The criticism of Dallin Larsen’s announcement by the IBOAI is contrary to the wisdom and principles of Rich Devos, Jay VanAndel and Joe Victor.  Rich and Jay founded Amway after leaving Nutrilite with their group and selling competing products while still promoting Nutrilite.  Yes, this actually happened in 1959 when companies believed in service to keep customers not non-compete clauses.  Joe Victor built the largest networking community that supported the Amway business and served the people faithfully.  They were able to build their businesses without the non-compete rules, data management rules, arbitration provisions, etc.  They knew that true success came from serving the customers and they did this successfully - without the need or desire for a non-compete clause.  The IBOAI needs to learn from General Douglas Macarthur’s statement, “Your security is in your ability to perform.”   All great companies and business people know and follow this concept, including the original founders of the Corporation and Board.

Bob McEwen, a fabulous speaker who has spoken at nearly every LOA associated with Amway/Quixtar is a strong free enterprise advocate.  In many of his talks he jokes about the communist/socialist systems.  Bob teaches that the rhetoric of the communist is that their system is superior to the free enterprise way.  Everyone is guaranteed a job and security.  Bob will then crack a smile and ask, “How many walls have they built to keep people in the United States?  Communism is the only system that claims to be superior, but has to build walls to keep the people in to enjoy the benefits.  As you read the current press releases, remember to think about why they need a wall to keep people in to enjoy the benefits.  I am shocked the rest of the board would allow their names to be associated with a letter that is taken out of the playbook of Karl Marx. 

I am still shaking my head that an advocacy group for the IBO’s would promote a system of top down control and promote guaranteed security by building walls to keep people in.  I have attached the article and will make a few comments after each paragraph.  It is this type of thinking that led the free enterprise portion of the board to make a stand.  I will never condone a system where customers freely go into a store and then the doors are locked to keep them in the store.  Can you imagine shopping at Wal-mart and then being told you must always shop at Wal-mart because they worked so hard to get you into the store in the first place?  This thinking is absurd in my opinion!  I encourage you to think for yourself.  Who is the Board truly representing?  Enjoy the article.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - (Business Wire) The Board of Directors of the Independent Business Owners Association International (iboai.com), the primary advocacy organization representing hundreds of thousands of independent business owners (IBOs) powered by Quixtar/Amway Global (quixtar.com), today issued this statement in response to an initiative announced by MonaVie, a direct selling organization that competes with Quixtar/Amway Global.

“The so-called ‘Global Free Agent Initiative’ announced by MonaVie on April 2 is, we believe, nothing more than a publicity stunt, as they cannot actually expect to overturn scores of Court rulings that support the concept of short-term non-compete agreements for independent contractors. Independent contractors in direct-selling organizations such as Quixtar/Amway Global possess unique knowledge and networks that they have built with the extensive support of their parent organization. The parent organization, and other independent contractors who do not wish to change their affiliation, deserve a degree of protection when any individual wishes to resign or is terminated from his business.

The ‘Global Free Agent Initiative’ announced by MonaVie sounds to me like a clarion call for free enterprise.  I cannot imagine the Major League Baseball Players Union fighting for a salary cap and against free agency.  Look at the history here!  Baseball player were grossly underpaid until the reserve clause that forced players to stay with the same team was eliminated.  Once the reserve clause was removed the salaries of all the players increased greatly.  Who is doing the work to build the communities in Network Marketing?  If it is the field, then reward the field or allow them to go!  Isn’t the IBOAI position more in tune with communism than Rich Devos’s talk Selling America.   I believe the apple has fallen a long way from the tree!  Freedom is the ability to have choices and free enterprise is the ability to freely choose who and when to do business.  If a company cannot satisfy the distributors, then they should be allowed to go where they will be satisfied.  The advocacy group should read Adam Smith and learn that Amway/Quixtar would quickly increase their bonus plan and reduce their prices if forced to compete. Joseph Schumpeter called the process of free enterprise – Creative Destruction.   Creative Destruction meant that the non-competitive enterprises, ideas and process would lose to the newer better companies, ideas and processes.  Building walls around struggling companies will not improve the company anymore than quotas on imports will improve struggling companies in the US.  The only answer is to learn to compete!  Rich Devos and Jay VanAndel knew this concept and were able to successfully grow the Amway business for over 40 years without a non-compete clause.  I suggest the IBOAI board take a remedial class on free enterprise and stop drinking the perfect water unless it can improve the elasticity of their thinking!

