tax revenue.
Once you understand this principle, you know that an increase above the
most efficient tax rate (probably 10% to 20%) means LESS money for
education, helping the poor, or anything we might want our government to
do. A person who knows this and continues advocating higher taxes must do
so from a desire to punish success, or some motivation other than to raise
more revenue for anyone's benefit.
Why It Matters
Consider three scenarios. First, if income was taxed at 100%, the economy
would be destroyed. Second, if no taxes were collected, no government
would be possible, and we would be destroyed by anarchy. In between these
two scenarios is the proper rate of taxation, where the government collects
enough to give us what we need, but doesn't hamper the economy. Tax
beyond that rate, and billions in production is destroyed, less tax revenue is
collected, and services have to be reduced.
A government can only spend what the producers produce. Too high of a tax
rate is like the proverbial killing of the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Lie # 4
Bottled Beer Is Better
There is a higher profit margin on bottled beer than on draft beer, but this
only explains why the beer makers allow this myth to be perpetuated. The
reason this lie is told is because beer drinkers want to believe it.
The Truth
In numerous studies and taste-tests, beer makers have found that when
drinkers don't know which is which, they consistently choose draft beer as
the better tasting beer. Why do so many people swear that bottled beer is
better then? Because they want to believe it, as a way to rationalize their
choice.
The other part of the research done by the big breweries is about brand
identification. Basically, they found that beer drinkers use the bottle in front
of them to help create and sustain their identity. Beyond the obvious
statement "I'm a Bud man," that a Budweiser bottle makes when held in the
drinker's hand, there are other things drinkers want advertise with their
bottles and cans.
A Killians drinker might love the taste, but he very likely also wants to let
the world know that he is "different," and can handle a stronger tasting beer.
This may not be a conscious desire (it usually isn't). Another may want to let
the world know he is a Heineken drinker, just because he has been faithful
to the brand for years. For whatever motivations, the research is clear: beer
drinkers often use the bottle as an extension of and advertising of their
personalities.
The other motivation is fairly obvious. Draft beer says, "cheap!" in a culture
where spending more money is revered. Even beer drinkers don't often walk
up to the bar and say, "Give me your cheapest beer," and they don't want
that mug advertising their frugality.
Why It Matters
It doesn't matter, if you don't mind spending a few dollars more to establish
your identity by way of a label, or to not appear cheap. On the other hand, if
you drink beer just to enjoy it, see if they have your favorite on tap. You'll
get more beer for the same pocket full of money this way.
Lie # 5
DDT Causes Cancer
A good cause like stopping DDT was great for the careers of many people in
the environmental movement, particularly those who write books. The
public has been conditioned to look at all man-made chemicals as somehow
bad, and so was ready to accept the weak evidence. Once those in
government and other important positions took up the cause, it was hard to
back down without appearing foolish.
The Truth
Think DDT causes cancer? Actually in the 1970s the EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency) examiner looked at 9,000 pages of research and came to
this conclusion "DDT is not a carcinogenic hazard to man."
You can watch old films in which clouds of DDT were sprayed in parks
while picnickers went on eating. Interestingly, many of these heavily-
exposed people are alive and well today. We know now that the amounts
needed to kill mosquitoes are not nearly as high as once thought, and there
is no evidence that using it in moderation causes any harm at all.
Even the research showing harm to animals seems to be flawed. What

damage was caused (primarily the thinning of egg shells in wild birds), may
have been only because of the heavy use of DDT. Lighter applications are
now known to be effective.
Many people are rightfully suspicious of those who claim a substance is

safe, when that organization has a vested interest. It's worth remembering,
though, that every substance is both entirely harmless and potentially
deadly, depending on the amount. For example, we eat potentially deadly
cyanide in apples and almonds with no ill effect, because the dosage is
small, and we can easily overdose on "harmless" vitamins if we try.
The goal, then, should always be to determine what dosage or amount of
exposure to a substance is safe, rather than to arbitrarily lump substances
into categories of "good" and "bad."
The World Health Organization has now removed DDT from their banned-
substances list. Almost 30 years after it phased out widespread indoor
spraying of DDT they announced, in September 2006, that DDT will be
used as one of the main tools against malaria. WHO now recommends
indoor residual spraying in epidemic areas, and in places with constant and
high malaria transmission.
Why It Matters
Many millions have now died from mosquito-borne illnesses, because of

restrictions on the use of the insecticide DDT. In some areas, these
restrictions have been loosened. Loosening them more could result in a few
minor issues, but almost all scientists and public health officials believe
using DDT more frequently could save millions of lives.
Lie # 6
Coffee Or Tea Dehydrates You
This is just one of those fad notions that help sell books and programs. As
with many lies based on a bit of truth, it is thrown out there on the
assumption that the public can't understand the more complicated reality.
The Truth
Have you heard that coffee and tea dehydrate you? Saying so is a good way
to sell bottled water, but it just isn't true. My father drinks coffee all day and
no water. He should have died years ago from dehydration according to this
theory.
The only truth here is that coffee and tea are less efficient at hydrating you.
In other words, you won't get as much hydration out of five cups of coffee
as five cups of water. Of course, if you drink a little more coffee, or some
water alongside the coffee, you'll be all set.
Why It Matters
This isn't one of the more important lies to expose, but it would be a shame
if you stopped enjoying your coffee based on it. It also is a good example of
how "experts" try to simplify things for the public, on the assumption that
they can't understand something that takes more than three sentences to
explain.
Lie # 7
Speculators Hurt The Economy
Those who speculate are an easy target when the stock or commodities
markets have trouble. It seems that they are producing nothing of value, but
just playing with money. This makes them unpopular in the publics eye, and
so politicians attack them to make themselves more popular.
The Truth
People have the idea that there is no value in people "gambling" on

commodities or stock prices. This is due to a misunderstanding of the role of
speculators. Let's use corn for an example of that role in commodities
markets.
A farmer can plant corn, only to see the price drop so low by harvest time
that he loses his investment. He prevents this by selling his future
production now, at a set price. The contract that is created will go up and
down with the price of corn, but the risk is all in the hands of the
speculators who buy them. They profit if the price goes up, lose if it goes
down. The farmer, meanwhile, has his price, and can plan his business.
On the other side, a cereal company needs a predictable price in order to

plan future production. They don't want to invest in new employees and
equipment, only to see the price of corn triple, making consumers unwilling
to buy their expensive corn flakes. So they buy a contract for future delivery
at a set price. Now they can plan, and again, the speculators take on the risk.
In this case, they make money if the price drops, and lose if it goes up,
because they have to deliver at a set price.
Farmers and all industries based on basic commodities would go through

terrible swings in fortune if it weren't for these "gamblers." They take on the
risk, so the economic planning can be more practical. Without them, there
would be more bankruptcies, and more dramatic swings in consumer prices.
Speculators provide the liquidity needed in all markets.
In the stock market it a similar function is served. A fund might buy a stock
at $50 per share and plan to hold it for a long time, in order to collect the
solid dividends it produces. However, in order to generate more income,
they sell options on it. The speculator may pay $1.25 per share for a three-
month option to buy the stock at $55, for example, gambling that the
company is about announce something that will drive the price to $60 or
higher (Anything over $56.25 and he makes a profit after the option cost).
On 10,000 shares, that option would be $12,500. If the stock price does go
high enough, the fund loses it (is forced to sell), but at a good profit (the $5
per share, or $50,000, plus they keep the $12,500 option fee). If it goes
nowhere, the option expires in a few months, and they made $12,500 extra.
They may generate an extra 3 or 4 dollars per share each year selling
options. This is great for the retirees and others who own the fund, and is
only possible because of the speculators who buy these options.
Why It Matters
If the next political fad were to outlaw speculation, an oil company might
not invest in a new well, because they can't guarantee a price in the futures
markets. A farmer may not plant if he can't be sure he won't be selling at a
loss come harvest time. Financial speculation is an important part of the
economy. In most markets, it helps both the producers and the consumers,
making prices more predictable, not less. It is one of the things that make
our economy strong.
Lie # 8
Collision Insurance Is Needed On Used Cars
The motivation for this lie is simple: The insurance companies want to sell
more insurance. Consumers are happy to believe it because paying for the
extra insurance, while expensive, is simpler than analyzing the alternatives.
The Truth
Let's start with a modest example. I have never had collision insurance. In
almost thirty years of driving, I have had one bad accident. It cost me about
$1500. Over those years, if I had paid for collision insurance to cover
accidents like that one, I would have spent about $13,000 more on my
insurance premiums. If I had invested the money instead, that $13,000
would probably be $25,000 or more now.
Any way you look at it, I am way ahead of the game by not buying collision
coverage. In fact, almost anyone will be if they drive used cars, especially if
those cars are worth $4,000 or less. If you really have no way to borrow, use
savings, or otherwise deal with a $4,000 loss at some point, you may need to
have the insurance.
Of course, the real problem in that case is poor financial planning. If I had
chosen not to plan for unexpected events, and so needed that collision
coverage, it would have cost me $6,500 ($8,000 minus the $1500 I would
have collected) for that lack of planning. More, actually, since in reality I
did invest some of the money saved by not paying for it.
Think it is more justified if you have more accidents? Not likely. Insurance
companies have to take more than they give in order to survive. This is why
after an accident or two you will pay much higher premiums. You may pay
as much as $800 per year extra for collision coverage on a car worth only
$2,400. You would need to totally wreck a car every three years to justify
that - in which case you have other problems.
If going without collision coverage makes you uncomfortable, set money

aside. Start by buying $500 less car, and banking that. Then put whatever
the extra premiums would have been into the account. Within a couple years
you'll have enough to cover any accidents. If you don't have any, and you
continue paying these "premiums" to yourself, you'll eventually have a nice
little retirement or vacation account.
Why It Matters
Invest $600 per year into a good mutual fund instead of into collision
premiums, and you'll probably have $10,000 in ten years. Even if you have
an accident that costs you $4,000 - or even if you have two such accidents -
you'll still be thousands further ahead.
Lie # 9
Free Trade Agreements Are About Free Trade
Politicians often use words that have no relation to the bills they refer to or
the issues they address. It is a way to get support for their actions, or to
prevent protests. How many people want to examine the details of a political
issue. Throw them a few of the right words and they are happy enough.
Words are powerful that way. Imagine if a "free trade agreement" was called
an "agreement for the arranging of special advantages for interest groups."
That wouldn't sound too fair, would it?
The Truth
Have you ever wondered why so many people protest "free trade"
agreements? You may have the impression that they are all socialistic or
anti-business in their beliefs. This is true of some protesters. In the U.S.,
Canada and Europe many are against free trade agreements because they
inherently distrust free markets. Not that there have ever been any.
What isn't reported here though, is the other side of the protests. Protesters
in Central America, South America and other countries are just as often
protesting for free trade and free markets, not against them. They are against
these "free trade" agreements because they have little to do with anything
being free or fair.
The agreements are usually seeking regulated trade, and every country
involved is seeking advantages that have nothing to do with fair or free
trade. These protesters understand that if the U.S. gets to subsidize their
farmers (certainly not a capitalistic idea), their products can be sold at prices
that will destroy competitors who don't have a government backing them.
As often as not, it is the U.S. and western powers that want to avoid free
trade, and the third world countries that want true free trade. "Free Trade
Agreement" is just an expression used for political purposes.
Why It Matters
Cotton farmers in the U.S. often have sometimes sold their cotton at prices
below the cost of production, yet still can make profits due to government
subsidies. This makes it hard for cotton farmers in other countries to
compete. In India, hundreds of cotton growers have committed suicide
because they could not repay their debts or get a fair price for their cotton
(perhaps this is also partly because families in India get government
compensation when the head of the household commits suicide).
This may not matter to some cynical souls, and certainly all governments
fight for unfair advantages for their industries. However, at the very least,
credibility is lost if we continually lie about our motivations.
Lie # 10
An "Open House" Is Meant To Sell Your Home
Open houses have become a normal part of the sales process. As a result,
real estate agents feel the need to have one just to show you that they are
doing all they can to market your home. They get other benefits as well.
The Truth
An open house is a prospecting tool for the agent, not a great way to sell
your home. Many experienced agents won't even host their own open
houses. They just get a newer agent to host it. I did this many times as a new
real estate agent.
I remember the first open house I hosted. I was a new real estate agent, and
knew nothing about the home - it was listed by another agent in the office. It
was a lakefront home, which was too expensive for most of the visitors who
came that day. They came to dream. Their kids came to run around the yard,
and to get into the seller's things. I ran around trying to keep track of where
everyone was. I didn't sell the house.
This was okay, my office manager told me. It all went as planned. I had the
names and phone numbers of several prospective buyers who had signed in
at the open house. I even knew what some of them wanted in a home, so I
might possibly sell them something.
Think about this for a moment. If the hosting agent sells the home, the
selling agent gives up half of his commission. Would he take that risk if
homes were commonly sold from open houses? No, and that isn't the reason
for the open house.
Why should you let dozens of people who aren't qualified to buy your home
track their muddy feet through it then? The answer is that maybe you
shouldn't. Whatever the agent may tell you (and yes, there is a chance you'll
sell the home from an open house), he suggests it for two primary reasons:
1. To show he's doing everything he can to sell your home - effective or not.
2. To use it as a prospecting tool for himself, or for the hosting agent and the
broker.
A couple dozen couples looking for a new home will be signing in with
their phone numbers. Now that's an opportunity - just not for you. The point
is to collect a list of buyers. Most of these are looking for homes that are
nothing like yours. It isn't expected that the agent will sell your house in the
process. I hosted many open houses when I started selling real estate, and I
didn't sell one of them that way.
Of course, it can happen. Any additional exposure can increase the odds of
selling your home - by a little bit. But remember that this is more effective
as a prospecting tool for the agent than as a tool for selling your home. It
may or may not be worth the trouble for you, for the small chance that it will
help.
What if you do have a open house? Hide the valuables - an agent can't
watch the visitors all the time. Put easily-broken things away - parents may
bring kids. Write a list of answers to the most likely questions about your
house - and give it to the hosting agent. Maybe it is also fair to leave a
hidden camera running to see what really happens at the open house.
Why It Matters
You're expected to disappear for the duration of the open house. This is not
only inconvenient, but risky if you have valuables or fragile things in your
home. This practice is also indicative of the attitude and practices of many
brokers and agents. Now that you know the truth, don't you wonder what
else they are deceiving you about?
Lie # 11
Free Markets Are The Reason For U.S. Prosperity
This is just one of partial truths that are so common in areas of economics. It
is easier to understand than the whole truth.
The Truth
Many countries have free markets but slow or chaotic economies. Some
even try to copy the same market rules and laws as the United States, but the
result isn't the same. What's the difference? Don't ask a U.S. economist. The
most systematic research on capitalism is now being done at the Institute for
Liberty and Democracy (ILD), located in Lima, Peru.
Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto and his group have traveled the
world, and found that the crucial difference is not our relatively free and
open markets, but our property law. The research is deep and the findings
are not easy to explain in a few paragraphs, but here's an example: Did you
know that most entrepreneurial activity in this country is financed in part
from home equity, either directly or indirectly? Indirectly would be with
credit cards, for example, which are often rolled into a home mortgage
consolidation loan.
This doesn't happen in many other countries, because of laws that make it
hard for a person to lose their property. You see, because it is easy for a bank
to take your house when you don't pay on your mortgage loan, they are
willing to make the loan. It may seem ironic, but the fact that our property
can be easily taken allows for use of that otherwise locked up equity. A
business, a car, a contract even - all of these forms of property and more are
clearly defined here, and can be used as collateral.
In many countries, titles are not clear, and the law doesn't define various
properties well. For example, in Haiti, even after owning their homes for
generations, most people don't have a clear title. This makes it almost
impossible to sell. Furthermore, even if the title were clear, if foreclosure
law isn't clearly defined, no bank or finance company can loan money on a
persons home or other property.
Now imagine a man with a farm that is worth $200,000. He needs a tractor
to make it efficient, though. However, he cannot offer his land as collateral,
because the lender has no clear way to take the land if the farmer defaults.
He cannot borrow, and so cannot develop. He is land-rich, and yet is
effectively poor.
Now imagine a famous singer who wants to start a new recording studio. He
finds investors to put up the capital, but they demand collateral. He could
use the rights to his own songs as collateral - but only if the property laws
allowed for this. If intellectual property rights to music were not clearly
defined by and transferable under the law, he is out of luck.
People may be free to go out and sell what they want, but the inability to
accumulate capital due to poor property law can prevent many from ever
growing their businesses. For some of the fascinating research in this area,
read De Soto's The Mystery Of Capital.
Why It Matters
Economists and politicians need to understand the role of property law in an

