Be Very Careful About Believing Or Blindly Following Anonymous's Call To Arms, DO NOT RESPOND

Activist Post In the latest video from Anonymous, they have called for the most aggressive action yet. They're asking the American people to join them in a "call to arms" for the destruction and overthrow of the US Government. In the statement, Anonymous says the government is calling them "terrorists" because they truly fear a people's uprising. "The United States Government insists on labeling us as terrorists. The question is, "who do we terrorize?" Is it probable that the United States government is truly afraid of we, the people?" They are not calling for denial of service attacks on government websites or protests as is their normal modus operandi, but for freedom activists to join them in full-blown war to overthrow the US Government and return it to the control of the people. "We are not calling upon the collective to deface or use a distributed denial of service attack on a United States government agency website, or affiliate. We are not calling upon the people to once again occupy a city or protest in front of a local building, This has not brought on us any legislative change or alternate law. It has only brought us bloodshed and false criticism. For the last 12 years, voting has been useless. Corporations and lobbyists are the true leaders of this country and are the ones with the power to control our lives, To rebuild our government, we must first destroy it. Our time for democracy is here, Our time for resolution is here, This is America's time for revolution, To restore our constitutional rights, to once again, be free therefore, Anonymous along with the American people have decided to openly declare war on the United States government. This is a call to arms." The hacktivist collective lists a long train of abuses that can no longer be allowed: We refuse to be a police state. We refuse to be brutalized and dehumanized by the very people our tax dollars fund to protect our cities and streets. We will not allow the government to control our destiny, our right to build a life for ourselves. We demand freedom from government control, taxation, repossession and death. You will not come to our doors and take our guns, our property, you will not force the citizens of this great country to participate in the unlawful act of government mandated healthcare. We the people refuse to put in your control our health, our bodies, our minds, our lives. We will not grant permission for the government to deploy drones over our homes and communities. We must end the federal reserve. A private central bank should not issue our currency, set interest rates and run our economy. Rather, we need to return control over the currency to the American people where it belongs. They claim that all peaceful attempts to affect change within the system have failed and the time for action is now. "Our peaceful actions, patience and restraint have been demonstrated as we watched and waited for our Congress and Representatives to speak for the American citizens and protect us from the tyrant that sits in the oval office and happily strips the American people of our rights, one by one, executive order by executive order. We have waited long enough." NOTE: Who is Anonymous? Could it be a part of a Rogue Government group designed to provoke you into armed revolution? Isn't that exactly what would cause what many are trying to prevent? This is not the Art Of War, this is trying to attract a few more lone nuts....

Modern Wheat Is Nothing Like Ancient Grains

Gluten intolerance is no longer a fringe medical concept. Researchers are fully aware there is a very big problem with modern wheat cultivation. Wheat is far from being a health food. It makes you fat, causes gas and makes your intestinal tract your enemy, or rather vice-versa. High-yielding and now genetically modified varieties of wheat are making this one cereal grain you’ll probably want to axe from your food list.

233 consumer and farmer groups in 26 countries have joined the “Definitive Global Rejection of GM Wheat” statement to stop the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) wheat and remind the biotechnology corporation Monsanto that genetically modifying this major crop is not acceptable to farmers or consumers.

So how–and when–did this ancient grain become such a serious health threat?

 Author and preventive cardiologist William Davis, MD, says it’s when big agriculture stepped in decades ago to develop a higher-yielding crop. Today’s “wheat,” he says, isn’t even wheat, thanks to some of the most intense crossbreeding efforts ever seen.

 “The wheat products sold to you today are nothing like the wheat products of our grandmother’s age, very different from the wheat of the early 20th Century, and completely transformed from the wheat of the Bible and earlier,” he says.

Plant breeders changed wheat in dramatic ways. Once more than four feet tall, modern wheat–the type grown in 99 percent of wheat fields around the world–is now a stocky two-foot-tall plant with an unusually large seed head. Dr. Davis says accomplishing this involved crossing wheat with non-wheat grasses to introduce altogether new genes, using techniques like irradiation of wheat seeds and embryos with chemicals, gamma rays, and high-dose X-rays to induce mutations.