“There is also no coincidence in the timing of MonaVie’s announcement, coming on the heels of their being joined, with great fanfare, by terminated Quixtar/Amway Global distributor Orrin Woodward. Woodward, along with certain associates, is already the focus of a lawsuit alleging that he has encouraged thousands of independent contractors to violate their non-compete agreements in order to join with him at MonaVie and in his other business enterprises. MonaVie is also the target of a similar complaint. Starting with the day of his termination, Woodward has orchestrated an Internet-centered propaganda campaign which has hurt those to whom he was previously loyal, including thousands of Quixtar/Amway Global independent business owners.

I appreciate the IBOAI taking the time to do a press release promoting my new MonaVie business venture.  When over 50 former diamonds pack it in and climb over the proverbial prison walls to obtain free enterprise away from Amway/Quixtar - it has to make the discerning individual go ‘hmmm’.  The Alticor family of companies has taken the last eight months to attack me personally vs. fix their antiquated business model.  Now the IBOAI has taken up the banner for the company!  I guess they believe in the thinking, “Tell enough lies long enough, something will stick.” The Amway/Quixtar Corporation has sent threatening letters to tens of thousands of IBO’s.  The IBO’s were taught free enterprise principles for years and that they owned their own business.  One of the basic rules of business is to not offend your customer.  Amway did offend their customers by sending threatening letters and reaped the consequences of this foolish action.   Instead of accepting responsibility and realizing they have much to learn about leadership, they are improperly attempting to make me a scapegoat.  I am not sure how many sites were spawned by Quixtar’s threats and intimidations, but I can assure you that they do not need my permission to blog on the internet.   There are thousands of qualified and competent writers and thinkers that were threatened and Quixtar should be thankful it wasn’t much worse.  It sounds to me that many people who were damaged by Amway/Quixtar’s actions practiced forgiveness.   The more I see the actions of the legal team the more I think of how the communist countries attacked the dissidents who ‘insanely’ believed in free enterprise and freedom.  The Board statement even uses the words “targets” to label MonaVie and me.  I would encourage the IBOAI and Quixtar to target your remaining customers and participate in free enterprise - not the repressive practices and name calling.

“It is no coincidence, we believe, that MonaVie is not a member of DSA, the Direct Selling Association (dsa.org), and will likely never be while they take this stance in favor of improper and damaging behavior. We are sure that the DSA itself and Quixtar/Amway Global, the company to whom our independent business owners are contracted, will make their own statements on this matter, but we felt it was critical for us to speak up quickly, and forcefully, so that our marketplace understands what is really happening. We are not going to let MonaVie, or Mr. Woodward, pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.”

MonaVie does not need titles and positions to feel secure.   People who are willing to serve are not impressed with titles, but are more concerned with testimonies.  I find it interesting that a company that has blocked my free speech rights for nearly 8 months, sued the former board members who called them out, locked up all of our documents with outrageous confidentiality claims, and disparaged the Team and me non-stop - would now say that MonaVie and I are pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes.  Only someone who is hiding the facts and punishing those who have stood up for truth could be accused of pulling the wool over people’s eyes.   The spinning never stops.   IBOAI, please go back and read you’re the founders initial principles and learn the lesson of, “It is more blessed to give than receive.”   Instead of building walls, start building bridges and serve your communities.  In free enterprise, it is not your last name that counts, but the commitment to serve the needs of the customers.  If people are treated with dignity and respect, they will be loyal to that company.  The MLM industry is big enough for some competition and competition is what makes free enterprise the best system in the world.  Dallin Larsen has a right to say what he believes in.  He is a true leader and I am proud to be on his MonaVie team.

I was sent the following email and I thought it would be good for all the Leadership Blog readers.  I found a website that had the story and some compelling commentary in addition.  Here is the story and the commentary to laugh, think and learn from.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

“I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and filled it with seed. Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food. But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbeque. Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table …… simply everywhere. Then some of the birds turned mean: They would dive bomb me and try to peck even though I had fed them out of my own pocket. And other birds were boisterous and loud: They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food. After a while, I couldn’t even sit on my own back porch anymore.

I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone. I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio. Soon, the backyard was like it used to be…. quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.

Now lets see….our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, free education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen. Then the illegals came by the tens of thousands. Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families: you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor: your child’s 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn’t speak English: Corn flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to press “one” to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than “Old Glory” are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.

