• Home
  • About Me
  • Mission Statement
  • Welcome Message
  • Open Letter to My Family
  • Donate
  • Contact Me

Mike Rinder's Blog

Something Can Be Done About It

  • All Posts
  • Disconnection
  • Idle Orgs
  • IAS
  • Media
  • Books
  • Fundraising
  • Regraded Being

The Crime of the Century

May 15, 2021 By Mike Rinder 13 Comments

 

Alex Gibney has done it again.

This is a disturbing, powerful documentary that everyone in the country should watch. It details how the opioid epidemic was manufactured out of the greed of the pharmaceutical industry (all the way down to CVS). It is truly a horrifying expose.

 

But for scientology-watchers there is a special reason for giving this a look. It shows how those with money to burn are able to buy influence over law enforcement and legislators. It is grotesque, and it is exactly what scientology has done to head off investigations in the past.

Think back to the FBI scientology human trafficking investigation in 2009.  I wrote an article about on this blog entitled Scientology, Lying and the FBI where I explained that scientology spokespuppet Karin Pouw had admitted they hired an attorney to make contacts within the Justice Department. Her name was Mary Carter Andrues and she had left the US Attorney’s Office in LA in 2007 after being chief of its Civil Rights Division which prosecutes human trafficking cases. Pouw confirmed Andrues had “dealt directly” with the DOJ.

In light of what you see in the documentary about how the investigations into the crimes of the drug companies and distributors were scuttled despite the best efforts of the law enforcement agents who were on the ground and had compiled overwhelming evidence — reflect on the admission of scientology as to how they went about scuttling the FBI investigation.

The justice system in the US is too often played by those with unlimited funds and unscrupulous former officials who trade their integrity for cash.

Alex Gibney and those like him who expose the sordid and corrupt realities of this world are true heroes.

If you haven’t yet watched The Crime of the Century, please take the time.  Only one other documentary in recent time has been as important as this, and that is The Social Dilemma.

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Legal, Scientology Tagged With: Alex Gibney, Civil Rights Division, Crime of the Century, FBI, HBO, Karin Pouw, Mary Carter Andrues, The Social Dilemma, US Attorneys

Comments

  1. Real says

    May 16, 2021 at 7:21 pm

    Not of the century. That would go to the US Congress and its “war on drugs” started in the mid 60’s that has caused more violent crime deaths of US citizens than soldiers killed during the Vietnam war.

    Reply
  2. KatherineINCali says

    May 16, 2021 at 4:39 pm

    This hits close to home. When I was 31 (I’m 45 now), I had back surgery after dealing with massive back pain for years.

    My doctor had been prescribing Norco. After a couple years, she sent me to a pain management doctor who proceeded to give me 180 Norco per month, 90 Soma per month & Ativan (he said it was for sleep as I had a hard time sleeping due to the pain).

    A couple years later I had the surgery, but needles to say, I was completely addicted to painkillers. But I needed more of them to get me through the post-surgery period so I wouldn’t be in extreme pain.

    Getting off that crap was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. It was nothing short of brutal.

    Reply
  3. georgemwhite says

    May 16, 2021 at 2:12 am

    My next door neighbor died at 21 from this opioid crisis. I watched it. It truly was the crime of the century. Keep up the great work Alex Gibney.

    Reply
  4. Carol Malczynski says

    May 15, 2021 at 6:11 pm

    The pharmaceutical industry are heroes. They developed vaccines quickly and saved many, many lives. I will still watch the documentary, as soon as I can.

    Reply
    • Loosing my Religion says

      May 16, 2021 at 3:52 am

      Carol. In my opinion as for other businesses and industries, they are heroes as long as they do not cross the threshold of legality and the betrayal of those who buy from them and therefore trust.
      Among other things, vaccines are no small business.
      Someone has found it curious that several pharmaceutical companies have found in a very short time (and this is obviously excellent) each one its own version of the vaccine against Covid 19, but it is also curious that after 40 years no one has yet found anything in terms of aids vaccines or other diseases that are ravaging entire areas of the third world.
      So I want to trust but for those who know what the process for approving a vaccine is, this absolutely includes testing before it is made available. But here it would seem that they have shortened this crucial phase. I repeat I want to trust but won’t call them heros yet.

      Reply
  5. Glenn says

    May 15, 2021 at 3:45 pm

    From personal experience the corruption in government in the US is the same as it is in Russia I’ve witnessed and sometimes fought it successfully.

    Reply
    • Mary Kahn says

      May 16, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      It’s stunning. I’m completely disgruntled in Washington DC.
      And that is just talking from the c of s perspective.

      I think this country is in for a very bumpy ride.

      Reply
      • Glenn says

        May 16, 2021 at 6:02 pm

        Mary,

        I think so too.

        I hope that all I’ve done to secure my family’s future will allow us to weather that storm. Hope all other personally responsible folks do too.

        Glenn

        Reply
  6. Skyler23 says

    May 15, 2021 at 1:19 pm

    For anyone who needs to know, this is a two part mini-series. It is rated 8.2 on IMDB which is extremely high. Here is some info from IMDB.