economy, before they tamper with it too much. Suppose, for example, a law
is passed making it difficult for a bank to take a home that has been pledged
as collateral, when the borrower is in default. Lenders would stop lending
against the equity in a home (would you lend that much money if you had
almost no way to get it back?). Since most new businesses are financed at
least in part from home equity, such a law would be disastrous to the
economy.
Lie # 12
Hospitals Are A Safe Place To Be
People want to believe it. Most of us will need a hospital stay at some point
in our lives, and it seems like if we go there to get better, and are surrounded
by doctors, it must be a safe place to be.
The Truth
As many as two million (2,000,000!) people get hospital-related infections

each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These are
not all common colds, either. 90,000 people die every year because of
something they caught in the hospital. The problem may be getting worse
because of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are becoming more common.
The simplest ways to avoid getting something nasty at the hospital are low
tech solutions. Start by asking anyone who touches you to wash their hands.
Tubes and catheters are another common source of problems. Ask each day
if you really need them. The less they are used, the lower your odds of
getting sick.
Why It Matters
Life, health? No further explanation necessary.

Lie # 13
Financial Advisors Will Help You Beat The Market
An entire industry is based on the idea that a group of "experts" know

enough to pick the better stocks. This is very profitable for the experts and
the brokerages that employ them. It is also another one of these lies that the
public want to believe.
The Truth
I just returned from a book sale at our public library. I found a book by a
well known and respected financial guru. It was almost thirty years old. In
it, he predicted that gold would be over $1,000 per ounce soon. I believe it
started going down for years about the time he published the book. Even
now (this was originally written in 2008) it hasn't again hit $800.
He said that without a doubt the 30-year fixed rate mortgage would no
longer exist in a few years. Four months ago we financed our home with one
- 28 years after his prediction. Interest rates would top 40%, he claimed.
They went down steadily instead.
He was wrong. The more important point, though, is that he is publishing

newsletters to this day, and probably making as much money as ever selling
his expert predictions. This is common. Consider the following little scam.
A market guru predicts the direction of the market for the next week. He
sends out 10,000 letters with his predictions, and asks $500 per year for his
market newsletter. However, the trick is that he has two letters. 5,000 people
are told that the market will go up, and given good reasons. The other 5,000
are told that the market will go down, and given convincing reasons. Since
one or the other will happen, 5,000 people will see his "wisdom."
Now, using the list of those who got the "right" letter, he does the same
thing again. Half are told the market will go up, half down. This time 2500
people will see that he was right again. Then 1250, then 625, then 312. By
the time there are 156 people left on his list, these readers will have seen
him correctly predict the direction of the market six times in a row. It seems
beyond coincidence, so they assume he really knows his stuff, and some of
them subscribe. At $500 per year each, he doesn't need to get many each
time he uses this scam.
This shows how even amazing results are often not what they appear. In
fact, in any large group of investors OR financial gurus, there are statically
going to be some who guess right many times in a row. True scams like the
above are relatively rare, but simple capitalizing on a random streak of right
bets is common.
In reality, the top advisors from all the brokerage houses and mutual funds
consistently do worse than you would do throwing darts at the stock listings
to choose them. This has been researched and demonstrated again and again.
But people want to believe that they can do well simply by trusting the right
expert.
The other common lie is that the market can't be beat. This isn't true. There
are probably several experts out there that can beat the market for long
periods of time. Warren Buffet comes to mind. If a man can successfully
start many businesses, why couldn't he see that a business was doing all the
right things and is under-priced?
However, since the true geniuses are likely less than one in a thousand of
the experts, what are the odds you'll pick one? You are almost certainly
better off just putting your money into an index fund that tracks the market.
That is, unless you want to spend the time to become an expert yourself, and
you are willing to do what it takes to be that one-in-a-thousand type.
Why It Matters
It's your money, but more than that. It is your time and worry. It is much less
stressful to simply bet on the long term upward movement of the stock
market as a whole - and probably more profitable as well.
Lie # 14
Shortages Can Be Fixed By Governments
We tend to look to governments for the solutions to many problems which

they should have nothing to do with. Apply enough public pressure and any
government will lie and say they can solve a problem, regardless of the
truth. In the case of shortages, like oil shortages, politicians get extra credit
for attacking the producers, especially if the producers happen to be making
a profit at the time.
The Truth
Governments cause shortages, then pretend to solve them. This may seem
like a radical idea, but if you look closely and think about it, you'll see that
it is almost always the case.
Some of you remember the oil shortages of the late seventies. I remember
cars in line for gas on different days, according to their odd or even-
numbered license plates. There were even elderly people who died in the
New York area because of a lack of heating oil. Why was gold, which is
much rarer, still available any time anyone wanted it? Understand that, and
you'll understand what causes a shortage.
Price controls cause shortages. Not much else can cause long-term
shortages, and not many people know this. They clamor for price controls
when prices rise, and these controls then cause shortages. They do it in
about ten ways. I'll give you a couple examples.
The most obvious way this happens is when the government sets the price
too low to make a profit. Whether it is coffee or oil, if producers have to
spend more to produce it than they can sell it for, they'll stop producing. You
would do the same. In the case of the oil crisis of the seventies, producers
were told they couldn't sell oil for more than a certain amount, so they
immediately closed wells that were producing at a cost higher than that.
Less oil certainly doesn't help a shortage.
Of course it is usually more complicated than this. In the example of oil,

there were wells that produced at a cost slightly below the price caps. In
these cases, producers sold more oil to closer customers, because they saved
on delivery costs. They may have actually lost money if they shipped it too
far. As a result, places farther away had worse shortages.
Another thing happens when prices are held artificially low. The resource
use and distribution of it is distorted and wasteful. Again, using the oil
example, some people couldn't get heating oil, while other's wasted gas on
pleasure trips they might not have taken if the price were higher. Rationing
makes it even worse, because a persons "fair share" may be used to go on a
picnic, while a carpet cleaner or other business that needs more gas has to
shut down halfway through each week. This is bad for an economy.
You can see how governments cause shortages, and make them worse. In
fact there are many more ways in which price controls and regulation create
shortages. What, then, is the solution? Simply let the market work, and there
will be almost no meaningful shortages. Some of the rarest things on this
planet (diamonds, gold, caviar) are available to you all the time - if you will
pay the price.
Now look at what happens when gas prices are allowed to rise. Frivolous
trips are reduced, and people start buying cars that get better mileage. This
means less gas is used, so demand goes down. Meanwhile, the high price
encourages exploration - not just for more oil, but for alternative energy
sources.
The day that gasoline hits $12 per gallon, electric cars will start to show up
all over. Rising prices encourage more production and more alternatives.
Not only is there never a shortage, but the price often goes down again.
This is the natural process of a free market. Let the prices control, instead of
the government, and any shortages are prevented or quickly resolved. As
soon as the government gets involved, this process is short-circuited, and
there are real problems. Look at almost any shortage in history, and you'll
find the that government involvement either caused it or made it worse.
It is price controls that cause shortages. Remember that the next time there
are shortages in some basic commodity, despite all the government's best
efforts. Their efforts are just politics, and they are causing the problem.
Why It Matters
Issues like these are an easy way for politicians to get votes. For some, their
ignorance is as real as the public's. For others, this is a dirty game. Cause a
problem, pick an enemy (the oil companies), and attack them in the public's
name, calling this a solution. Price controls can be very harmful to the
economy, so refuting this lie really does matter.
Lie # 15
There Is An Official English Language
We are so used to the idea that there are "authorities" for everything, who
set the rules and make official judgments. We want to believe that there is
some final and definitive English language, and many would like to be that
final judge.
The Truth
Is the word for an electronic book that you read on your computer now
ebook? Or is it E-book, or e-book, or Ebook? At the time I am writing this
(2008) you can still find all four forms being used in many places. Which
one will become the norm will be decided by the usage of the public - at
least those who are active online - not by any authority. Most likely, ten
years from now one form will be the most universally accepted form, and
will appear in virtually all new dictionaries.
(2010 Update: It seems that at least the online dictionaries have decided on
e-book as the accepted form.)
That is the essence of how a language develops. If enough people use a

word, it is part of the language. If a particular grammatical construction is
used by enough writers, it becomes acceptable. The many competing
"authorities" may disagree about at what point this happens, but the process
itself is not in their hands.
For example, it is considered against the "rules" to start a sentence with a

conjugation. But if enough people do it (as I just did with this sentence), it
will be "proper English" at some point. The important point is that words
communicate well. If there is a better way to express something, it should
become a part of the language.
Why It Matters
It matters to writers, who worry about breaking the "rules" when doing the
best job with their words may require it. It doesn't matter much to anyone
else, because we tend to agree to common usage anyhow, regardless of what
the "experts" say.
In a more fundamental sense, it matters because sometimes people need

reminding of what language is for: communication. Being sloppy with
language, or using bad grammar can defeat this purpose, but it is also easy
to confuse or mis-communicate while using proper grammar and words,
isn't it? Those who worship rules often forget the purpose of rules. In the
case of language, it is to get your point across.
Lie # 16
The Customer Is Always Right
Business people spout this as philosophy, sometimes because they believe it,
and more often because it sounds good to the customer. Would you feel like
going to a business that had a sign up saying, "The customer is sometimes
wrong?" Customers have come to believe and perpetuate this lie that a
business should always make them happy somehow.
The Truth
The customer is sometimes wrong. The business may be able to make the
customer happy, but if not, that's okay too. The customer can go elsewhere.
I used to get service people to charge me less and do a lower quality job.
Some wanted to make me happy, and make a quick profit. Others refused,
and rightfully so. A car detailer doesn't need my half-cleaned car making his
reputation. There are times when a business shouldn't give the customer
what he wants.
This is especially true on pricing issues. A friend in the carpet cleaning

business learned that if he wasn't losing some customers on price, he was
charging too little. He could generate more business with lower prices, but
he could have even higher profits if he priced his service high enough to
scare a few customers away. And the customers that he had could be assured
that it was worth his time now to do a quality job.
There are always people new to business who charge too little. Undercutting
the market is a great way to grow fast. It is also a great way to work
endlessly for low wages. These business people often have to let the quality
slide too, in order to make any money. Trying to make the customer happy
on price issues is often a losing game for the business and the customer.
Sometimes the customer is just plain wrong on a specific issue. If a man
asks a cleaning business to power-wash his garage without splashing any
water on his driveway, he has to educated, or told to try another service. As
a business person, it makes perfect sense for you to try to find a way to
make a customer happy while still making a profit and doing business the
way you want to. But sometimes this just isn't possible.
As a customer, do you feel you have an obligation to be faithful to a

business, or to make the owner happy? If not, why would they have such an
obligation to you? Simple answer: they don't. Certainly most businesses
want you to be happy if they can make a profit in the process and do it in a
way that they are comfortable with. But if they can't do that, they should say
so.
Why It Matters
If you are a business person, it can cost you profits and aggravation to
believe in this lie. As a customer, it is about better shopping and better
psychology. If you think businesses have an obligation to you, you will
often feel cheated and bitter. It is better to accept that people have a right to
run their businesses however they want to (within the law), and you have a
right to choose which one to do business with.
Lie # 17
Democracy Is A Moral Political System
It seems fair for a group of people, and even a whole society, to vote on the
things that affect them all. Sometimes it even is. Of course, the idea that
democracy is the most moral system is a convenient pretext for those in
government to do very immoral things too. This is why they like to maintain
the lie.
The Truth
A democracy voted to kill Socrates for teaching philosophy to young men. A