Maybe it’s time for the government to take down the bird feeder?”

We Let This Happen!

The story is funny at first but then the seriousness of its deeper meaning sets in. There is a lot of truth in it and one has to ponder what the roots of this reality are: The answer is simple:

We, the citizens of the United States of America are the roots of this reality! We let it happen! One can argue when it all started, who started it all and what the first element of this reality was.  The fact is that it has happened, not all at once, of course, but in small steps over many, many years. Some people will argue that it all started with Congress passing laws introducing ‘Individual Income Taxes’ in the early 20th century. Most will say it all started with the start of entitlement programs such as Social Security (in the 1930’s), Welfare and Medicare Programs in later years, primarily in the 1960’s and the amendments and enlargements of these and other programs (Food stamps, housing assistance, school lunches etc) in the years since then. It is easy to see that the government’s bird feeder simply got bigger and bigger over the years so that more and more “birdies” could get things for free.

While some programs, especially the Social Security system, were very noble and also needed and were built on contributions over the working life span of all individuals earning a paycheck or making a profit. When Social Security began, there were over thirty people supporting one recipient of such benefits, now there are only three people supporting one recipient. This is scary especially in light of the fact that the so called ‘baby-boomer’ generation will start soon to become recipients of monthly Social Security checks.

What is especially scary about this is the fact that the elected officials in Congress are not willing to seriously address this problem. They have been and continue to play politics with this issue wherein the Democrats will vehemently oppose anything Republicans and especially President Bush propose. On the other hand, the Republicans had control of Congress and did not make real attempts to fix this problem. They rely on estimated projections of when the Social Security trust fund will run out of money and since this date is over thirty years away from now, it is so much easier to leave it for future lawmakers to deal with. An even bigger problem is Medicare, where insolvency is estimated to occur within ten to twelve years from now.

All one can say is Shame on all of them in Congress….No Exceptions!!!  But then, as we stated earlier, it is essentially our fault, we, the people let it happen! The big question is: Will we, the people allow us to keep all the bird feeders we have right now or is it time to take some down and clean up some of the mess they have caused by simply being there.

Here is an article that has me even more concerned about the viability of the United Nations.  Doesn't the US provide funds to support the United Nations?  Is the U.N. working or is it a big spy ring like this article alleges? 

The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS -- A former Russian top spy says his agents helped the government steal nearly $500 million from the UN's oil-for-food program in Iraq before the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Sergei Tretyakov, who defected to the United States in 2000, says he oversaw an operation that helped Hussein's regime manipulate the price of Iraqi oil sold under the program -- allowing Russia to skim profits.

Tretyakov, former deputy head of intelligence at Russia's UN mission from 1995 to 2000, names some names, but sticks mainly to code names. Among the spies he says he recruited for Russia were a Canadian nuclear weapons expert who became a UN nuclear verification expert in Vienna, a senior Russian official in the oil-for-food program and a former Soviet bloc ambassador. He describes a Russian businessman who got hold of a nuclear bomb, and kept it stored in a shed at his dacha outside Moscow.

Tretyakov, 51, had never spoken out about his spying before this week, when he granted his first news media interviews to publicize a book published Thursday. Written by former Washington Post journalist Pete Earley, the book is titled "Comrade J.: The Untold Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America after the End of the Cold War."

"It's an international spy nest," Tretyakov said of the UN, during an interview this week. "Inside the UN, we were fishing for knowledgeable diplomats who could give us, first of all, anti-American information."

His defection was first reported in 2001, followed by the news that he was not a diplomat, but a top Russian spy who was extensively debriefed by the CIA and the FBI.

Here is a John Maynard Keynes quote that describes why we must discuss economics on this blog.  I could take the easy way out and not discuss any controversial issue.  But if we don’t discuss any controversial subjects—how do we learn the truths to live life by?    I understand that thinking through issues can be tough, but I promise to not attack anyone personally and only attack error and focus on leading people to truth.  If someone does not agree, then develop a reasoned argument of why you think differently and help me grow.  I believe that when people go into labeling and name calling, then it signals a lack of rational points to discuss and have resorted to attacking personalities not principles.  I encourage all of us to not take the low road and focus on principles instead of personalities.  Let’s fear ignorance more than disagreement and focus on iron sharpening iron as we all grow on our way to serving and leading.  As Tim Marks states, “Know why you believe what you believe.”  I am proud of everyone for thinking, whether they agree or disagree is not as important to me as logically thinking through why you think what you think.  If you do not know why you believe what you believe, you may be a victim of some defunct economist or political philosopher.  John Maynard Keynes was an economist who lived in England during the Great Depression.  I personally disagree with much of his thinking, but I respect the fact that he thought deeply about economic issues.   Keynes' ideas still hold sway in many economic circles and his thinking made an impact in our world.   Keynes quote below is an appropriate quote for our discussion on the presidential elections and will help us to hold all of our beliefs to critical reasoning.