    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14055432

    ————————————————————————

    Here is some similar info for The Social Dilemma:

    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11464826/

    Reply
    • Skyler23 says

      May 15, 2021 at 2:37 pm

      Mike? I know Alex Gibney must be incredibly busy. But would there be any chance you might be able to get him to appear on an upcoming podcast? I would love to hear from him.

      Reply
      • Mike Rinder says

        May 15, 2021 at 3:53 pm

        He was our guest on Episode 7

        Reply
        • Skyler23 says

          May 15, 2021 at 4:22 pm

          Doh! Boy do I feel stupid! I have no idea how I missed that.

          Oh well. I know what I’ll be doing tonight.

          Reply
        • Skyler23 says

          May 15, 2021 at 5:01 pm

          OK. I listened to Episode 7 and it was really interesting. I only have one complaint and that is that at 45 minutes, it was one of the shortest podcasts of them all and Alex was so interesting, I just wish it could have been longer.

          There was one truly wonderful moment in the podcast. That was when a group of cult members brought a box of so-called “evidence” to Larry Wright’s office in an effort to discredit him. They left that box in his office when they left and someone turned to Larry and said, “Well, now you have your book!”.

          It turned out that Larry used the material left by the cult members in that box in large part to write his book. So this was another case of the cult shooting itself in the foot. They thought this material would be used to discredit Larry. But instead, it saved him enormous time and trouble and helped him to write his book. I found that to be hilarious.

          It was a great example of the cult doing something really stupid that they thought would be helping them but it wound up hurting them. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why people are afraid of this group of “Keystone Cops”. The longer they keep fighting, the worse they find themselves due to their own stupidity.

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Order now hardback or audiobook
Click Here to Donate

Important Articles

Dealing With Scientology Critics - L Ron Hubbard Playbook
The Real Story About Disconnection
To Speak Or Not To Speak
Shelly Miscavige Guarded By Armed PIs
Debbie Cook's New Years Email
On David Miscavige's Behavior
Miscavige's Behavior Part 2
A Letter From Garcia

Important Quotes

If the org slumps during this transition period, don't engage in "fund raising" or "selling postcards" or borrowing money. Just make more income with Scientology. L Ron Hubbard From HCOPL URGENT ORG PROGRAMMING
"We own a tremendous amount of property. We own a tremendous amount of material and so forth, and it keeps growing. But that’s not important. When buildings get important to us, for God sakes, some of you born revolutionists will you please blow up central headquarters". L Ron Hubbard Lecture 31 Dec 1960
"Personal integrity is knowing what you know. What you know is what you know and to have the courage to know and say what you have observed".- LRH from Personal Integrity
"It is necessary to happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists of professing to believe what he does not believe." Thomas Paine
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Martin Luther King
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Martin Luther King
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
“Communication is the universal solvent” - L Ron Hubbard
“When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.” Thomas Paine
"Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth." William Faulkner
"The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis." Dalai Lama

Important Reading

Troublemaker - Leah Remini
Ruthless - Ron Miscavige
Going Clear - Lawrence Wright
Bare Faced Messiah - Russell Miller
Counterfeit Dreams - Jeff Hawkins
Blown For Good - Marc Headley
Abuse at the Top - Amy Scobee
Unbreakable Miss Lovely - Tony Ortega
The Church of Fear - John Sweeney
Fair Game - Steve Cannane
Inside Scientology - Janet Reitman
Jenna Miscavige - Beyond Belief
My Billion Year Contract
Ron the War Hero - Chris Owen

Popular Posts

Scientology Photoshops Audience
Tommy Davis and Jessica Feshbach
Shelly Miscavige- Why She Stays
Disconnection and My Mother
Food for Thought
  • David Miscavige Paranoia
    The Church of Spin
    Correspondent from the Bay Area
    Actors Needed to Play Scientologists
  • Recent Comments

    • Mike Rinder on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “I will when I’m done” Jan 31, 13:50
    • Mike Rinder on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “Correct you are. I have amended the post, there never was an “org” in Dallas, just like Nashville.” Jan 31, 13:50
    • Angry Gay Pope on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “Sadly the CC in Hwd is built like a castle and just as hard to get into! Practically impossible to…” Jan 31, 13:42
    • Me on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “Great article and video from Aaron. Just a small correction. The Dallas CC did not merge with the Dallas Org.…” Jan 31, 13:38
    • Ruth on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “And please include the book Mike. Thanks” Jan 31, 13:31
    • Ruth on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “One of the things taught to me as Staff was, if people are leaving in droves, do not look at…” Jan 31, 13:13
    • Mike Rinder on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “YEs, you are right Mary. I am reading a fascinating book about mind control recommended by a reader. I will…” Jan 31, 13:09
    • Gabriel Halliwell on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “Did ja ever think he’s been closing centers down and selling off assets so that he could put together a…” Jan 31, 11:47
    • Carrie Brewton on The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing: “Thank you for providing addresses, so now I can send them some Aftermath cards 🙂” Jan 31, 11:26
    • mwesten on The Flat Tax — Republicans Reviving the Scientology Campaign to Abolish the IRS: “If only the so-called “progressive” wing of the Dems had used their leverage in support of M4A. Ahh well. The…” Jan 31, 10:36

    Check out MRinder.com

    Categories

    Archives

    Copyright © 2023 Mike Rinder · WordPress · Log in