democracy elected Hitler. Our own democratic process allowed slavery here
for generations. Obviously, democracy doesn't always result in a just
society.
One could see the concept of democracy as another way of saying "mob
rule." In fact, that is what it often becomes if it is seen as an ultimate
organizing principle. We can easily see the danger of a "pure democracy" if
we look at it this way. Would it be right to kill innocent people or to stop
free speech, just because we vote to do so? Of course not.
Until recently, our system of government was referred to as a "constitutional

republic" as often as a democracy. Law making is supposed to be limited by
the constitution, which (imperfectly) protects the rights of individuals who
live in this country. Neither voters or politicians elected by them can
(normally) violate it's provisions.
Democracy is an idea that is best suited for electing public officials, not for
making law. It is not a moral or immoral concept. Voting is just a tool -
perhaps the most useful one for choosing who governs. How it is used is the
moral issue. A higher law than "mob rule" (a constitution, for example)
keeps it from being used in too many immoral ways.
Why It Matters
When it is assumed that democracy is automatically good, it is easy to

ignore how people often vote for the most corrupt and repressive regimes.
Our tax dollars and the moral authority of the United States (what's left of it)
is used to promote democracy, often without regard to what this results in.
We lose respect in the world when we support "democratic" regimes that

don't respect the rights of women or impose religious law on the population.
If we are to spend anything in this area, it would be better to spend it
promoting the idea of individual rights.
Lie # 18
Premium Gas Is Better
Gasoline stations love to let people believe this one, because premium
gasoline often sells for as much as twenty cents more per gallon, while
costing the station perhaps eight cents more. Refiners make more profit on
premium as well. Luxury auto makers promote the premium myth and make
cars designed for it in order to set themselves above the competition in some
way.
The Truth
Modern engines that are designed to run on regular gasoline don't run better
on premium, and sometimes even run worse, according to engineers,
scientists and the federal government. Even with those cars designed to run
on premium gasoline, drivers usually cannot tell the difference in
performance when using regular.
The Federal Trade Commission says: "In most cases, using a higher-octane
gasoline than your owner's manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit.
It won't make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run
cleaner."
The difference in horsepower and general performance is slight, and may

not be worth the extra money spent. For many SUVs, using premium can
mean an extra $160 per year or more, based on driving 12,000 miles per
year. Own the car for six years, and this is about $1000 extra. There are no
studies (to my knowledge) that show a savings of that much from fewer
repairs or better mileage, meaning it probably doesn't make financial sense
to use premium.
Also, there is something else to consider here. How can you tell if you are
getting premium? In some undercover tests, as many as 20% of stations
were found to be putting regular gas in their premium tanks.
Why It Matters
$1,000 extra is too much to pay for a boost in power that most people can't
even feel.
Lie # 19
Mandatory Sentencing Is A Good Idea
This is a lie lawmakers play to, because the public wants to believe in easy
solutions to things like crime. In addition, people are rightfully offended
when a judge occasionally gives dangerous criminals light sentences.
The Truth
Mandatory sentencing cause more problems than it solves. It is true that

without it, judges will abuse their power at times and be too easy on
criminals. It is also true that without it, judges have no power to
discriminate between cases when they should.
This is easy to understand when you look at specific laws. For example,
under statutory rape laws, a boy of eighteen who sleeps with his 16-year-old
girlfriend after they date for years, is committing the same crime as a 56-
year-old teacher having sex with a student who is sixteen. Under mandatory
sentencing, they would both get the same sentence. In the latter case, an
older man in a position of authority is taking advantage of a young girl,
while in the former two young people are being young people. Even if it is
too soon and wrong for him to have sex with her, do we really think that
these crimes are equivalent, and should be punished the same?
One could argue that most mandatory sentencing is about mandatory

minimums, so a judge can still give different sentences in different cases.
This sounds good in theory, but in practice the reason for the minimums are
to placate a public tired of easy sentences, so they are usually sufficiently
harsh that they become the standard sentence. Imagine the 56-year-old
teacher above. The public would want him to go to prison for ten years
minimum, so any law providing for that would mean that in the other case
the boyfriend would have to suffer the same sentence.
A dramatic case of the failure of mandatory sentencing is the Michigan law
(now repealed) that set life without parole as the mandatory sentence for
possession of a certain amount of cocaine. Imagine that your son or
daughter was handed a package by a friend and told "Hang onto that for me
for a few minutes." They are then arrested for possession of cocaine, admit
that they suspected it was drugs, and have no opportunity to ever be free
again. Is this justice? A life taken for a mistake in judgment by an eighteen-
year-old?
In addition, the law encouraged criminals to kill police. They couldn't get
one more day in prison for murder than they would for the drugs, so why not
shoot their way out of an attempted arrest? Like life mandatory sentences
for kidnapping, which logically resulted in the only witnesses - the victims -
being killed routinely, this law set a bad precedent. There needs to be a
proper scale of punishments, because some crimes are worse than others.
Mandatory sentencing gets in the way of this.
Why It Matters
Simplistic solutions like mandatory sentencing often result in less justice

and more problems. They also divert attention from real problems, like
getting rid of judges who can't seem to distinguish between criminals who
need to be locked away for a long time and those cases that are less serious.
Judges need to be able to exercise judgment. If they do so poorly, they need
to be replaced - with better judges, not with laws that try to think for them.
There is a risk we take in allowing men to judge. Some criminals will be set
free too soon. However, we take a bigger risk when we allow politicians to
set sentences before cases are ever heard. First, there is the risk that
productive young people will be in prison for many years or even life, for
correctable behavior (mistakes), instead of working and contributing to
society. Second, there is the risk that we will lose respect for the concept of
justice when people are sentenced only by the legal definition of their
crimes, rather than by the reality of what they have done.
Lie # 20
You Have To Register Your Work To Have A Copyright
This was almost true in the past. You had to at least publish a copyright
notice with your writing to have legal protection. Most people just don't
realize that times and laws have changed.
The Truth
Today most nations follow the Berne copyright convention. In the United
States, this means that after April 1, 1989, all writing created is protected
whether or not it has a copyright notice on it. This means it cannot be used
without permission of the creator, except as allowed by law (small quotes,
parody, and a few other minor uses). This covers not only written work, but
photos as well.
A copyright notice may not be required, but it does remind people that they
can't use the work. It also may help if a use results in a court action, because
the court will be more likely to award damages (or more in damages) if the
user was more clearly warned. The proper format? Copyright 2010 by Steve
Gillman.
Why It Matters
You don't have to go to the expense or trouble of registering that book of

poetry you wrote to have your rights protected. Are you slightly more
protected if you do register? Yes, but here is a another secret: Theft of
intellectual property isn't nearly as big a problem for artists and writers as
not knowing how to market their products and make money with them.
Lie # 21
Drug Tests Can't Be Beat
Obviously, those who administer drug tests, and those who order them want
the public to believe that they can't be beat, so no one will try. People tend
to believe this, because many of the things that are tried really don't work.
The Truth
Actually, while taking certain herbal supplements may not work, there are
several ways to beat a drug test. The best way is probably to just not do
drugs. Second best is to stop doing them for a long enough period before the
test. This can be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on
the type of test, the amount of drug use, and the types of drugs used.
One way that people pass drug tests when they are using drugs, is to use
other people's urine. This can be bought online, sometimes in liquid form,
sometimes as crystals that need to be reconstituted. Alternately, users take a
donation from a friend who doesn't do drugs.
To use it though, it must be body temperature. Testers check this. One way
this is accomplished is by strapping a condom full of the urine next to the
inner thigh. This keeps it warm enough usually. If testers aren't watching too
closely, it is detached and slowly spilled into the cup and toilet to make the
appropriate sounds.
Many users have passed their drug tests by simply drinking a lot of water. It
is only logical. Testing is designed to look for a certain threshold amount of
the drugs in your system. Dilute your urine, and your urine sample might
fall below that threshold. Drink several quarts of water in the hours leading
up to the test.
Experienced testers will notice that your urine looks like water, but there is
little they can say. You can take several B-complex vitamins with the water,
and this will usually make your urine more yellow. If they require a new test
because they suspect your trick, at least you have time to clean up your act.
Why It Matters
I hope that school bus drivers won't use this information, but there may be
times when your drug use is nobody's business. This information could save
the job of a good employee. (And smoking a joint does not automatically
make one a bad employee or person, contrary to what the average hypocrites
smoking their cigarettes, drinking their alcohol or dosing up on prescription
drugs might say.
Lie # 22
Government Regulation Makes Things Safe
The public has adopted the pretense that perfect safety is possible with
enough regulation. Politicians, of course, pander to this desire in order to
get votes, and so encourage the lie.
The Truth
Of course we know that perfect safety is impossible. But what many don't
understand is that companies make their products about as safe as people
want them. It is obvious that a big car will can protect you better than a
small one in a crash, for example, but not all are willing to pay the extra for
the bigger car and the gasoline it will need.
Of course, political careers are made on lies that people want to hear. A few
years after Ralph Nader published his book "Unsafe at Any Speed," about
the dangers of the Corvair, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration — which came into existence because of Nader's book -
concluded (July 1972) that the '60-'63 Chevrolet Corvair models were as
safe or safer than comparable models in the same period.
More importantly, cars had been getting safer consistently over the years,
prior to any heavy regulation. Why? Because it became less expensive to
make them safer as technology advanced. Governments can't legislate
technology into existence. A government's only productive role in regulating
things like this, is to require companies to comply with the minimum safety
standards already developed within an industry.
In other words, safety regulation should follow what is already happening,

not try to lead. If safety regulations require things that are not already
proven and in use, they may or may not make things safer initially (trust a
bureaucrat to make the right technological choice?). Even if a regulation
does have a temporary positive impact on safety the cost of compliance will
almost certainly affect the profits that fuel future safety innovations. In other
words, in the long run excessive regulation decreases safety.
Could car makers make a much safer car next year, and could the
government require it? Yes, but at what cost? Do you really want a safer car
if it costs $60,000? For $100,000 it could be even safer, right? We have the
level of safety in our products that we are willing to pay for. There already
are safer cars anyhow, and if you want one, you can put up the cash.
Normally new products get better and cheaper and safer as technology
develops and cheaper ways are found to do things. As an example, look at
the functionality and prices of televisions or computers over the last thirty
years. Regulate too heavily, and that creativity, efficiency and progress is
short circuited.
Consider a simpler example of the trade-offs we refuse to acknowledge.

How many lives would be saved if the speed limit for all roads was ten
miles per hour? About 45,000 per year. Why don't we make such a law, and
enforce it strictly? Because whether we want to say it or not, we are willing
to trade some safety for economy and convenience.
We get the safety we are willing to pay for, both as individuals and as a
society. Furthermore, if we don't push our politicians and bureaucrats to
provide impossibilities like "legally mandated safety at no cost," things get
safer as technology lowers the cost of safety. From bicycles to can openers
to boats, most things are safer now than fifty years ago - and not because of
regulation
Key Points:
1. Consumers decide what level of safety they want by what they're willing
to pay for, and thus ultimately control industry standards.
2. Companies producing products significantly below those standards

effectively commit fraud, because consumers typically aren't told they're
buying more dangerous products than comparable products out there - and
this becomes a rational basis for regulation (and civil lawsuits).
3. If government does create safety regulations, it does less harm by simply
requiring all businesses to comply with the safety standards of their
industries.
4. If a government mandates an expensive unproven regulation in the name

of consumer safety (in other words, if it tries to push the market instead of
following it), it makes it difficult for cheaper, better safety innovations to be
developed, and makes things more expensive.
One last example: Suppose a regulation requires special fireproof materials

for all new houses. It adds $6,000 to the cost of a home, but saves 300 lives
per year. Now suppose that carbon monoxide detectors in every room, lights
that turned on when fires started, and several other small things together
could save 600 lives per year, while adding only $2,000 to the cost.
Will the builder add the latter after being forced to add the former? Not
likely. There is resistance to the increased price at some point. The
government, then, by forcing a less efficient solution, prevents the better
solution. Less safety, at higher cost - this is more common than you might
think.
It's a common sociological phenomena in paternalistic systems. People

won't pay for more safety - or even think about it - if their safety has been
"provided" for them through regulation. As a result, companies don't
innovate in areas of safety, but only produce to government mandated
minimums. Consider this: some doctors have twice as many patients die on
the operating table as others, yet most people spend more time researching
the features of the digital camera they buy than the qualifications of their
doctor. This is the result of a paternalistic system.
If you have been in poor countries, you know that things are much safer
here in the United States. If we transplanted our laws to those countries,
would they become safer? Or would they stop functioning under the weight
of regulations they can't support? We don't have a safer society because of
government, but because we want and can afford more safety, and so the
technology develops. Governments can only pretend to take the lead in what
is already happening.
Why It Matters
Lies like this encourage pandering politicians who cost us money while
making things worse. We cannot have perfect safety, and what safety we
have costs us something. We are willing to pay a certain amount, but no
more. Isn't it better to say that honestly as a society and require our
politicians to do the same?
Lie # 23
Millionaire's Always Buy New Cars
This lie isn't stated outright very often, but is more of an assumption. Many
want to believe it, because they want to justify their own desire for a new
car.
The Truth
In researching the book, "The Millionaire Next Door," Thomas J. Stanley

and William D. Danko found that 40% of millionaires buy used cars. What
do they know that you don't? They understand that a car still has most of it's
useful life ahead when it is three years old, but it cost only half as much as
when it is new.
Of course, they are buying used Mercedes, Jaguars, Rolls Royces and other
expensive models, not Ford Escorts, but the principle is the same. When
Consumer's Reports looked into the costs involved in owning cars, they
included initial price, repairs, insurance, routine maintenance and all other
expenses. What they found was that the overall cost (average) of owning a
car went down as the cars got older.
The direct costs of ownership are lower consistently as the cars get older,
but there are other things to consider. You may not want to drive an old and
deteriorating car, for starters. Also, even if the direct costs are less overall, it
costs you valuable time and stress if the car needs regular repairs.
Because of factors like these, it seems that cars which are three to five years
old are the best bet for most people. They look new, won't likely need
repairs often (they may even still be under warrantee), and cost a lot less
than new cars.
Why It Matters
Unless it is really important to your ego or you have enough money that it
doesn't matter how you spend it, it makes sense to save a few thousand
dollars, doesn't it?
Lie # 24
Correlation Equals Causation
This lie, which is implicit in much of political discussion, is easy to believe