In July 2009, the most hated company in the world Monsanto, announced new research into GM wheat and industry groups kicked their promotion of GM wheat into high gear. “Widespread farmer and consumer resistance defeated GM wheat in 2004 and this global rejection remains strong, as demonstrated by today’s statement,” said Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network.

“In 2004, a coalition of Japanese consumer and food industry groups delivered a petition to the Governments of Canada and the U.S. urging them not to introduce GM wheat. Today, consumer rejection of GM wheat in Japan is just as strong as ever. 80 organizations in Japan have already signed the rejection statement,” said Keisuke Amagasa of the Tokyo-based No! GMO Campaign. “A large majority of consumers here in Japan are voicing their strong opposition to the cultivation of GM wheat. We see strong opposition from all sectors of society.”

Japan’s flour companies are also rejecting GM wheat, echoing consumer opposition. In a statement released today, the Flour Miller’s Association of Japan wrote to the No! GMO Campaign indicating its opposition.

 “Under the present circumstances, with all the doubts about safety and the environment that the consumers in Japan have, including the effect on the human body from GM foods, GM wheat is included among the items that are not acceptable for the Japanese market,” Kadota Masaaki, senior managing director of the Flour Miller’s Association wrote to the No! GMO Campaign.

Clearfield Wheat, grown on nearly 1 million acres in the Pacific Northwest and sold by BASF Corporation–the world’s largest chemical manufacturer–was created in a geneticist’s lab by exposing wheat seeds and embryos to the mutation-inducing industrial toxin sodium azide, a substance poisonous to humans and known for exploding when mishandled, says Dr. Davis. This hybridized wheat doesn’t survive in the wild, and most farmers rely on toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides to keep the crops alive.

So what does all of this plant science have to do with what’s ailing us? Intense crossbreeding created significant changes in the amino acids in wheat’s glutenproteins, a potential cause for the 400 percent increase in celiac disease over the past 40 years.

 Wheat’s gliadin protein has also undergone changes, with what appears to be a dire consequence. “Compared to its pre-1960s predecessor, modern gliadin is a potent appetite stimulant,” explains Dr. Davis. “The new gliadin proteins may also account for the explosion in inflammatory diseases we’re seeing.”

An intolerance to gluten can cause a wide array of symptoms, some debilitating. Moreover, delays in diagnosis or common misdiagnoses can be devastating to long-term health. Gerta Farber elaborates on her research and personal experience with Celiac disease.

A powerful little chemical in wheat known as ‘wheat germ agglutinin’ (WGA) which is largely responsible for many of wheat’s pervasive, and difficult to diagnose, ill effects. Researchers are now discovering that WGA in modern wheat is very different from ancient strains.

Not only does WGA throw a monkey wrench into our assumptions about the primary causes of wheat intolerance, but due to the fact that WGA is found in highest concentrations in “whole wheat,” including its supposedly superior sprouted form, it also pulls the rug out from under one of the health food industry’s favorite poster children.

Below the radar of conventional serological testing for antibodies against the various gluten proteins and genetic testing for disease susceptibility, the WGA “lectin problem” remains almost entirely obscured. Lectins, though found in all grains, seeds, legumes, dairy and our beloved nightshades: the tomato and potato, are rarely discussed in connection with health or illness, even when their presence in our diet may greatly reduce both the quality and length of our lives.

 The appetite-stimulating properties of modern wheat most likely occurred as an accidental by-product of largely unregulated plant breeding methods, Dr. Davis explains. But he charges that it’s impact on inflammatory diseases may have something to do with the fact that, in the past 15 years, it’s been showing up in more and more processed foods. Wheat ingredients are now found in candy, Bloody Mary mixes, lunch meats, soy sauce, and even wine coolers.

As if making you hungrier wasn’t enough, early evidence suggests that modern wheat’s new biochemical code causes hormone disruption that is linked to diabetes and obesity. “It is not my contention that it is in everyone’s best interest to cut back on wheat; it is my belief thatcomplete elimination is in everyone’s best health interests,” says Dr. Davis, “In my view, that’s how bad this thing called ‘wheat’ has become.”

