Local: Fraud at the Peoria Civic Center
Posted in Local with tags Add new tag, con artists, fraud, Lisa Williams, Peoria Civic Center on April 6, 2009 by Billy DennisI have often implied that the existence of the Peoria Civic Center is a fraud perpetrated against the taxpayers. After all, it cannot operate for a single day without the promised-to-be-temporary Hotel, Restaurant and Amusement Tax.
But this isn’t a post about that boondoggle. This is a post about a different boondoggle.
According to the Peoria Journal Star, Lisa Williams, who pretends to have the real-life power to communicate with the dead on Lifetime television’s “Life Among the Dead,” is bringing her magic act to Peoria Civic Center at June 7. Gullible dummies will be paying $45 to $65 to this con artist.
For those who are wondering why I am calling her a con artist, here is an explanation: There is no such thing as psychic powers. No one really talks to the dead. No one. There are no doubt grieving people who have convinced themselves that have. But people like Lisa Williams are frauds. All of them. Period. End of discussion.
It is a sad state of affairs, but even in the 21srt century, there are still people who believe this unscientific drivel. But then, some people still cling to the equally irrational belief that vaccines cause autism.
I blame the media, which thinks the standards of objectivity requires them to treat this nonsense with respect. Folks, we all have the equal right to have an opinion, but not all opinions are equal. The end result of “equal time for frauds and morons” creates the impression this B.S. is OK. Feh.
Now, I like television shows like “Medium” and Ghost Whisperer” like any American. But they are fiction. I liked Star Trek, but I know William Shatner is just an actor. And if anyone tried to sell me a boarding pass the USS Enterprise, I’m going to take a pass.
Lisa Williams is fundamentally no different than grifters who run scams on grieving widows. At least when she limited her act to television, she got money from advertising. Harmless fun, right?
Wrong. Now this active, practicing fraud is in town to take directly money out of grieving people’s pockets. These victims will be your friends, co-workers and relatives. It is disgusting. Why not just sell licenses to three card monte games, right next to the downtown pushcarts. Along as the Peoria Civic Center Authority gets a cut, right? I mean, we have to pay for those expensive new offices somehow, cause legitimate events aren’t coming here.
But, hey, I cannot image life in Peoria without the Peoria Civic Center.