because it has the appearance of science. It is useful for pushing any number
of agendas. It is also perpetuated by our desire for easy answers.
The Truth
Correlation does not equal causation. For example, some will point out that
there are many more guns in the United States than in England, and that the
crime rate in the US is higher. This correlation is used to "prove" that more
guns lead to more crime. It sounds a bit like science, doesn't it?
Of course, in this case, the argument ignores any contrary facts. For
example, when they regulated gun ownership in Australia, the incidence of
home invasions went up dramatically. Seems that the criminals felt better
about breaking in when homeowner's guns were taken away. Gun rights
groups use this correlation as evidence that we need to allow gun
ownership. One could find arguments for either point of view, but obviously
the issue is more complicated than a simple formula can describe.
Suppose you noticed that the sun came up every day after your alarm clock
went off, and so decided that the clock caused the rising of the sun. That
shows how silly the idea of correlation equaling causation can get. Of
course it is usually presented (or insinuated) in a more subtle way.
For example, you'll hear that higher salt intake is correlated with high blood
pressure, and assume that salt is bad for you. What you might not hear is
that the correlation only holds true in the United States. They consume
much more salt in Japan, and don't have the same problems with high blood
pressure. So what's the real problem? (I don't know.)
Noting correlations is actually a great way to decide what to investigate
further. It might be meaningful if there is a direct correlation between
academic achievement and certain types of schools, for example. On the
other hand, it could be that those who spend the money to send their kids to
these schools emphasize education more in the home, and this, rather than
the schools, is the reason that the kids do better.
Correlation points at things to investigate, but isn't sufficient evidence for

any particular hypothesis. Research into causes needs more than just data.
Why It Matters
Policies and laws that affect us all are being made on the basis of the
scientific-seeming arguments of correlation. Health fads that may do more
harm than good are also commonly supported by appeals to the evidence of
correlation alone. We will all be better off if we understand a bit about how
science is really done.
Lie # 25
Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Are Best
A simple misunderstanding. It seems logical that fresh produce would have

the most vitamin content, but the reality is more complicated.
The Truth
Are fresh fruits and vegetables best? Only from your own garden. Testing of
vegetables for vitamin content has shown that frozen vegetables are better
for you than those from the fresh produce section of the grocery store. They
are usually flash-frozen within hours of being harvested, preserving their
vitamin content.
"Fresh" vegetables, on the other hand, may travel for days to reach your
grocery store, with varying degrees of refrigeration. They may then sit there
in the store for days before you buy them, and spend several more days in
your refrigerator before you eat them. This time and exposure to varying
temperatures destroys much of their vitamin content.
Why It Matters
Health and money. Often frozen vegetables are actually cheaper per pound
than the fresh ones - and you don't have to peel them. This means more
vitamin content. more convenience, and lower cost.
Lie # 26
Businesses Don't Want Regulation
Business owners pretend to want free and unregulated markets to hide how
they use the system. They want regulation because if benefits them.
The Truth
Most people assume that business people don't want regulations, but in
reality they almost always want more. A business owner may fight a
regulation that harms his business, but at the same time push for those that
harm his competitors. Of course they want regulations - as long as they are
ones that help them.
For example, as soon as an industry develops to a certain point, the existing

players want to exclude competition, so they call for licensing. They pretend
it is for the public good, but is it? Do we really think it's a terrible crime to
give a haircut without a license? The point of licensing is usually to exclude
competition or make it harder for them to compete.
A carpet cleaner once told me about the "cutthroats" that clean too cheap.
They don't have the expensive training and equipment this guy has, so they
can charge less. he doesn't like that, so what is his solution to this problem
of free competition? "Carpet cleaning should be regulated and carpet
cleaners should be licensed." That would force the cutthroats to upgrade
equipment and training. "Better for the consumer," he assured me.
Of course they would have to charge more, meaning this guy could compete
more easily. That is the real point of such regulation.
Years ago I used one of the "cutthroat carpet cleaners." I knew he didn't
clean my carpet as well as the more expensive companies would have, but it
was good enough, and half the price. With more income now, I would
choose a better cleaner, but as a consumer I like having the choice.
However, you can bet that if they ever regulate the carpet cleaning industry
it will be in the name of the consumer, and the cleaners will be the ones
pushing for the regulations.
Regulations are rarely meant for the public good. "Public good," is a
concept lawmakers use to hide the fact that they are creating regulations for
the benefit of specific businesses and industries that have lobbied them.
If you have enough money, you already have the ability to buy what you
want, right? You can get a higher quality bicycle or bed or house, just by
paying for it. You don't need regulations to force all businesses to comply
with certain standards. If you don't have much money, such regulations will
take away your cheaper options, making life more difficult for you (I
wouldn't have had my carpet cleaned). So who do these regulations really
benefit? Primarily businesses.
Why It Matters
Understanding why businesses actually want regulations can keep us from

supporting bad laws that do more harm than good.
Lie # 27
Whole Wheat Means Whole Wheat
More and more, consumers want healthy foods. Producers have found that
they can often just give the appearance of healthy ingredients and make
more money, instead of actually making their products out of healthy things,
which would cost them more.
The Truth
It has gotten more difficult to identify truly healthy foods over the years.
Producers look at consumer demand, and try to meet it. But the demand is as
often for the illusion of healthy food as it is for the real thing. That is why
most "whole wheat" breads are just white bread, with enough whole wheat
flour thrown in to color them a pretty brown.
First recognize that all breads called just "wheat bread" are not whole
wheat. But even if they say "whole wheat bread," they may be dressed-up
white bread. Look at the ingredients. If the first one listed is anything but
"whole wheat," or "whole wheat flour," it isn't a whole wheat bread.
More often, you'll see "wheat flour," "unbleached flour," "enriched wheat
flour," or something else. These are not whole wheat. They are just other
ways to say "white flour."
The latest trick is with pasta. If you want whole wheat, be sure it doesn't say
"whole wheat blend." What do you think the main ingredient is? If the label
doesn't say "whole wheat flour" as the first ingredient, it isn't whole wheat.
Wheat crackers are another product that fools a lot of people. Very few of
them are made with whole wheat. Look at the ingredients and see what the
first one is.
Why It Matters
White flour is bad for you. It lacks the good enzymes, protein and fiber of
whole wheat. It contributes to diabetes. And it is hard enough to avoid it
without being tricked into eating it.
Lie # 28
You Need Hiking Boots For Backpacking
This idea has sold a lot of hiking boots. Hiking boot manufacturers would
like us to keep believing the lie so they can keep making their profits.
The Truth
Your feet will stay cooler in a good pair of running shoes than in hiking
boots. This means fewer blisters. After switching to running shoes and
lightweight socks, I stopped getting blisters. I don't mean I have fewer
blisters. I mean haven't had ANY blisters since I switched. Not one blister
after a 110-mile 7-day trek in the Rockies, for example.
You have probably heard arguments for the necessity of ankle support, but
throughout history people managed without stiff ankle-supporting boots.
The problem is weak ankles, not a lack of support. Walking a little each
week on uneven ground (not in the mall) solves this problem. Some hikers
need boots, but I have yet to meet a person who has tried backpacking in
hiking shoes or running shoes and then returned to boots.
Why It Matters
According to tests done by the U.S. Army, a pound of weight on the feet is
the equivalent of five to seven pounds of weight on the back. Whatever the
ratio, this makes sense, doesn't it? It is easy to imagine hiking with twenty
pounds in your backpack, but what if you put ten pounds on each foot? I can
tell you from experience that hiking and backpacking is much more
pleasurable in shoes than in hiking boots.
Lie # 29
You Should Spend Two Months Salary On A Ring
This two-months salary guideline for buying an engagement ring was

simply invented. It is an effective way to embarrass young men into
spending thousands of dollars on a ring for their fiancee.
The Truth
Maybe you've heard the "two month's salary" rule for buying a ring to for
your fiancee. It is passed off as a cultural norm, when in reality it was
invented by diamond producers to intimidate young lovers into spending
more. Who wants to be the guy who only spent two-days salary once the
two-month rule is accepted, right?
Another part of this lie is the idea that the ring is truly valuable. I recently
bought a diamond ring online wholesale for $44, and found the exact same
ring in various stores priced anywhere from $149 to $199. There are similar
mark-ups on most engagement rings as well. When you hand over that
$2,000, you walk away with a ring worth only hundreds.
Think about that for a moment. Consider the fact that an exact copy with a
fake stone (but real gold band) would cost just $200, or $1800 less, and a
jeweler would need special equipment to know it isn't a diamond. What are
you paying for then? To "prove" your love by wasting money in a socially
mandated way.
I propose a new tradition. Young men should buy a simple zirconia or other
diamond look-alike ring for their fiancees, then ceremoniously burn 500
one-dollar bills in public to "prove" their love. Does this seem wasteful? It
would be cheaper, the ring would look exactly the same, and no one could
tell if the diamond was real anyhow.
Buy something she'll love, at a price that won't financially cripple your
marriage. In fact, if you buy a stone wholesale and have it set in a great ring,
you can pay much less for a nicer ring.
Why It Matters
Many young couples are starting their married life in debt, just to pay for
this lie. Besides that, what if she would rather start a small business or have
a better honeymoon or do something else with those wasted thousands?
Young couples should do what is right for them with their money.
Lie # 30
Just A Little Sugar For Flavor
Food and beverage producers understand that buyers want less sugar, so
they lie to make the sale. They lead buyers to believe there is less sugar than
there is, and they let them also believe that it is necessary for flavor.
The Truth
Sugar is found in so many products. I even noticed the other day that they
started adding it to cans of kidney beans. Why? Because it is cheap. Pound
for pound, it is cheaper than peanuts, for example, so when manufacturers
add it to peanut butter, it saves them money. People aren't asking for sugar
in their kidney beans, or their hot sauce. These are just good places to dump
cheap sugar.
In addition, food makers hide sugar under many names, so the consumer
doesn't notice it. Look at those ingredient listings on the label. Dextrose,
corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and sucrose are some of the "other"
sugars.
Most people know that food ingredients are listed in order of the largest
amount. Consumers who want to cut down on sugar, then, look to see if it is
near the top of the list. Producers know this, and so have come up with a
new trick to hide the amount of sugar in a product. They simply put several
types of sugar in it, so no one of them is at the top of the ingredients label.
For example, a juice label may say, "cranberry juice, corn syrup, sugar, high
fructose corn syrup." It looks like there is more juice than sugar, but add the
sugars together and they easily outweigh the juice. In fact, with three forms
of sugar, the drink could be as much as 74% sugar and still have natural
juice as the first ingredient.
This is becoming common in many foods. Honey, sugar and corn syrup
might all be found in a loaf of bread, for example. Because they each are a
small part of the ingredients, they may be far down on the list of ingredients,
making shoppers think the bread doesn't have much sugar. Call them all
"sugar" and it would probably be second after flour.
Why It Matters
Sugar is bad for us in so many ways. It hurts our teeth, it contributes to

diabetes, and it takes the place of food that actually has nutritional value.
Lie # 31
Free - Just Pay Shipping And Handling
To sell things. The reason the lie is tolerated is because consumers often
want to be lied to in order to justify their purchases.
The Truth
To most of us, the word free means paying nothing (except possibly your
time). Free samples of food at a grocery store are free, for example, but how
would you feel if after you ate one, you were asked to pay a "handling
charge." There is a cost to preparing the food after all, and a cost to hiring
someone to hand it out.
The truth of most "just pay shipping and handling" offers is that they make a
profit on the product. You might pay $6 shipping and handling for a CD, for
example, that you get "free." It cost about 50 cents to produce a CD and
another 50 cents to mail it to you. Don't you think the other $5 is enough for
not only "handling," but a nice profit too?
Of course some offers are really delivered at a loss, or for no profit, on the
assumption that you will buy something else from the company. These may
truly be a good deal for you, but if there is a charge, it still isn't free. Free
doesn't involve credit cards, cash or checks.
The real truth is not that we shouldn't accept these "free" offers. We want
some of them after all, and we know we are paying the minute we get out
that credit card. But we have a desire to justify our purchase, a desire to "get
a good deal." This desire isn't satisfied if we are simply told "Pay $6 for
this," and so we don't buy as easily when this is the case. We like "free" plus
a small $6 shipping charge better.
Why It Matters
Maybe it doesn't matter much. We need to be sold things that benefit us.
Still, it seems that a little more honesty might be a good thing in the long
run, and especially a little more honesty with ourselves.
Lie # 32
Illegal Immigrants Don't Pay Taxes
It is often just a misunderstanding of how things work, but others propagate

this lie to push their anti-immigration agenda as well.
The Truth
When I lived in Michigan, I knew many illegal immigrants. They were not
working for cash "off the books," however. They all had fake identification
and social security numbers, and worked regular jobs and paid taxes. This is
the norm.
There is more to this though. They paid into social security, with no chance
of ever collecting. They paid more income taxes overall as well. This is
because they usually didn't try to get their tax refund at the end of the year.
They also often moved or were deported before a tax refund check arrived,
and so never cashed them. Go to the "lost monies" data base for most states,
and you'll see a lot of Mexican surnames. These entries are for refund
checks turned over to the state when they are unclaimed.
In addition to this, there is a general misunderstanding that if one doesn't