Replace Wheat With Spelt

Spelt is an ancient grain that has lately made a comeback in North America, even though it has been popular through the decades in many European countries. Spelt is a non-hybrid distant relative to present day wheat. Spelt’s uniqueness is derived from its genetic makeup and nutrition profile.

 Spelt has high water solubility, so nutrients are easily absorbed by the body making it easy to digest. It is high in protein (significantly higher than wheat), higher in B complex vitamins, and spelt is high in both simple and complex carbohydrates. These complex carbohydrates are an important factor in blood clotting and stimulating the body’s immune system. Spelt is a suberb fiber resource. Spelt’s nutty flavor doesn’t just taste good, it has so many other nutritional benefits that are amazingly good for you!

 Keep reading to find out more about how spelt’s nutrients contribute to lower risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease, type II diabetes, and can lessen occurrences of migraine headaches.
Spelt is more difficult to process than modern wheat varieties, making it a little more expensive to purchase. Spelt’s husk protects it from pollutants and insects which allows growers to avoid using pesticides, unlike other grains. The husk needs to be mechanically separated from the kernal before milling (this is done after it is thrashed and harvested). The spelt is stored in good, low moisture conditions in order to protect the kernal, retain nutrients, and maintain freshness.

 Over decades, modern wheat has been drastically changed to be easier to grow and harvest. This in turn increases yields, maintains a high gluten content in the wheat to produce high-volume commercial baked goods. On the other hand, spelt has preserved many of its original traits and continues to remain highly nutritious and full of flavor. And spelt can make fantastic breads and delicious pastries

A note about gluten: Keep in mind that spelt does contain gluten. Gluten is made up of glutenin and gliadin molecules. Gluten provides elasticity to dough, which allows bread to rise. Even though spelt’s gluten is more fragile than other wheats, the bread produces fewer air pockets, it is well formed and maintains its flavorful taste.

West Point Trains Military To Take On Americans

Soldiers and police in America take an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. But knowing who is a domestic enemy of the Constitution can be confusing to a young grunt. So a West Point think tank decided to broadly define what a domestic enemy may look like to ensure soldiers follow orders when the time comes.

In a study recently published by the West Point Combating Terrorism Center entitled, “Challengers From The Sidelines: Understanding America’s Violent Far-Right,” Arie Perliger, the author of the study, attempts to present a picture of an America infested with dangerous “Right Wing” domestic terrorists lurking in the shadows and waiting to launch an attack on government establishments, agents, and minorities.

In the study, what Perliger defines as the “Far-Right” is actually a mixture of race hate groups with ordinary militias, anti-abortion activists, Libertarians/Anarchists, and “conspiracy theorists.” Perliger suggets that this “Far-Right” contingent is glued together by an identification with an “anti-federalist” ideology as well as a belief in a “New World Order.” 

According to Perliger, these groups are concerned with the “corrupted and tyrannical nature of the federal government and its apparent tendency to violate individuals’ civilian liberties and constitutional rights.”

Perliger, who is the director of terrorism studies at the West Point Combating Terrorism Center writes in the Introduction to the study that its purpose is to provide “a conceptual foundation for understanding different far-right groups and then presents the empirical analysis of violent incidents to identify those perpetrating attacks and their associated trends.”

For all the repetition of the terms “terrorism” and "violent" however, it is important to mention just how broad a definition has been assigned to this term in recent years. As Madison Ruppert of End the Lie writes in his article, “West Point study identifies ‘violent far-right’ with recognizing tyrannical, corrupt nature of government,” “It is worth noting that the federal government is quite tyrannical and corrupt with a federal judge ruled the government can claim the legal right to assassinate Americans without any charge or trial while never explaining the legal basis, engage in widespread illegal surveillance (which is dramatically increasing) and indefinitely detain Americans.”

Ruppert continues by stating, “If those aren’t violations of individuals’ civil liberties and constitutional rights, I don’t know what is.”

Yet, while Perliger defines three different branches of the “far-right” – racist/white supremacy movement, anti-federalist movement, and fundamentalist movement – the author lumps the three different branches into one, all while conveniently ignoring pertinent facts that might not back up his claims.

