How to Make It in America: The Business of Selling You a Dream
7 min read
At first glance, it seems logical to assume that only certain industries—big pharma, tobacco, processed food manufacturers—would engage in lobbying, aggressive marketing, psychological mass manipulation, and relentless profit-seeking such as, legal maneuvering to get their products on the shelves. After all, their products have clear health implications.
But in this new age of information, it should be evident to everyone that most companies—if not all—resort to similar tactics. Why? Because, like cancer—whether malignant or benign—businesses are designed to grow, consume, and expand at all costs to maintain market dominance and drive ever-growing profits.
If the title caught your eye, you’ve already experienced the very tactic this post aims to warn you about—because in business, it’s always about getting you to buy in. This post won't be a step-by-step manual on how to break through socioeconomic barriers, but rather an exploration to help you understand the game, so you can make informed choices instead of becoming just another data point on a balance sheet.
This isn't about a shadowy cabal orchestrating population control. Or some form of religious war of good vs. evil, where morality guides corporate decisions. In this reality, the bigger the firm the more profit is the only ideology that matters. And in America, as Killing Them Softly Brad Pitt reminds us, "America is not a country, it’s just a business…" So, if a company can convince you, entice you, or manipulate you into buying something—whether it’s medicine, cigarettes, sugar-laden drinks, luxury cars, mobile apps, or even social validation through digital platforms—then their job is to make sure you keep buying it.
The Game: Do They Actually Care About You?
Ask yourself this simple question when evaluating any company:
Do they genuinely care about their customers?
If the answer is no—which it almost always is—then why would you believe their product is actually good for you? Instead of assuming a company’s marketing aligns with your best interest, consider the reality:
Pharmaceuticals – Curing Disease or Creating Customers
Business Model: Profit thrives on treatment, not prevention. The goal is lifelong medication, not one-time cures.
Historical Event:
1986 – National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act: Shielded vaccine manufacturers from liability lawsuits, removing financial risks for pharmaceutical companies. After 1986, vaccines became a major growth sector, with an explosion in the number of recommended vaccines.
1997 – Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising: The U.S. FDA loosened regulations, allowing Big Pharma to advertise prescription drugs on TV. Drug sales skyrocketed as a result.
🎤 Makes me think of this bit
2004 Chris Rock released Never Scared comedy special. This clip highlights Government, Drugs & Donuts.
Fast Food & Processed Snacks – Convenience or Addiction?
Business Model: High-margin, low-nutrition products built on addictive formulas.
Historical Event:
1970s – Expansion of Franchising & Processed Foods: Companies like McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Nestlé aggressively expanded, embedding fast food into global culture.
1990s – FDA’s Approval of "Bliss Point" Engineering: Food scientists optimized sugar, fat, and salt ratios to make processed foods as addictive as possible, increasing consumption and dependency.
Luxury Cars & Fashion – Quality or Manufactured Status?
Business Model: Selling exclusivity and social validation rather than intrinsic value.
Historical Event:
1980s – Rise of Mass Luxury: Brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton shifted from artisan production to mass manufacturing, but kept high prices to maintain the illusion of exclusivity.
2000s – Celebrities & Influencers: The luxury market exploded as brands strategically partnered with celebrities to make their products aspirational.
Tech & Social Media – Connection or Data Extraction?
Business Model: The product is free because you are the product—they profit from attention and data.
Historical Event:
2010s – Social Media's Algorithm Revolution: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok moved to engagement-based algorithms, ensuring users stay addicted longer, increasing ad revenue.
Cambridge Analytica Scandal (2018): Exposed how companies harvest user data to manipulate behavior, showing that tech companies are not in the business of connecting people but controlling them.
Thoughts??
Do you think Big Pharma wants a permanently healthy population?
Do you think Fast Food franchises want a world of people who cook healthy meals at home?
Do you think social media companies want you to spend time offline?
Do you think companies raking in billions would be satisfied making the same amount in 2025?
The Credibility Machine
But these industries don’t just rely on marketing, addiction, and psychological manipulation—they go a step further. They manufacture credibility. The same industries that profit from repeat customers have historically funded biased studies, co-opting experts and institutions to validate their business models.
The tobacco industry spent decades financing research to cast doubt on the link between smoking and lung cancer.
The sugar industry paid scientists in the 1960s to shift the blame for heart disease away from sugar and onto saturated fats.
The pharmaceutical industry, arguably the most aggressive player in this game, influences medical research, incentivizes doctors with bonuses for prescribing more drugs or vaccines, and pushes for laws that shield them from liability.
These industries engineer public trust, ensuring that consumers, policymakers, and even doctors fall in line. And yet, if their products were truly safe, necessary, and beneficial, would they need government mandates, liability shields, and financial incentives to ensure compliance?
The good news? You can choose how you engage with these industries, invest accordingly, and play the game with your eyes open. If you need help making informed financial choices and avoiding bad investments, we can help you strategize where your money actually works for you.
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Applying This: Where’s Your Money?
Investing isn’t just about picking stocks, diversifying portfolios, or following economic indicators. It’s about understanding the game—prima game—analyzing where the herd is moving, anticipating the next big profit centers, and recognizing the economic forces shaping the market. But beyond the numbers, beyond the charts, there’s a deeper truth: most transactional relationships in this world are designed to extract something from you. Now with this same skepticism, where do you put your money? If you’re investing for your future, ask:
Are you buying into a business that thrives on repeat customers rather than delivering value?
Does the company rely on consumer ignorance, addiction, or psychological manipulation?
Would you be comfortable profiting from companies that operate this way?
The reality is that many of the most profitable businesses operate on these principles. If you’re an investor, you’re either playing the game or being played by it. The key is to be aware of how these systems function, so you can make informed decisions about where to invest and what to avoid.
If you’re serious about investing wisely, protecting your financial future, and ensuring your money aligns with your values, let’s talk. BMG specializes in helping clients navigate today’s complex financial landscape—so you can invest with knowledge, not as a target.