The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood.  Indeed, the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back. I am sure that the power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas.

What intellectual influences have helped you develop the way you think about the economy and government?  Have you studied and read for yourself or have you developed your ideas through parents, teachers, and the media?  Please share. God Bless, Orrin Woodward

No economic system has been proven more wrong than Karl Marx and his communist revolution.  With this being said, no system that has failed so miserably has so many of its ideas still in practice.  It is like a person who realizes that drinking a whole cup of poison will kill him, but determines that half a cup a poison will help him.  The communist spent millions of dollars and years of propaganda to inject their poison into the thinking of Americans.  It is now a documented fact that the communist worked to control the media and change the American values to communist positions.  I would like to take you back to the recognized father of modern communism, Karl Marx.  I believe economic understanding is one of the keys for the future of America.  With so much misinformation out there, I run the risk of being labeled by many sincere people who do not fully understand what is at stake.

America was founded on strong free enterprise and rule of law principles.  How few voters understand this and freely buy into communist positions ought to concern of all us.  The whole goal of this blog is to generate discussion and a better understanding of what the media war is about.  I am not offended in the least if you disagree with our discussion.  All I ask is we think together in an effort to learn truth.  Here is an article on the 10 Planks of the Communist Manifesto.  Do you recognize some of these originally radical ideas as now mainstream American thought?   The ideologies of free enterprise and communism are polar opposites on their view of man, God, and government.  Please read carefully and think about the 10 Planks.  Does it concern anyone else that America would adopt so many principles from a communist system that is defunct, an abject failure, and Godless from an atheist economist Karl Marx?  Why have so many of us been taught these principles as the American way of life?  Some will say I am paranoid, but are we paranoid if they really are after us?  Here is the linked article with the 10 Planks of the Communist Manifesto.

Karl Marx describes in his communist manifesto, the ten steps necessary to destroy a free enterprise system and replace it with a system of omnipotent government power, so as to effect a communist socialist state. Those ten steps are known as the Ten Planks of The Communist Manifesto… The following brief presents the original ten planks within the Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx in 1848, along with the American adopted counterpart for each of the planks. From comparison it's clear MOST Americans have by myths, fraud and deception under the color of law by their own politicians in both the Republican and Democratic and parties, been transformed into Communists.

Another thing to remember, Karl Marx in creating the Communist Manifesto designed these planks AS A TEST to determine whether a society has become communist or not. If they are all in effect and in force, then the people ARE practicing communists.

Communism, by any other name is still communism, and is VERY VERY destructive to the individual and to the society!!

The 10 PLANKS stated in the Communist Manifesto and some of their American counterparts are...

1. Abolition of private property and the application of all rents of land to public purposes.

Americans do these with actions such as the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (1868), and various zoning, school & property taxes. Also the Bureau of Land Management (Zoning laws are the first step to government property ownership)

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

Americans know this as misapplication of the 16th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, 1913, The Social Security Act of 1936.; Joint House Resolution 192 of 1933; and various State "income" taxes. We call it "paying your fair share".

3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

Americans call it Federal & State estate Tax (1916); or reformed Probate Laws, and limited inheritance via arbitrary inheritance tax statutes.

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

Americans call it government seizures, tax liens, Public "law" 99-570 (1986); Executive order 11490, sections 1205, 2002 which gives private land to the Department of Urban Development; the imprisonment of "terrorists" and those who speak out or write against the "government" (1997 Crime/Terrorist Bill); or the IRS confiscation of property without due process. Asset forfeiture laws are used by DEA, IRS, ATF etc...).

5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.

Americans call it the Federal Reserve which is a privately-owned credit/debt system allowed by the Federal Reserve act of 1913. All local banks are members of the Fed system, and are regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) another privately-owned corporation. The Federal Reserve Banks issue Fiat Paper Money and practice economically destructive fractional reserve banking.