Perliger’s paper notably lacks mention of the fact that a great many “racist/white supremacy” organizations are themselves either partially or even entirely staffed by law enforcement agents of government intelligence. Likewise, Perliger entirely conflates race-based movements (also likely infiltrated and controlled by government agencies) with what he labels the “Christian Fundamentalist” movement. This, as Madison Ruppert points out, is described with a complete lack of understanding (intentional or otherwise) as to what “fundamentalism” actually is.

Yet, the “anti-federalist” movement (itself a variety of movements mixed together to provide an easier category for Perliger and his readers), is the most interesting when evaluating the West Point paper. According to Perliger, this “movement” is centered around a belief in a “New World Order,” and the recognition of the “corrupted and tyrannical nature of the federal government and its apparent tendency to violate individuals’ civilian liberties and constitutional rights.”

In this regard, Perliger writes,

The anti-federalist rationale is multifaceted, and includes the beliefs that the American political system and its proxies were hijacked by external forces interested in promoting a “New World Order” (NWO) in which the United States will be absorbed into the United Nations or another version of global government. They also espouse strong convictions regarding the federal government, believing it to be corrupt and tyrannical, with a natural tendency to intrude on individuals’ civil and constitutional rights. Finally, they support civil activism, individual freedoms, and self government. Extremists in the anti-federalist movement direct most their violence against the federal government and its proxies in law enforcement.

In further summarizing the “anti-federalist” viewpoint, Perliger writes,

The anti-federalist movement’s ideology is based on the idea that there is an urgent need to undermine the influence, legitimacy and practical sovereignty of the federal government and its proxy organizations. The groups comprising the movement suggest several rationales that seek to legitimize anti-federal sentiments. Some groups are driven by a strong conviction that the American political system and its proxies were hijacked by external forces interested in promoting a “New World Order,” (NWO) in which the United States will be embedded in the UN or another version of global government. The NWO will be advanced, they believe, via steady transition of powers from local to federal law-enforcement agencies, i.e., the transformation of local police and law-enforcement agencies into a federally controlled “National Police” agency that will in turn merge with a “Multi-National Peace Keeping Force.” The latter deployment on US soil will be justified via a domestic campaign implemented by interested parties that will emphasize American society’s deficiencies and US government incompetency. This will convince the American people that restoring stability and order inevitably demands the use of international forces. The last stage, according to most NWO narratives, involves the transformation of the United States government into an international/world government and the execution and oppression of those opposing this process.

Indeed, anyone even faintly aware of historical and current events would be hard-pressed to argue with the so-called “anti-federalists” in their analysis.

Regardless, in light of the recent push for citizen disarmament, the paper tellingly states,

Linda Thompson, the head of the Unorganized Militia of the United States details the consequence of this global coup: ”This is the coming of the New World Order. A one-world government, where, in order to put the new government in place, we must all be disarmed first. To do that, the government is deliberately creating schisms in our society, funding both the anti-abortion/pro-choice sides, the antigun/pro-gun issues…trying to provoke a riot that will allow martial law to be implemented and all weapons seized, while ‘dissidents’ are put safely away”. The fear of the materialization of the NWO makes most militias not merely hostile towards the federal government but also hostile towards international organizations, whether non-profitable NGOs, international corporations, or political institutions of the international community, such as the UN.

Perliger, of course, does not attempt to challenge any of Thompson's claims as they are presented in this short quotation nor does he attempt to debunk any of the claims made by the “anti-federalist” communities that he so concisely repeats in the statement above. While, admittedly, it is not a stated goal of the author’s study to defend his position and debunk those of his subjects, one would also be justified in concluding that Perliger does not attempt to defend his case simply because disproving the claims made by the “anti-federalist” activists as he presents them would impossible for him to do in a convincing manner.

Yet the purpose of the paper is not to provide legitimate information about these groups as much as it is to terrify the reader – West Point and other military trainees – into believing that anyone who rightly supposes that their government is overstepping its bounds, violating their rights, or moving forward in otherwise unconstitutional directions is a conspiracy-obsessed, right-wing, racist fanatic who is intent on killing military, police, and minorities.