pay taxes directly, they don't contribute to tax revenue. Renters don't pay
property tax, for example, but part of their rent money is used to pay taxes.
An employer who pays cash can't claim that labor cost, so he shows more
profit than he really has, and pays more in taxes - because of that employee.
As to whether illegal immigrants pay in more than they take out of the
system, not much serious unbiased research has been done in this area. For
cultural reasons many immigrants have more children than citizens of the
U.S., so because of their use of public education and other expensive
programs, there may be something to this argument. On the other hand, all
young people who have children - citizen or not - might be taking out more
than they pay in for many years.
Why It Matters
Better policy and law comes from better understanding of the truth. For
example, some European countries would likely have failed social security
systems due to aging populations, except that young immigrants coming and
paying into the system. That may be a solution to our own coming social
security crisis, but only if we dispel the lies out there that prevent good
policy.
Lie # 33
Hard Work Guarantees Success
The cynical, and partly true view, is that this lie is told by those who want to
see others suffer like they have suffered. The over-valuing of hard work is
also a cultural thing, and as such is passed on automatically. Also, it is easy
to believe this lie, because it is in reality a half-truth.
The Truth
There is a distinction between hard work and smart work. Work smart and
you can succeed (at least in semi-free and wealthy countries). Of course you
can succeed even more if you work smart and hard. But just succeeding is
enough for some.
There are many people who work less than 30 hours per week and do fine in
life (I am fortunate enough to be one of them). They contribute to the world
and pay their bills and maybe even get rich. How do they do well on so little
work?
An example: Many years ago I used to sell real estate. I noticed early on that
selling a $200,000 house took about the same amount of work as selling a
$20,000 mobile home. The commission was ten times as much, however,
because it was based on the sales price. If someone could make a living
selling those mobile homes, couldn't another sales person live just as well
for a tenth of the effort by selling the expensive homes? That is what I call
working smart.
It bothers some people that others have it easy, but why should it? Suppose
a man works a field for 50 hours a week to produce a 100 bushels of wheat
in a year. Then another man finds a way to do the same work in just 25
hours per week. This doesn't hurt the world. The first man (and others)
could learn from the second. Some would still work 50 hours, but now
produce 200 bushels of wheat. The world then becomes a richer place.
Why It Matters
There is nothing inherently wrong with hard work, and it probably improves
the odds of success in most cases. But the idea that is always required gets
in the way of seeing clearly. There are always better ways to do things.
Learn how to work smart and your life will be richer, whether or not you
work harder. The whole world benefits when better ways are found.
Lie # 34
A Juror Has To Judge Only The Facts
Judges, lawyers and others in the justice system tell jurors they may only
judge the facts in the case, and not let their opinion of the law, their
conscience, or the motives of the defendant affect their decision. This lie is
told because authorities don't want to lose control of the process of "justice"
to mere citizens.
The Truth
"Jury nullification of law," as it is sometimes called, has been a recognized

right since the founding of the United States. A quote about jurors from
John Adams, our second president: "It is not only his right but his duty...to
find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and
conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court." In the
early days of the country it was common practice for a judge to inform a
jury about their right to judge the defendant AND the law.
Law made in England was regularly nullified by colonial juries, and the
founding fathers of the U.S. defended this right in the new country. It has
been repeatedly upheld by the highest courts when challenged. When law
required citizens to pay taxes to churches they didn't belong to, a jury could
say no. Juries today can still say no to bad law, or to a bad application of the
law. They are not limited to judging the facts in a case.
However, a series of court rulings decided that juries don't need to be told
about this. The court can even lie to the jury, as in this typical instruction
from the Judge in California's criminal cases: "It becomes my duty as judge
to instruct you concerning the law applicable to this case, and it is your duty
as jurors to follow the law as I shall state it to you ... You are to be governed
solely by the evidence introduced in this trial and the law as stated to you by
me."
Amazingly, officers of the court in most jurisdictions are not allowed to tell
the jury of their veto power. Even worse, those who try to inform and
educate juries are sometimes threatened with jury-tampering charges.
Nonetheless, it is still a recognized legal right. The D.C. Circuit Court of

Appeals ruled in 1972 that a jury has an "...unreviewable and irreversible
power...to acquit in disregard of the instruction on the law given by the trial
judge. The pages of history shine upon instances of the jury's exercise of its
prerogative to disregard instructions of the judge; for example, acquittals
under the fugitive slave law."
Why It Matters
Sometimes great injustice is done in the name of the law. Until humans are
perfect, there will always be bad law and there will always be cases where
the law is misapplied. In those cases, you have the right to say no. As a
practical matter, even if the other jurors vote to convict, the result is a hung
jury, and the state may drop the case rather than retry it. You have the right
and the realistic power then, to keep good people who are being persecuted
under bad laws out of prison.
Lie # 35
Low Fat Diets Reduce Heart And Other Problems
There are fads in medicine as in most areas of life. We like simple formulas
to follow, so we are inclined to create them based on poor evidence.
The Truth
The whole idea that high-fat diets cause more heart disease, cancer and
strokes ignored the reality that there are populations of people with high-fat
diets that don't have a high incidence of these problems. The type of fats
you eat matters more than the amount. Now the science is showing that low-
fat isn't necessarily better.
$415 million in National Institutes of Health affiliated research has shown

low-fat diets to have no significant affect on rates of heart disease, strokes
or various common cancers. The study involved approximately 49,000
female subjects (and when it comes to what is good or bad for heart disease,
stroke and cancer risks, there seems to little difference between men and
women). The research was concluded in 2006.
The results? A low fat diet produced no statistically significant decrease in

heart attack rates, the number of strokes, breast cancer rates, or the number
of colon cancer cases. LDL (cholesterol) levels were higher among the
higher-fat diet group, but this didn't make for any noticeable increase in
their risk for heart disease.
Why It Matters
There may be less to worry about than the medical establishment would
have you believe. You should probably avoid those hydrogenated oils, but
go ahead and pour that olive oil on that salad if you want.
Lie # 36
We All Need Life Insurance
Many people are told they should have life insurance when there really is no
need. The point is simple: to sell an insurance policy.
The Truth
The idea of life insurance (at least the one that makes sense) is to provide
for the replacement of income for those who are dependent on you. In other
words, if your wife - or husband - and kids need your income to survive and
to pay for school, life insurance might be a good idea. If everyone will be
fine without you, life insurance is usually a waste of money.
Example: If you and your husband both make a good living, and have no
children, why would you need life insurance? If either of you will be just
fine financially on your own, an insurance policy is just gambling - a bet
that pays off if the other dies. It has to be bad bet as well, or the insurance
companies would all be broke.
Even if there are children involved, you may be better off investing your
money rather putting it into an insurance policy. This is especially true if
you both work and could support the children if your spouse died. If you
simply invest the same amount as the premiums would be, you'll likely have
more money at the time of your death than the policy would have paid
(Again, this has to be true on average, or how would insurance companies
make a profit?).
An alternate strategy is to buy a term policy while your children are at

home. Make it enough to cover their college funds, and then drop it when
they move out, in favor of investing more for retirement.
Why It Matters
Life insurance is expensive, and pays out only when you die. If you invest
your money instead, you'll likely get a better return, and you at least have
the use of it if you need it while you are alive.
Lie # 37
Fluoridation Of Water Prevents Cavities
Fluoride added to water supplies is a side product of processing of

phosphate ores to prepare fertilizer and other products. Some say that
putting it in water is just a cheap way to get rid of this toxic substance, so
the lie that it helps prevent cavities is useful. It is also possible that dental
associations maintain the lie because they don't want to admit they were
wrong.
The Truth
There is actually no solid evidence that fluoride prevents cavities. What

little evidence there is, only shows that fluoride applied topically (in
treatments or toothpaste) might help prevent cavities. No large study has
ever proven that fluoridating water prevents cavities.
In fact many recent studies have shown a decrease in cavities when

fluoridation of water is discontinued. Some past defenders of fluoridation
are changing their minds about the safety of the practice as well. For
example, Doctor Hardy Limeback, a leading Canadian fluoride authority
was often cited by health officials in their defense of fluoridated water.
But as reported by the Toronto Star, Limeback now believes that fluoride
may be damaging people's bones, teeth and overall health. He still believes
that toothpaste with fluoride is effective against tooth decay, but says,
"There is no point swallowing fluoridated water. The only benefit comes
with direct contact with the teeth."
He found that those in Toronto have double the fluoride levels in their hip
bones compared to residents of Montreal, where they don't fluoridate the
water. While the possible effects are unclear, he says, "we know that in areas
of the world where water is naturally high in fluoride, skeletal fluorosis is a
widespread problem." Skeletal fluorosis makes bones weak and brittle.
Dental fluorosis, indicated by mottled and brittle teeth, is a condition that

weakens teeth, and makes them porous and easily stained. By some
estimates, 60 per cent of all children living in fluoridated areas have it. This
may be due in part to ingesting fluoridated water, but also because young
children often swallow toothpaste when brushing.
Why It Matters
It's bad enough to be adding a substance to our water that has no known
benefit. Add to that the fact that it is almost as toxic as arsenic, and does
demonstrable damage to our health, and - well it might be time to stop the
practice.
Lie # 38
You Need Money To Make Money
This is one of the lies that people tell themselves in order to excuse their
inaction.
The Truth
Having money helps if you want to make money, but it certainly isn't
necessary. I invested only a few hundred dollars to start an online business
that now makes thousands per month. Some might say, "But you had to at
least have that few hundred dollars." That would be another excuse or a lack
of imagination. I had credit cards I could have used instead of my own cash,
friends and family I could have borrowed from, and a home I could have
mortgaged.
What you really need to make money is knowledge and commitment. If you
have those, you can start a low-investment business and grow it larger, or
you can get others to provide millions for your business start-up. There are
endless possibilities if you educate yourself in the ways of business and
investment, and then commit to doing whatever you can to make it work.
One simple example: A woman I know made an offer on a "fixer-upper"

home for $211,000. She included in her offer the right to "assign" the
contract, meaning she could let someone else take her place and buy the
house. The offer was accepted. She called another investor, who had
experience and money. He offered her $10,000 to be assigned the contract,
because he thought he could make $30,000 fixing and selling the home.
Her total investment at this point was the cost of gas to drive around looking
at houses. To make that $10,000 she needed only knowledge and the
commitment to do what it takes. In the end, she turned down the $10,000
and found others to put up the money for repairs so she could make even
more.
Why It Matters
Excuses are debilitating, and it just an excuse to say that you need to have
money to make money. It may be true that it is easier to make money if you
have some to start with, but even that "truth" will only get in the way of
success if you focus on it.
Lie # 39
Buying A Home Is Always Better Than Renting
There are at least two reasons this lie is encouraged. Those who sell homes
have the obvious profit motive. The other reason is more subtle. Many
believe that a given person is better off being "forced" to accumulate equity,
as a form of savings, something they wouldn't have without the house.
The Truth
It is often better to buy than to rent, but certainly not always. I once sold a
home for a young couple who owed as much as the sales price. They paid
closing costs and the sales commission out of their savings. I'm sure they
wish they had rented for the couple years they lived there.
Buying and later selling a home will usually cost about 10% or more of the
value of the home. In other words, if the home only went up in value 10% or
so in the year or two you lived there, you won't be gaining anything in the
end (equity gain from principal pay-down is very little in the first years).
Generally you are better off renting if you'll be in a town for less than a few
years.
Faster appreciation is possible, but assuming appreciation will be more than

the general rate of inflation is just gambling. In the example above, the
sellers sold for the same price they bought for two years earlier - and this
was in a decent and growing area. You can't count on fast appreciation just
because it has been that way recently.
Note: The following was originally written in 2006. An update follows.

Take into account the costs of owning too. Suppose in Tucson, Arizona, you
buy a small home for $200,000 (2006). Mortgage payment, taxes, insurance
and maintenance would be about $1,600 per month. You can rent the same
size home for about $800. Some would say you are at least buying
something for your money, and renting is throwing money away. Of course
more than $1,000 of your payment will be going towards interest alone in
this example. That's not buying you anything.
If you can afford the $1600 per month, you could rent for $800 and put the
other $800 into a decent safe investment that makes 5% interest. In three
years you would have over $30,000 in this account. If the home appreciated
6% per year ( it has been more like 25% per year recently, but that can't
continue, and assuming so is not planning, but gambling), it would be worth
$231,000.
But the costs of initially buying it and then selling it would likely be around
$13,800 (2% buying and 6% selling), leaving you with a gain of about
$19,000 once we include your principal pay-down. Did you get that? You
would be at least $11,000 better off if you rented and banked the difference.
Of course every market is different. You have to do the math, comparing the
total costs of owning versus renting, and then making safe assumptions
about the rate of appreciation for homes.
Update: As you may be aware, prices during those three years actually
dropped by about 30%. In reality, then, if consider the $60,000 decline in
value and the transaction costs if you sold after three years and the $30,000
you could have saved a as renter, you would have been about $100,000
further ahead by renting.
If you'll definitely be in a place for many years, it is probably better to buy a

home. In the example, buying becomes a better bet after about five years.
Also, with a fixed rate mortgage, your payment will never change,
something your landlord won't offer you on your rent payment.
Of course there are the personal factors. Do you want to be responsible for
the maintenance, yard work and unpredictability of ownership problems? To
buy or to rent? In the end, you have to work this one out by yourself.
Why It Matters
We each have to figure out what works best for us, and if we buy into
simple answers (lies really) it can be expensive.
Lie # 40
Social Security Is A Retirement Fund
People want to believe their social security payments are invested for them,
and that they have a right to collect from this "retirement fund." Politicians
and governments in general, tell us what we want to hear to get votes.
The Truth
Social security is a welfare program by any rational definition. The money is

spent by the government as it comes in just like any other taxes that are
paid. The money to pay recipients has to be collected from the current tax
payers, just as with any welfare program. Nothing is or ever was ever
"invested" in any ordinary sense of that word. If the government put the
funds into the stock market and used that fund to pay recipients, it would be
a retirement fund.
What they actually do is take the money that is left over after paying current
recipients and issue IOUs to the “fund.” Imagine if you put your money with
an investment firm and instead of actually investing your money they just
spent it all for operating costs, but then issued an IOU promising to put the
money back into your fund someday. Would this be considered a real
investment or retirement account, or perhaps something closer to a pyramid
scheme?
This isn't an argument against the idea of social security. I'll probably accept
my checks when they are sent. But the truth is straight forward. Taxes are
collected from those working now to provide for recipients - that is welfare.
You might wonder if we aren't "owed" that money at retirement. Maybe in a