6. Centralization of the means of communications and transportation in the hands of the State.

Americans call it the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) mandated through the ICC act of 1887, the Commissions Act of 1934, The Interstate Commerce Commission established in 1938, The Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Communications Commission, and Executive orders 11490, 10999, as well as State mandated driver's licenses and Department of Transportation regulations.

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state, the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

Americans call it corporate capacity, The Desert Entry Act and The Department of Agriculture… Thus read "controlled or subsidized" rather than "owned"… This is easily seen in these as well as the Department of Commerce and Labor, Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Mines, National Park Service, and the IRS control of business through corporate regulations.

8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

Americans call it Minimum Wage and slave labor like dealing with our Most Favored Nation trade partner; i.e. Communist China. We see it in practice via the Social Security Administration and The Department of Labor. The National debt and inflation caused by the communal bank has caused the need for a two "income" family. Woman in the workplace since the 1920's, the 19th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, assorted Socialist Unions, affirmative action, the Federal Public Works Program and of course Executive order 11000.

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries, gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equitable distribution of population over the country.

Americans call it the Planning Reorganization act of 1949 , zoning (Title 17 1910-1990) and Super Corporate Farms, as well as Executive orders 11647, 11731 (ten regions) and Public "law" 89-136. These provide for forced relocations and forced sterilization programs, like in China.

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.

Americans are being taxed to support what we call 'public' schools, but are actually "government force-tax-funded schools " Even private schools are government regulated. The purpose is to train the young to work for the communal debt system. We also call it the Department of Education, the NEA and Outcome Based "Education" . These are used so that all children can be indoctrinated and inculcated with the government propaganda, like "majority rules", and "pay your fair share". WHERE are the words "fair share" in the Constitution, Bill of Rights or the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26)?? NO WHERE is "fair share" even suggested!! The philosophical concept of "fair share" comes from the Communist maxim, "From each according to their ability, to each according to their need! This concept is pure socialism. ... America was made the greatest society by its private initiative WORK ETHIC ... Teaching ourselves and others how to "fish" to be self sufficient and produce plenty of EXTRA commodities to if so desired could be shared with others who might be "needy"... Americans have always voluntarily been the MOST generous and charitable society on the planet.

Did anyone else recognize how many of Marx’s principles have been swallowed whole into the body politic of American thinking?  How do we educate Americans on the root source of much of our modern thinking on economic issues?  Although communism as a system is dead, the ideas are alive and well in the flow of American consciousness.  Isn't it ironic (to put it mildly) that the American ideals beat the communist ideals in the ideology war, but at the very moment the former communist countries are attempting to learn free enterprise from us - we have swallowed so much of their poison that we have forgotten what made us win the war in the first place!  America is a great nation with great ideals.  I am proud to share the ideals our country was founded upon with anyone.  We must learn our heritage in order to protect our posterity.   I have said and continue to say that, “Ideas have consequences.”  What we believe as a country today, will be tomorrow’s reality.  We need a group of people with the hunger to learn the truth and the courageous leadership to share it.  Will anyone help Chris and I Launch a Leadership Revolution?  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Update:  I want everyone to know that I believe in a limited government as the founding fathers did.  Limited government means—let the citizens accept responsibility for the greatest sphere of action and only utilize government where no individual or group of individuals can accomplish the task.  Government is by nature a monopoly and when government gets involved in an activity, it very rarely withdraws from the field.  Everyone knows that it is much easier to start a government program than to end one.  The more government is involved, the less money and influence the private sector has in that field.  People naturally learn from mistakes due to the pain of failure, but government rarely learns because they do not experience the same pain of failure as individuals and private companies.  An example would be GM, which ran like a federal government for years, (and had a budget like some smaller countries) but is now paying the price for failed policies and learning hard lessons.  Our federal government when it fails, merely taxes more, increases money supply through inflation or borrows more money—this delays the lessons for our future generations.  I am not the type of person to pass the buck to our future generations and I desire a restoration of the government principles that made our country great originally!  The founding fathers spelled out their principles of government in the Federalist Papers in three broad categories:

1. Settling disputes according to the Rule of Law between individuals.

2. Protection from criminals attempting to steal, lie or coerce profits vs. earn them by service.

3. Ensure liberty for all by providing protection from foreign invaders.