Unfortunately for the author, however, a careful reading of his own argument causes it to fall apart at the seams.

After postulating numerous reasons for the alleged violence of “far-right” groups ranging from political, socio-economic, geographical, and operational possibilities, Perliger attempts to turn to the actual numbers.

At first, Perliger’s presentation of thousands of violent attacks per year (using 2010 statistics) is quite shocking since such attacks are not known to the general public and the mainstream media has not seized upon them at every available opportunity as one would expect. The actual level of violence in its own right, whether reported or not, would be concerning to say the very least.

These numbers would be an even more concerning situation if they demonstrated that such attacks were on the rise.

Unfortunately for the government argument, however, this is not the case as even Perliger has to admit when he says, “Hence, in periods during which many streams of terrorism have shown improvement in their operational capabilities and, as a result, an increase in their tendency to engage in mass casualty attacks, the violent American far right shows stagnation, at least in terms of its ability to enhance the harm it generates.”

For instance, while the term “right-wing violent attack” might conjure images of lynchings, executions, or mass terror attacks, the statistics, even those presented by Perliger, tend to show a different reality. Indeed, the type of “attack” referenced in Perliger’s study is entirely unclear in terms of just what would constitute a “right-wing violent attack.”

Indeed, when examining Perliger’s statistics, one can easily see that well over half of the “attacks” being described are actually proxy “attacks” (loosely defined term) against property, “foiled attacks” (which are wildly undefined, especially since the overwhelming majority of any foiled terrorist attack in the United States has been directed by the FBI), “heavy damage to property,” and “cross burnings.”

Likewise, with so many acts of property damage and racial symbols being later determined to have been directed by the “victims” themselves, one must also call these numbers into question since they are left unclear in the study.

Of those attacks designed to cause “mass casualties,” the Oklahoma City Bombing was no doubt included in the statistics, an obvious government-run false flag operation.

Yet, even among the 42% of “attacks” described as involving “specific human targets,” the incidents are not necessarily connected with any political, racial, or religious origin. As with any attempt at methods of divide and conquer, there is the very real possibility that any violent attack leveled against any individual of minority status or non-right-wing political ideology is thus considered to be a “specific human target” attack. Under such loosely defined rules of categorization, since the incidence of “specific human targets” were overwhelmingly one on one or (at most) two on one altercations, a simple shoving match between two individuals in which one could be remotely considered right wing, racist, or religious could then be delineated as a violent right-wing attack.

Since Perliger easily allows his own political bias to appear during the course of the paper and, since much of his political theory is based upon Israeli political scientist Ehud Sprinzak’s Iceberg model of the structure of political movements, it is apparent that Perliger’s own methodology is likely devised in a manner that would allow even the most distant and unrelated events seem directly related to the core of political ideology Perliger has set in his sites.

Such a concern is only compounded by the fact that one of Perliger’s main sources for his paper is the Southern Poverty Law Center, a notorious race-baiting organization that routinely accuses anyone who disagrees with the company line in regards to government policy as racist and potentially violent and dangerous. Not far behind, of course, is the citation of the Anti-Defamation League, an organization of similar race-based incredibility.

In the end, Perliger’s report is nothing more than just another cog in the wheel of a military-industrial complex on overdrive in its attempt to brainwash new military recruits into believing that a terrorist lurks behind every bush. More importantly, these new recruits are being trained that such terrorists are no longer shadowy Muslims hiding in caves in Afghanistan, but good ol’ boys, gun owners, and average American citizens that will eventually have to be dealt with.

How To Protect Yourself From Chemtrail Poisoning

 


“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Such is Ben Franklin’s saying. How true it is! He was talking about fire prevention, but the analogy can surely be applied to health. Especially when it comes to heavy metal and chemical exposure, the body’s immune, nervous and endocrine systems may likely be worn down faster than therapies can build them back up, though there is some individual variation (see quote at the conclusion of this article).

