Several outlets run commentary arguing that the United States has a long pattern of people being drawn to fraudsters, exaggerations, and highly implausible promises. The pieces frame the issue as recurring—suggesting that new scams and sales pitches keep finding audiences despite repeated exposure to similar tactics.
The sources do not describe a single specific incident. Instead, they offer broader reflection on why outlandish claims take hold in different eras and how “hucksters” market their ideas to the public. While both outlets emphasize the prevalence of cockamamie schemes, they differ mainly in tone and emphasis: one focuses more generally on the historical tendency to fall for such promises, while the other highlights the idea of “possibility” alongside the persistence of implausible schemes.
Overall, the coverage synthesizes a shared argument that exaggerated marketing and persuasive storytelling repeatedly influence public belief, even when claims are not credible.