sense, but "owed by who?" Who should pay? Nothing was invested. The
government lied, took their money and spent it. Is there a moral obligation
for current workers to make good on someone else's past lies and promises?
Why It Matters
Calling things what they are helps us think more rationally. If want to
maintain this welfare plan, for example, it may be reasonable that
millionaires shouldn't qualify.
Lie # 41
Rental Regulations Are Meant To Help Renters
It is an easy lie to believe, but rental regulations are usually meant to get
people elected and punish successful landlords, not to help renters.
The Truth
There are bad landlords out there, but there are also many renters who resent
landlords making money renting to them. Support for regulations and rent
controls is often due to this envy and resentment, as well as the misguided
belief that such regulations and controls actually help renters.
People rent places they can afford. A house that needs paint, has rusty
hinges on the doors, and a dirt driveway, cost less to buy, and therefore can
be rented for less. Anything major that the landlord does to improve it
results in higher rents, which isn't a benefit to renters.
A few years back my own town enacted rental regulations. The fifteen pages
of new rules included many non-safety-related requirements, like a
minimum of window surface-area, to allow natural lighting, bedroom
square-footage requirements, and no peeling paint.
These things are done in the name of low income renters, but the result is
always the same: higher rent. Add to that the zoning and regulations against
mobile homes, and low income families are forced to move further away
from town and jobs. This doesn't benefit them, does it?
Is the answer rent control? Rent control has caused whole sections of cities
to be abandoned. Investors build and rent out their buildings to make
money. If they cannot make a profit, they will stop maintaining existing
buildings and stop building new ones. This means less available housing.
A shortage of affordable housing is common where there is regulation and
rent control. Compare this to places like Tucson, Arizona, where there is no
rent control or heavy regulation. There are more than enough apartments,
and even while houses start at $200,000 (2006), you can still rent nice
apartments with swimming pools for under $500 per month.
Safety regulations make sense, but anything else has a cost that has to be
passed on to the renters - whether they want the improvements or not.
Suppose someone of limited means wants to rent an ugly house because the
rent is low. If regulations force a landlord to bring the home up to certain
standards, and so charge more rent, what happens? The poor are chased off
to communities that allow them to rent what they need. Control the rents?
Then the landlords and builders are chased off.
Why It Matters
Name a city where tenants are better off after a decade of rent control or
heavy regulation. This lie cost those with little income the most.
Lie # 42
Money Can/Can't Buy Happiness
A desire for simplistic solutions or to excuse not doing what is necessary to

make more money results in either one of these twin lies. They are also
sometimes told to keep people in their "place."
The Truth
Money can buy happiness or money can't buy happiness. How can both be
lies? Because both are typically told not to better our understanding, but to
obscure the more complicated truth and push some agenda.
In a recent study that "proved" money doesn't buy happiness, the less
reported finding was perhaps just as important. That was the fact that as
income increased, up to about $45,000 (the study was in the US), people
DID report greater happiness. It was only from that point on that there was
no significant change in the levels of happiness reported.
This makes sense, doesn't it? It certainly must be harder to be happy when
you are suffering in poverty. We don't have to say that money "buys"
happiness. We can say that it removes some of the obstacles to a happier
life. But wouldn't it seem rude and dishonest in intention to tell a homeless
family that money can't buy happiness?
Why It Matters
If we look at these things in their true complexity, we gain a more useful

understanding than we get from thinking in catchy slogans.
Lie # 43
New Airline Safety Rules Are All About Safety
After 9/11, lawmakers needed to reassure the public. The public demanded
to be lied to, to be assured that there were simple solutions, and politicians
obliged.
The Truth
The planes that hit the World Trade Centers were taken over with box
cutters as weapons. Pass all the anti-scissor and anti-nail-clipper legislation
you want, and anyone could still find something on a plane as dangerous as
box cutters (a piece of broken mirror, sharpened plastic knife, a pen held to
the throat). It was for show.
Meanwhile, security screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport

failed 20 of 22 security tests conducted by undercover U.S. agents in
October of 2006, one of many such failed tests. They missed concealed guns
and bombs at checkpoints throughout three terminals. So much for greater
security.
Not that they don't try to make things safer with laws. But sometimes laws
are also meant for public political consumption, not for greater security. Do
we really believe that searching 70-year old middle-class women is an
efficient use of security dollars? (Sorry for the politically incorrect question,
but has there ever been a 70-year-old woman terrorist?)
Why It Matters
Contrary to what people want, there is no way to have perfect safety, and
every step we take towards it cost us more money. Shouldn't we at least get
more real safety for the money?
Lie # 44
Money Isn't Important
This is another case of people lying to themselves in order to excuse their

unwillingness to face the facts and take appropriate actions.
The Truth
Chasing after money for its own sake is destructive of the soul (or to the
person, if you prefer). But isn't it equally destructive to have such a
powerful instrument in our hands while pretending it has no power or
importance? Is it important that our children eat and have medical care
when needed? Is it important that they have access to education? Is it
important that we have time to share the lessons of life with them? Is the
time to explore our own spirituality important? Money can buy all these
things.
Money affects every aspect of our lives. We sometimes over-rate the value
of money, and surrender real values to chase it. But we also under-rate the
importance of money in our lives. Name any valuable goal or direction in
your life. Can't you, with a little imagination, see how money might help?
People say that money isn't important to them, but the truth is that they just
don't acknowledge the importance. For example, they make more than they
need and yet complain that they have no time for their children, when they
could clearly trade time chasing money for time with their kids. They say
they want to better themselves in personal ways, but instead of buying the
tools to help them (a book, a class, a trip to a monastery) they put $800
televisions on credit cards.
It isn't about televisions. They can be a good thing. It is about priorities.

Why It Matters
When we lie about the importance of this powerful tool, we use it in ways
that don't necessarily give us what we need.
Lie # 45
Real Estate Values Always Go Up
Well it sure helps real estate agents make more commissions.
The Truth
Probably by the time you read this (it is being written in 2006), there will be
reports in the news about prices of homes going down in many areas. In any
case, there are certainly many examples in history of home prices falling -
sometimes for years. In fact, in 2003, my wife and I bought a home for
$17,500 that probably was twice that much twenty years earlier. It was in a
town in Montana that had seen some rough years.
Prices going down over twenty years is rare, but sometimes they go down
for a few years and then take a few more to get back to where they were. It
is worth noting that to "break even" on a property you need it to be about
10% higher in value when you sell it, in order to cover the transaction costs
of both buying it and selling it.
2009 Update: This was originally written in 2006, at the top of the real
estate bubble, when many people still believed that real estate prices always
went up. Obviously, my point has been made by the current slump. Home
values have dropped by more than 30% nationally, with drops of up to 50%
in some areas.
Why It Matters
When new investors are mislead by this lie, they buy properties that have
negative cash flow, planning to make their profit on fast appreciation. If the
value doesn't go up, they sometimes end up struggling to pay for these
money-losing properties out of their paychecks.
Lie # 46
Public Health Officials Work For Your Health
Governments need to motivate people to cooperate in public health

campaigns, and so they appeal to self interest, letting people believe that the
goal is their individual health.
The Truth
Public health campaigns are meant to treat health issues on a societal scale,
even when that goes against the interests of a given individual. For example,
suppose the risk of getting Polio was slightly greater from the vaccine itself
than from just going without it. As an individual, you would be better off
without it, right? But if everyone gets it, the disease can be eliminated from
a population. The latter is the goal of the government, and they won't
necessarily let you know that your health is being risked for that goal.
Where we used to live in Michigan, I knew of many Hispanic woman that

were talked into getting tuberculosis vaccinations. Some of these were after
a "positive" test that was due not to the disease, but to previous vaccinations
in the countries they came from. When I looked up the statistics, the chance
of them developing the disease without the vaccine was very small, but the
vaccine itself was relatively risky, causing serious problems, especially in
Hispanic women.
The official who ran the health campaign was angry with anyone who asked
any serious questions about the procedure. To my knowledge, she also never
informed any of these woman about the particular risks of serious side
effects faced by Hispanic women. It is easy to see that the campaign might
have stopped a case of TB and so helped stop the spread of the disease, but
a given individual may have been sacrificing their own health to this goal
for no personal benefit.
Why It Matters
Isn't it fair that we should have honest information and decide for ourselves
how much to risk for "the good of society?"
Lie # 47
You Need The Right Money Making System
This lie sells a lot of get rich quick plans. It also excuses the failure to
commit to doing what it takes to make money (commit to it).
The Truth
Different businesses are suited to different people. But this isn't really why
some people buy a new get-rich quick plan each month. They are looking
for the easy way, hoping that there is a way to make money fast, and with
little effort.
Most get rich quick plans probably have some merit, even if they don't work
as easily and quickly as they claim. The world of business itself is clear
evidence that there are thousands of ways to make money. The truth is that
committing to one of them and doing whatever it takes to learn what is
needed and do what is needed is a tried and true route to success.
However, the very idea of another better money making scheme coming
soon is a perfect excuse for not making that commitment of time and effort,
isn't it?
Why It Matters
Excuses are the biggest hurdle to getting what you want.

Lie # 48
It Only Costs...
This is the lie we tell ourselves when we want to own things or do things
that are more expensive than we feel comfortable admitting to. It helps
justify our decisions.
The Truth
Most people who own big "toys," like snowmobiles, boats and RVs, have no
idea what the true cost is. For example, I once convinced a friend to add up
the real costs of owning his jet-ski. By the time he figured in the interest on
the payments, the insurance, the gas, repairs, cost of the trailer and more, we
figured it cost him about $500 for each time he had used it.
This isn't about denying the fun these things can bring. But if he just wanted
fun, he could have rented a jet-ski for probably $200 per day. Is the other
$300 too much to pay for the added ego pleasure of being able to say, "My
jet-ski"? He didn't seem to think so, once he knew the real cost.
How much does it actually cost to have an RV, when you average it out for
each day of use (be sure to figure in the added gas costs)? How much does a
swimming pool really cost per use? How about a boat, or a time share?
Perhaps there is some value to you in being the proud owner of these things,
and not just in your use of them. No one can tell you what something is
worth to you, or why, except you. The problem is that you can't even say if it
is worth it to you if you don't have any idea what it costs.
Why It Matters
Self delusion is expensive. There may be happier ways to use your money.
Lie # 49
You Have No Money To Save Or Invest
Just another self-deluding excuse for avoiding the effort to think and act.
The Truth
Very few people (at least in the US) can honestly say they have no money to
save. Some watch cable television instead of saving money - and that's okay,
none of our business. And no one has a right to tell a person he should eat a
cheaper (and healthier) diet of rice and beans instead of meat, and bank the
savings. On the other hand, it is dishonest to deny that these options are
real.
Many years ago, I owned a mobile home on a lot, and I rented it out to a
friend. I almost hate to admit to how awful this place was, but then there
was a need for low income housing in the area, and it was at least safe. In
any case, I realized in talking to my friend that he and his wife made more
than enough money to buy a nice home. They just didn't have any money
saved for a down payment (you needed that back then).
They had pizza delivered three times weekly, at $20 per time. I know,
because I was not only their landlord, but their pizza delivery guy. That adds
up to over $3,000 per year. A couple years eating frozen pizza instead and
they could save enough for a down payment. That is an extreme example,
perhaps, but there were at least 100 other ways they could have cut their
expenditures and put the money into savings.
Think you can't save? Suppose that if you found 20 ways to cut your
expenditures, you would win a million dollars. Would you find those ways?
If you want to save for a home, or to invest or start a business someday, why
not make the list anyhow? Don't take away all your fun - just cut costs on
the ten things from the list that matter least to you. Then put the money
saved in a separate bank account.
Why It Matters
Isn't it better if people do what they have to do or just honestly say "I choose
not to save money." Lying to ourselves (making excuses) is the worst kind
of dishonesty, because it corrupts our ability to think clearly.
Lie # 50
Experts Know What Is Best For You
Experts want your business, and they want your respect. Pretending to know
what is good for you is a way to get these.
The Truth
Experts sell things, services, or ideas. They are not necessarily interested in
what is best for you. For example, Insurance experts tell me I should have
more coverage. Since I have never had a claim in almost thirty years, I am
glad I didn't pay the thousands in extra premiums for no net benefit in three
decades.
I know people who have refused surgery and other medical "necessities" -
and are healthier for it - because in reality they knew more about what they
needed than the doctor. Most doctors know what they are doing, but that
doesn't mean they know if it should be done to you. A mechanic may know
how to fix a car, but that doesn't qualify him to say whether you should pay
him to fix it, buy a new car, pay someone else less to fix it, get a second
opinion, or live with the problem until the next paycheck.
If hammers and screwdrivers could talk, a hammer would insist that you
should use nails to build your deck, and the screw driver would insist that
screws were best. They do their jobs fine, but they are just tools. Their view
would be limited, and the decision is yours.
Experts are tools as well. It is up to each person to decide how to use them.
Hopefully they are full of useful knowledge, but they are limited in their
ability to say much about your life, because they will never know as much
about you as you know yourself.
Why It Matters
Some people place so much faith in experts, that they let them go beyond
their proper role and allow experts to do the thinking they should be doing
for themselves. This is dangerous to health and wealth.
More Lies
Lie # 51 - You Can Patent An Idea
A simple misunderstanding, but you cannot patent an idea. You have to

actually make a prototype or clearly demonstrate the process to be patented.
Then you need to supply a complete and detailed description to the patent
office to be granted a patent.
What can be patented? You can get a utility patent for a process, machine,
article of manufacture, composition of matter, or improvement of any of
these. Patent protection is also available for "ornamental design of an article
of manufacture," and "asexually reproduced plant varieties by design and
plant patents."
Provisional Patent Applications, made available by a recent act of congress,

give you the fastest and cheapest way to protect your new product or
invention. Filing this lets you claim "patent pending" status for your
invention for 12 months. The fees may change, but it is around $100 as I
write this (December 2006). You have to proceed with the formal patent
application within that 12 months if you want to continue your protection.
Lie # 52 - Antibacterial Soap Is Better
This lie sells soap. There is no study showing that antibacterial soap is
better at cleaning your hands than regular soap. Either one works primarily
by loosening the dirt and germs on your hands so they can be rinsed off.
Antibacterial hand sanitizer, on the other hand, is different, because it is
stronger and remains on your hands.
Apart from the additional cost, there is a potential problem with

antibacterial hand soaps and dish detergents. The antibacterial substances
may accumulate in septic systems. If there is enough in the system, the
bacteria responsible for breaking down wastes may be destroyed. This may
result in a septic system that doesn't function - one that needs frequent and
expensive pumping.
Lie # 53 - The Bigger Size Is Always Cheaper
It used to be true. The "family" or "institutional" cans, jars and packages of