That said, there is also a lot we can do to protect ourselves from the exposure in the first place, and to rejuvenate the body once the exposure has taken place. It just takes time, that’s all, and a physician’s supervision if a health injury has actually occurred. But let’s not go there. Instead, the focus of this article is how you can take extra precautions to shield yourself from heavy metal poisoning from chemtrails, assuming that you are a healthy individual. Because people on the Surviving the Middle Class Crash and Speak Truth 2 Power sites have expressed concern, I thought I would offer a thought or two about this.

Let’s first take a look at the contents of chemtrail sprays. Then we will know what we are up against, and how to proceed further with strengthening the body’s defenses (which is absolutely never a guarantee that no health injury can occur, especially where chemtrail exposure is concerned. Only a precautionary measure).Literature available about chemtrails may be controversial and conflicting, but that of course may be reason in itself to raise some querying eyebrows.

According to Aajonus Vonderplanitz, Ph.D. www.mayanmajix.com/art2152.html:

“Laboratory examination of those chemicals found that they were manufacturing wastes from military industry and biowarfare substances. In several laboratory analyses, the composition of chemtrails was revealed:

1. Aluminum Barium
2. Aluminum Oxide
3. Bacilli and Molds
4. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
5. Pseudomonas Florescens
6. Bacilli Amyloliquefaciens
7. Streptomyces
8. Enterobacteriaceae
9. Serratia Marcscens
10. Human white Blood Cells-A restrictor enzyme used in research labs to snip and combine DNA
11. Enterobacter Cloacal
12. Other Bacilli and other toxic molds capable of producing heart disease and meningitis as well as acute upper respiratory and gastrointestinal distress.
13. Carcinogen Zinc Cadmium Sulfide.

After chemtrails lingered, spread, covered entire skies and fell, reports of illnesses increased substantially, such as persistent hacking coughs, upper respiratory and intestinal distress, pneumonia, fatigue, lethargy, dizziness, disorientation, headaches, aching joints and muscles, nosebleeds, diarrhea, bloody stools, depression, anxiety, loss of bladder control, and nervous tics. 

Much of it is reported as flu and everyone but a few know that much of it is poisons dropped over our heads, inhaled, absorbed through our skins, and consumed in our food.”

Yikes! Well that’s a lot to bite off and chew, isn’t it. So before we go into the discussion of dietary and herbal support for such exposure, let’s look at ways to reduce exposure in the first place.

a) It’s the age-old trick of people who are environmentally ill. They wear a scarf or mask over their nose and mouth, to filter any chemicals out of the air they breathe. If you see chemtrails in the sky, you and all of your loved ones should be doing the same.

b) Consider purchasing a high-quality air filter for your home. Airstar is an excellent brand with various models, which are designed to remove small particles, bacteria and chemicals from the air. They are used by environmentally ill people, whose immune systems are so compromised that they cannot walk into a grocery store or go down the detergent isle.

 Some even have to move to the desert or elsewhere, and every one of them requires special housing. So these are very well designed air filters. You could call Real Goods in Hopland, CA to find out about the newest models and other brands used by chemically sensitive people: www.realgoods.com/ Toll-free: (800) 919-2400

c) A water filter will be just as crucial. Reports of dying fish are not to be laughed at in heavily sprayed chemtrail areas. I recommend the Multi-Pure product www.multipure.com , which removes at minimum 95% of each chemical or heavy metal included in its very long list. In fact, many are removed at rates of 98.9%, and a few at 99%. Some models will filter all of the water in your home, including your bath water. Don’t forget that the skin absorbs chemicals and metals: Protect yourself in the shower as well as when drinking water.

There also are separate shower filters available less expensively then filters designed for the entire home. (You could also ask about filters for your outdoor garden hose, as the ground water is bound to be contaminated. Don’t dump that tainted water on your plants, this will only contribute to polluting the ground water as well as your plants!)

d) One blogger mentioned covering her garden with thin plastic on spray days. The thinnest grade of plastic, she points out, allows the plants not to suffocate or overheat, but still protects them. Remove it after spraying is done. Wear gloves and wash them, and your hands, thoroughly.