food cost less per ounce. Some retailers have recently been overpricing
large items knowing that many will assume they are the better buy without
doing the math. Look at the price per ounce or pound.
Another thing to watch for is the sales. Even if the "family" size is usually
cheaper per ounce, it may not be when the normal size goes on sale. The
stores do not adjust the "price per unit" labels during sales, so you have to
do your own math. Interestingly, the largest sizes almost never go on sale.
Lie # 54 - You Shouldn't Drink Alcohol When You Are Cold
It is true that you might increase the risk of hypothermia if you drink
alcohol in cold weather outdoors. This is because it directs blood out to your
extremities where the heat can be lost. However, for the same reason,
alcohol has saved people from losing toes and fingers to frostbite.
The key is to drink only when you know you'll soon have a place to warm
up at. This may be difficult to determine at times, which is why the
"experts" feel that you are better off with a rule that simply states don't drink
when it is below freezing and you are cold. If, however, you feel that you
can think for yourself, you may want to ignore the "experts."
Lie # 55 - Cousins Shouldn't Marry
People believe that lower IQ or health problems are more likely in the
children of those who marry their cousins. There is no evidence for this.
Interestingly, Albert Einstein's parents were cousins, and Einstein himself
married his cousin.
This is a lie primarily told to enforce cultural norms. It is repeated by those

who have already been indoctrinated in the belief and so "feel" that
something is wrong with relatives marrying. These norms vary around the
world, of course, and in many countries marriage between cousins is
common.
Lie # 56 - Life Is Getting More Expensive
Actually most things cost less than thirty years ago if you look at the real
cost (the time you have to work to make the money to buy them). What has
changed is expectations. We require more of life. Cable television, cell
phones and hours on the phone long distance are now considered a normal
part of life, and they do not replace other things, but are added to our
expenses.
Many believe this lie because it hides their own responsibility for financial
decisions that make life more difficult. Recently a friend pointed out that a
house his parents bought now cost twice as much. I pointed out that he
made more money than they did when they bought it, and that at 6% (2009)
versus their 13% mortgage loan (obtained in 1984), he could pay less per
month in nominal OR inflation adjusted terms.
What his parents had that he didn't have, was a down payment. That is
because it was more normal to save money then. What he has that they
didn't, is a snow mobile, three cell phones and many other extra expenses
that are considered normal now. Life is getting more expectation-full, not
more expensive.
Lie # 57 - Traveling By RV Is Cheaper Than Hotels
Actually, for most buyers of recreational vehicles it is probably far cheaper

to stay in fine hotels when traveling. Why not just admit to liking the
lifestyle - and being willing to pay for it - if you choose to own an RV.
Probably 95% of owners spend more per day of use than expensive motels
would cost.
How can you determine this? First add up all the yearly costs, including
price (or decrease in value for the year), interest paid, gasoline,
maintenance, repairs, insurance, title, registration, park fees, storage costs,
etc. Then divide this figure by the number of days you actually use the RV
in a year, to get the per-day cost. Is it more or less than a nice hotel room
costs?
Lie # 58 - Overweight People Are Lazy
Some of the most energetic and productive people I know are overweight. It
is interesting that those who bite their nails, make excuses, treat others
rudely or are skinny and out of shape criticize heavy people. Is it that
problems are only okay if they aren't visible at a glance?
This is just a typical lie that is told to justify one's prejudice against
overweight people. No study has shown this idea to have any merit.
Lie # 59 - News Can Be Objective
There are unlimited "stories," but limited time or paper. Should a reporter
cover the building of a new school, or the opening of a new clothing store,
or the famine in some African country? Even if every fact is correct,
choosing to cover one story over another reveals a bias, as does choosing
how to cover it.
It is better to simply understand what those biases are than to pretend that
news can be objective. This is why it can be very enlightening to read
alternative news magazines from very different viewpoints. Few of them lie
about the facts themselves, but you will see very different treatment of the
news and learn things that you never learn in the mainstream press.
Lie # 60 - We Shouldn't Pollute
To live is to pollute the environment. Even animals are known to damage

whole ecosystems. Pretending that there is some way to not pollute gets in
the way of looking at honest compromises, at the best ways to most
efficiently cut down the damage we cause.
Why do some extremists perpetuate the lie that polluting is somehow evil or
that not polluting at all is somehow possible (effectively the same lie)? It is
difficult to say how many believers in this are just overly idealistic and
ignorant. Some others seem to simply have an anti-human bias to their
philosophy.
Reducing pollution is a worthy goal, because it means a better world to live

in. However, it isn't a better world to live in if blindly attacking all sources
of "pollution" causes people to be without jobs or go hungry. We need to rid
ourselves of unrealistic notions in order to find the best ways to reduce
harmful pollutants without making life worse for people.
Lie # 61 - If It Saves One Life It's Worth It
Each of us can rightfully put unlimited value on our own lives. Actions to
save others lives, though, have to take into account the cost. As a nation, we
could save 30,000 lives by strictly limiting highway speeds to 20 miles per
hour, but that is too high a price for us, right?
The question then, is how much is it actually worth to us to save a life.

Looked at in this honest way, more lives will be saved, because regulations
will be aimed at maximum efficiency in achieving results.
According to the lie, saving a life should have unlimited value to society.
When people believe this, it is difficult to argue against inefficient
regulations if they happen to save a life or two. All such regulations have a
real cost, and if we impose a cost for less efficient safety regulations, we
have the ability to save fewer lives. There is a limit to what we can do, after
all. The lie ignores this at our peril.
Lie # 62 - We Will Run Out Of Oil Soon
It is true that there is a limited amount of oil, but if markets are left alone, it
won't run out soon. You'll be able to buy all the gas you want for a long time
to come. Of course, you won't want to buy much at $25 per gallon, nor will
others, so the demand will be dramatically reduced.
Once the price of gasoline hits even $10 per gallon, there will be companies
lining up to sell you electric cars, or other transportation alternatives. Then
the demand for oil will drop as gas-powered cars are phased out, and the
supply will last a while.
This is the lesson of history. It is exactly what happened, for example, when
the rising cost of whale oil brought new ways to light a home to market. The
demand for whale oil dropped off and soon even the price was dropping.
Whale oil was no longer needed.
Lie # 63 - We Are A Nation Of Laws
Thank goodness this isn't true the way it is often meant - that laws take
precedence over human judgment. It is a great idea to have laws instead of
dictators, but laws are still only as just as the people who write them and
apply them. A good law can be applied unjustly, and a bad law can be
ignored by just people.
When aiding escaped slaves was against the law, jurors sometimes voted not
to convict "offenders." Thank goodness we are also a nation of humans. Too
much respect for LAW is a bad thing.
Lie # 64 - Rights Come With Duties
This is the lie told when the teller wants you to do something, like fight his
war. Rights come with realities, like the facts that you sometimes have to
defend your rights and the land you live in. But the only duty they come
with is the duty to respect the rights of others.
Those who speak of duty are almost always trying to violate your rights, not
protect them. An example is the military draft, which seeks to enslave and
kill men in the name of protecting "freedom." Your life is an inalienable
right, not a gift from "society" or governments.
Lie # 65 - Alternative Medicine Is Dangerous
Dangerous compared to what? Heart doctors have thousands die on the

operating table and no one says a thing. If one person dies from after using
an herb, though - even if thousands have been saved by it - there are calls
for it to be banned. All treatments have their risks, but let's be fair in our
comparisons.
What is dangerous is the idea that risks are okay when "approved" by
authorities, but not when they are "outside the mainstream.". This results in
a system where prescription drugs can kill thousands as an "acceptable
risk," simply because they are approved, while cherry growers in this
country are threatened with jail time for telling people about the health
benefits of a fruit that kills no one.
This latter example is a real one, by the way. The FDA told cherry growers
in 2005 that if they discuss the health benefits of cherries - even if they are
scientifically proven - cherries become an unapproved "drug" and are
subject to seizure, and imprisonment for those who market them using such
information.
Lie # 66 - I Don't Have Time
This is like the "I don't have any extra money to save" lie. It is an excuse for
not facing the tough choices we have to make. Many people claim they don't
have time to read a story to their kids, to learn something new, to start a
small business, or whatever. Most of them, however, still find the time for
television, a stop at the bar, etc.
If a person really does value those things more, perhaps that is okay. But
isn't it better to be honest? Say, "I choose to spend my time this way."
Lie # 67 - You Should Give 110 Percent
Apart from the stupidity of the math, this is a nice lie for employers to tell
employees. Of course there are results, often positive ones, to giving more
of yourself to a job or project. Stay late at your job, work fast and hard, and
you might be promoted. Great - if that's what you want.
On the other hand, if the job is just a paycheck, that's okay too. Why not just
do it well and cut out early to go to the beach? Life is about more than work
and simplistic measures of success.
Lie # 68 - We Should Wait For Scientific Evidence
If the first French explorers of North America waited for scientific evidence
before taking the Indians Cedar tea to cure their scurvy, they would have
died three hundred years before Vitamin C was discovered. I say, if it is
cheap and safe, why not try it? I have found many useful medicines, IQ-
boosting techniques and more with this approach.
What people often forget is that things work before science looks at them. In
fact, with things like new plant medicines, until anecdotal evidence builds
up, there is little reason for any scientific research to be done. Science often
only investigates to confirm what experience has already shown.
Lie # 69 - Commercials Are Just For Selling Products
Have you ever seen a commercial that was very entertaining, but left you
with no idea what it was supposed to be selling? Why would such a
commercial work? Is it some secret way to sell? No.
The secret is that commercials are not always made just to sell something.
Sometimes an ad agency just wants to win awards for creativity at the
expense of their client. The lesson? If you ever pay for a commercial for
your own business, tell them exactly what you want the viewers to do when
they see the commercial, and that you want some way to measure the
results.
Lie # 70 - Greasy Food Causes Acne
Hundreds of studies have been unable to prove that pizza, chocolate and
many other foods cause acne. One recent study shows that drinking milk
may relate to a the appearance of acne. There is some evidence that foods
high on the glycemic index may also be related (simple starches and sugars),
but dietary causes are mostly unproven.
Lie # 71 - The Military Draft Is A Necessary Evil
Many people defend the military draft, saying it is necessary, but necessary
for what? History shows that any country full of free people will find more
than enough volunteers to defend that freedom. Name one example of an
essentially free population that refused to defend itself. So what is a draft
necessary for?
The draft gives the appearance of fairness - The rich have to fight alongside
the poor. Of course, in reality there will always be ways out for the rich. In
any case a voluntary army is fair by it's nature since no one has to join.
The main reason governments need to draft young men and women? To
fight wars that the public doesn't want to fight - namely those that aren't
about defense.
Lie # 72 - Statistics Are Objective
The "objectivity" in statistics is all in how they are used. People can
measure things many ways, and the ways they choose will often be
according to what they want to promote. For example, suppose an oil
company's profit on assets rises from 4% one year to 8% the next. Now, did
profits rise by 4% or 100%? That depends on who's counting, and why. Both
are true, after all.
Want to argue that the higher profits are not excessive? Well, rising 4% to
an 8% profit still leaves them below the profit levels of most businesses,
you could honestly point out. On the other hand, they did make a 100%
more money this year. A reporter or consumer's group could point this out,
in order to whip up an anti-oil company "story".
There are dozens of ways that accurate statistics can be manipulated to

promote different viewpoints.
Lie # 73 - Food Irradiation Is Unhealthy
There is no solid evidence (yet?) that irradiating food makes it unhealthy.

Contrary to what many think, the food is never in contact with any
radioactive substance. Also, the radiation that passes through it isn't even
strong enough to break a single cell wall.
If some risk to this procedure is ever found, it will have to be weighed

against the value of easy and cheap food preservation. Risks are not
inherently bad, but must be measured against rewards. For example, I would
prefer vegetables not dosed with pesticides, but without pesticides, insects
might kill so many crops that millions would starve.
Lie # 74 - Homeopathy Is Scientific
Homeopathy has a nice sounding theory. A tiny amount of a substance that

causes symptoms similar to the disease being treated stimulates a response
so the body can heal itself. But the way it has been used and tested is less
than scientific, to say the least.
Many scientists have pointed out that the dilution process used to make
homeopathic medicines leave little probability that even a single molecule
of the original active ingredient is left in a given dose. How do you cure
sickness with expensive water that has nothing in it? What may be at work
here is the placebo effect, as well as the fact that some medicines called
homeopathic are not actually processed in the traditional way.
Lie # 75 - Your Standards Are Correct
If my neighbor trims the grass perfectly with scissors, he is prudish. If

another has toys and un-mowed grass in his, he is a slob. Obviously, only
my standards are the correct ones. This is how we often judge the world
around us. But standards of cleanliness, decor, language and more, are
arbitrary, not right or wrong.
Your standards are your own, and perhaps they are right for you, but there is
no moral superiority or "correctness" involved. Can we really make a
rational argument for how many inches high a moral person should keep his
grass, or how often he should wash his hair, or what words he should use? I
haven't heard one yet.
Sometimes different is just different, and not subject to moral judgment.
Lie # 76 - Formal Education Is A Necessity
A good formal education may help in life, but it is hardly a necessity. A look
at a list of famous people who dropped out of high school show what is
possible without it. One such list includes 18 billionaires, 8 presidents of the
U.S., and 10 Nobel prize winners, as well as the following people: George
Carlin, Albert Einstein, Michael J. Fox, George Gershwin, Peter Jennings,
Thomas Sowell, Quentin Tarantino and George Eastman.
It is a matter of goals. You don't get to be a doctor without a formal

education, so it is necessary if that is your goal. On the other hand, if you
want to start a restaurant, you might learn more valuable lessons working in
one and talking to owners of restaurants than from going to college.
Lie # 77 - Dealer Invoice Is The Dealer's Cost
Car dealers sometimes promote a sale by claiming to sell cars for some
small amount over, or even right at "dealers invoice." They would like you
to believe that this invoice price is their actual cost. Some will even show
you the invoice. What they won't mention is the extra cash incentives and
holdbacks they get from the manufacturer. These often lower their real cost
substantially.
Lie # 78 - Honestly, It's A Size Six
There are voluntary industry size standards in women's clothing, so that you
should be able to tell if something will fit by looking at the size on the label.
Unfortunately, clothing manufacturers mostly ignore these standards. More
and more, they each have their own sizing scheme, often resorting to what is
called "vanity sizing," which is the practice of cutting clothes larger and
labeling them smaller.
Why do they do this? So women can feel better about wearing the clothing.
The average US woman, weighs 164 pounds in 2006 compared to 140 in
1960. Probably most would rather not admit to needing a larger size. When
people want to lie to themselves, businesses are always there to help.
Lie # 79 - Check Bouncing Protection Saves You Money
Some banks offer "bounce protection plans." These plans let a your check
clear even if you don't have enough funds in your account. people think that
this will save them the bounced-check fee at the supermarket when they
accidentally write a check for more than the balance in their account.
Unfortunately, it will save only embarrassment.
The problem is that the bank may be charging up to $35 for the service.
Some even charge $5 per day for as long as the account is overdrawn. This
can be much more expensive than a bounced-check fee. Try to get a regular
overdraft line of credit, or a savings account transfer plan instead.
Lie # 80 - The U.S. Is A Capitalist Country
People think of it as a capitalist country, but the United States actually has a
mixed-economy. In fact, it might surprise people to know that it has adopted
two of the ten tenants of communism laid out in Marx's Communist
Manifesto - public education and a progressive income tax. It has partially
adopted four of the others.
The U.S. has larger social welfare programs than most countries of the
world. It has regulated most business activity in the name of the "public
good." Fortunately it still has enough capitalism left to afford its social
programs and regulations.
Lie # 81 - You Need A Job To Buy A House
Financing has changed a lot in recent years. We recently bought a home in

Colorado (2006), and obtained a mortgage without showing any income
documentation. Just stating that we are self employed and having a decent
credit score was enough.
Such "no-doc" loans have become common. Even without them, it is

possible to buy a home without a job. Seller financing is one way, especially
if you have a decent down payment. Another possibility is to try banks
which still carry loans "in house" rather than selling them. They each make
their own rules.
(2010 Update: It is much harder to get a loan without showing income now.
Times change.)
Lie # 82 - You Make More Money Selling Your Own House
It seems like if you save the real estate agent commission you'll make more
money. It's possible, if you know what you are doing and are in right kind of
market. However, the research shows that "FSBO" (for sale by owner)
homes usually net less money, not more.
Most buyers work with real estate agents, who will not show your home.
Some buyers will find it on their own, but fewer looking at it means less
opportunity to find the top bidder - the person or family for whom the home
is just right. Also, people specifically look at "FSBOs" expecting a deal - a
lower price. The cost of doing your own advertising eats into any potential
savings, and inexperience in negotiating can lower what you get for the
house.
Lie # 83 - You Need A Lot Of Money To Travel
It depends on how you travel. Flying as a courier (I let a company use my

checked bag allotment for their packages - car parts in this case) I went to
Ecuador from Miami for $256 a few years ago. The whole month-long trip
cost about $1,000. Creativity and $20 saved from each weekly paycheck
buys a trip like this in a year.
The key to traveling cheap is to be an opportunist. There are many beautiful

AND cheap destinations that you might enjoy as much as the more popular
ones. Why not go to those ones first?
Lie # 84 - Marrying A Citizen Makes You A Citizen
It takes a minimum of several years to become a citizen of the U.S., even if

you marry a citizen. You still have to meet certain criteria, as does your
spouse (like a certain minimum income). Without a lawyers help, it costs at
least two thousand dollars now. With a lawyer it costs even more, and if you
married outside of the country, it may even take years for you to be
admitted.
Lie # 85 - Mount Everest Is The Highest Mountain
This one is a half-truth. It depends on how you define the "highest". Mount
Everest is the highest above sea level at 29,035 feet (8,850 meters). If you
measure from the base of mountains, though, Hawaii's Mauna Kea rises
33,476 feet (10,203 meters) from the Pacific Ocean floor.
Then there is Mount Chimborazo, in Ecuador. Although it is only 20,600

feet above sea level (6,310 meters), it is the furthest point from the center of
the Earth, or furthest out into space, depending on how you want to express
it. This is due to the Earth's bulge at the equator.
Lie # 86 - We Need Animal Flesh To Be Healthy
We need protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutritional components. Some

of these, like vitamin b-12, are easier to get if we eat animals. On the other
hand, there are other ways to get everything we need, and there are many
healthy vegetarians.
This is just one of those lies told to support a preconceived notions of meat-
eaters. Of course, many vegetarians also lie about meat being entirely
unhealthy. The truth is that it is possible to have a healthy diet with or
without animal flesh. That leaves us with the environmental and moral
issues as most important perhaps.
Lie # 87 - FDIC Insurance Protects Your Bank Account From Theft
Some banks lead you to believe that FDIC insurance protects your money
from theft. This isn't true. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC), protects your accounts in the event of a bank failure. It doesn't
cover theft, like when someone accesses your account online or uses your
checks, pretending to be you.
In cases of theft, the bank has no obligation to replace your money. For
public relations purposes, most banks will replace the lost money, but who
knows if this will continue to be the case. If your money ever is stolen, and
the bank hesitates to cover it, suggest that you'll be going to the newspapers.
Banks want to avoid bad publicity, and should resolve your problem, which
after all, is due to their imperfect security.
Lie # 88 - Anyone And Everyone Can Make Money Online
This is a lie to sell internet get-rich-quick schemes. Some say it is at least

true in theory, but a theory that ignores reality isn't a good theory. The
reality is that there is no business that anyone can make money with,
because not everyone is willing to do what it takes to make money in a
particular business.
The good news is that for those who are willing, the internet is still full of
opportunities.
Lie # 89 - Reading In Poor Light Will Hurt Your Eyes
Reading in poor light may give you a headache, as any eye strain can do.
However, there is no evidence that reading in low light does any permanent
damage to the eyes. On the other hand, it is more comfortable to read in
good light, so why sit in the dark?
Lie # 90 - Cracking Your Knuckles Will Cause Arthritis
There is no medical evidence to support this belief. Knuckle cracking can

sometimes injure a joint, though. In any case, if we keep telling the lie about
arthritis, maybe we won't have to listen to knuckles cracking as much.
Lie # 91 - You Need Eight Glasses Of Water Daily For Health
This is just one of the fad health ideas that regularly pop up. There are
people who never drink water, opting for coffee and juice instead, and while
this may not be ideal for health, many of them have no problems of
dehydration. Drink when you are thirsty, and you'll probably be fine.
Lie # 92 - Kids Are Good For A Marriage
This is a convenient rational for those who want kids anyhow, or a straw to
grasp at for those in a bad marriage. However, according to the research, it
is not true. Most studies have found that having a baby more often causes
the mother and father to be alienated from one another and brings stress to
the marriage.
This idea is taken as a general rule and not an absolute truth, but it fails
even as that. The financial stress alone is enough to make having children
hard on a marriage, and the truth of the matter in something like this is
always complicated. Different personalities and goals and incomes all play
into it.
Lie # 93 - A Business Is Riskier Than A Job
This lie is told to keep people in their "places," or out of fear of change. The
truth is that there are many businesses you can start with little investment
and build up to a livable income even while keeping your current job. As a
plan, it sure beats getting a second job.
Risky? You can be fired from a job. Nobody can fire me.
Lie # 94 - Build It And They Will Come
This lie is used by those that sell ready-made web sites and turn-key online
businesses. The reality is that there are probably hundreds of thousands of
superb web sites on the internet that are sitting there waiting for visitors that
will never come. A web site or web business, just like any other business,
requires promotion if it is to get traffic to it.
Lie # 95 - You Need Heavy Exercise To Be Healthy
Muscle building and "sculpting" your body might require hard work.
Expensive machines may help as well. But health isn't about muscle size
body appearance.
If all you want is health, then walking, raking the yard, and other simple
exercises are more than enough. Just spend 30 minutes on them most days
of the week. The latest good news is that three 10-minute sessions may do
more good than one 30-minute one.
Lie # 96 - We Need Oil From...
Does the U.S. need the oil from, Iraq, Venezuela, or wherever? It may seem
like it, but it just isn't true. If a gas station refused to sell gasoline to you,
you could go to another, right? As a country, we also can buy oil from other
places.
Suppose country A refused to sell oil to the U.S. It would still want to profit
by selling it to other countries, right? Now these other countries would buy
less from other sources, leaving more for us to buy from those sources.
Prices would barely be effected.
It is like pouring water in a bowl on just one side, but refusing to pour it in
on the other side. It will get there anyhow. That is how markets work.
The only thing an oil producing country can really do to hurt other countries
with its oil sales is to cut production. Few want to suffer the decline in profit
that comes with that, though.
Lie # 97 - Food Labeled "Natural" Is Better For You
First, natural isn't automatically better or healthier. Cyanide is natural, after

all, as are many toxic substances. In other words, even if the label "natural"
meant natural, it couldn't automatically mean the food is healthy.
But natural doesn't mean anything anyhow - at least not in the world of food
marketing. Most truly natural foods may be better for your health, but there
is no legal definition of the word "natural." You can sell ground up plastic
mixed with sugar and artificial coloring and call it "natural." Many foods
with the label have dangerous hydrogenated oils or highly processed (and
unnatural) high-fructose corn syrup, for example.
Lie # 98 - You Are Pre-Approved For This Credit Card
There are two types of lies here. One is an outright scam that goes around,
asking you to send money for a "secured card." Some of these may be
legitimate, but often you will send a check for your security deposit and
never hear from the company again.
The other lie is the regular credit card companies playing loose with
language. The letter may say you are "pre-approved," but if you have to fill
out any form with financial information, you are not. You are just pre-
selected to be bothered by these companies, who will then approve you or
not as they wish.
Lie # 99 - Creative Ideas Only Come Spontaneously
Myths about "creative geniuses" who spontaneously come up with new

ideas, discourage "ordinary" people from being more creative. Sometimes,
this lie is also an excuse to avoid creative work. It certainly is easier to sit
around waiting for inspiration - just not very productive.
The truth is that if you learn and use any good creative problem solving
techniques, you can have dozens of creative ideas in an hour or two. Train
your mind for a few weeks, and in your imagination you'll be "inventing"
new products all the time. Even apparently "spontaneous" comedians have
in reality programmed their minds with certain rules, to systematically
produce new and funny thoughts.
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. - Mark Twain.
Some More Common Lies
I'm twenty-nine.
One size fits all.
No new taxes.
I'll never do that again.
We can still be friends.
I'll give you a call later.
This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.
Our people are our most important asset.
The check is in the mail.
Offer limited to the next 100 callers.

99 Lies
A Book Of Secrets
By
Copyright Steve Gillman
"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a
tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." - Abraham Lincoln.
(THE END)

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This material is protected under International and Federal Copyright laws

Copyright 2006 - 2011 by Steve Gillman

Government officials, politicians, doctors, lawyers, businesses, and

The object is not truth but persuasion. - Thomas Macaulay

We lie to ourselves as well, to make ourselves more comfortable and defend

Humankind cannot bear very much reality. - T.S. Eliot

A lie to make a profit is perhaps the easiest type of lie to understand,

Lying is one of our most profitable activities. - Anonymous

Lie # 51 - You Can Patent An Idea

Lie # 52 - Antibacterial Soap Is Better

Lie # 53 - The Bigger Size Is Always Cheaper

Lie # 54 - You Shouldn't Drink Alcohol When You Are Cold

Lie # 55 - Cousins Shouldn't Marry

Lie # 56 - Life Is Getting More Expensive

Lie # 57 - Traveling By RV Is Cheaper Than Hotels

Lie # 58 - Overweight People Are Lazy

Lie # 59 - News Can Be Objective

Lie # 60 - We Shouldn't Pollute

Lie # 61 - If It Saves One Life It's Worth It

Lie # 62 - We Will Run Out Of Oil Soon

Lie # 63 - We Are A Nation Of Laws

Lie # 64 - Rights Come With Duties

Lie # 65 - Alternative Medicine Is Dangerous

Lie # 66 - I Don't Have Time

Lie # 68 - We Should Wait For Scientific Evidence

Lie # 69 - Commercials Are Just For Selling Products

Lie # 70 - Greasy Food Causes Acne

Lie # 71 - The Military Draft Is A Necessary Evil

Lie # 72 - Statistics Are Objective

Lie # 73 - Food Irradiation Is Unhealthy

Lie # 74 - Homeopathy Is Scientific

Lie # 75 - Your Standards Are Correct

Lie # 76 - Formal Education Is A Necessity

Lie # 77 - Dealer Invoice Is The Dealer's Cost

Lie # 78 - Honestly, It's A Size Six

Lie # 79 - Check Bouncing Protection Saves You Money

Lie # 80 - The U.S. Is A Capitalist Country

Lie # 81 - You Need A Job To Buy A House

Lie # 82 - You Make More Money Selling Your Own House

Lie # 83 - You Need A Lot Of Money To Travel

Lie # 84 - Marrying A Citizen Makes You A Citizen

Lie # 85 - Mount Everest Is The Highest Mountain

Lie # 86 - We Need Animal Flesh To Be Healthy

Lie # 88 - Anyone And Everyone Can Make Money Online

Lie # 89 - Reading In Poor Light Will Hurt Your Eyes

Lie # 90 - Cracking Your Knuckles Will Cause Arthritis

Lie # 91 - You Need Eight Glasses Of Water Daily For Health

Lie # 92 - Kids Are Good For A Marriage

Lie # 93 - A Business Is Riskier Than A Job

Lie # 94 - Build It And They Will Come

Lie # 95 - You Need Heavy Exercise To Be Healthy

Lie # 96 - We Need Oil From...

Lie # 97 - Food Labeled "Natural" Is Better For You

Lie # 98 - You Are Pre-Approved For This Credit Card

Lie # 99 - Creative Ideas Only Come Spontaneously

You Should Change The Oil Every 3,000 Miles

The Reason For The Lie

Even though no auto manufacturer recommends such frequent oil changes,

A Daily Aspirin Is Good For You

The Reason For The Lie

No big surprise here. The companies producing aspirin have funded

William Campbell Douglass II, MD recently reported in his newsletter Real