e)  In his article titled “Living Safely in a Polluted World: Your Home Should be a Haven”, Dr. Leon Chaitow suggests taking off your shoes prior to entering your home. This is not merely for housekeeping purposes, but for chemical hygiene: Heavy metals such as lead may be contaminating the soil from prior exhaust fume exposure, he writes (it lasts many years prior to breakdown), and clings to dust particles. Other chemicals also cling to dust, he writes. With chemtrail sprays, the same cautions may be observed. Extra vacuuming and dusting will be key.

f)  Vacuum your furniture, rugs, drapes (yes, drapes especially, don’t forget how much they may filter out from incoming air) and home very well if there is any aerial spraying going on. Close your windows and doors on spray days. Immediately throw out any vacuum bags after use.

g) Essential oils in your home not only smell pleasant, but have anti-microbial action. Tea tree and oregano oils are particularly effective against viruses and bacteria, with citrus oils following second in line. Lavender will kill some dust mites too, but has less anti-viral/anti-bacterial action than the oregano and tea tree oils. It is perfectly okay to mix the above oils together. Very lightly spray them on your drapes, carpets, floors and put them in your heat vents.

 Consider very lightly spraying them in your car, too, particularly on floor mats and seats (essential oils are exceptionally powerful, so don’t overdo them. Two drops in a mugful of tea water, or about 4 to 6 drops in a sprayer bottle of water, are all that you need. Just enough to smell nice, without being overpowering. Don’t use if you have infants, they may be too strong).

h) Spread word, spread word, spread word!
Here is important information from the Pesticide Action Network about first aid for barium and aluminum exposure:

www.pesticideinfo.org › Least/Non-Toxic Alternatives (on the Home page, see Chemicals or Alphabetized Chemical List)

Now, how do we support the body’s defenses against such an onslaught as a mix of heavy metals plus various mixed, noxious microbes, alongside carcinogens? There is no simple answer. But fortunately, the herbal world does have a lot to offer for detoxifying the body,  strengthening the liver and kidneys, plus very effective anti-viral herbs that are for the most part free of side-effects. With no guarantees made to any reader (I never make guarantees, and it all depends so much on individual vulnerabilities), a panel of physicians at a lecture I attended, said that the drug Tamiflu will shorten your flu duration by 12 hours, whereas elderberry will shorten it by 48 hours! (There were naturopathic doctors and a mainstream doctor on the panel, who agreed with the naturopaths).

However if there is a health injury, I stress emphatically that you will need a physician’s care. You may  likely  need antibiotics and other intervention. I recommend a naturopathic physician (don’t use this article to replace a physician’s guidance, oriented to your individual case and specific needs. Feel free to use this article for your education, and to ask your doctor specific questions). Naturopaths are well-trained in the areas of detoxification, and have an arsenal of tools to accomplish this.

 In addition, instead of offering the medical approach of countering a particular malaise, they are trained to actually rebuild and strengthen body systems. Some states allow naturopaths to prescribe mainstream medications as well, and they are specially trained in the interaction between drugs, herbs and supplements. Their schooling includes standard medical training plus a combination of nutrition, homeopathy, herbs and acupuncture. You can find a licensed naturopathic physician in your area on this website:

May I strongly suggest that readers purchase their own copy of naturopathic doctor Linda Rector Page’s book called “Healthy Healing”. This book offers excellent home remedies for many ailments from A-Z, with each ailment in a one-page quick-glance format. Herbs, homeopathics, diet, and body work are each listed in columns for each page. Additionally, her book discusses various detoxification methods and the information is quite handy.

World-ranking herbal authority Christopher Hobbs has several books of interest too. His “Foundations of Health” is a very lay-friendly read, with many detoxification regimens offered. “Natural Therapy for your Liver” is in lay-friendly language and goes into scientific depth, using technical terms yet still an easy read. This book offers detox herbal formulas, but also discusses many of the herbs in depth, plus some of their specific impacts on the liver and its enzymes. So it’s the more technical book, for those who are interested in that information.

You can also log on to www.healthy.net where only nationally and world-renowned physicians, naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists and herbalists post their articles. You can look up almost any ailment by entering it into the search box. World-ranking herbal authority David Hoffmann has his herbal material medica on this site, so you can look up individual herbs with his in-depth world of wisdom offered for anybody who is interested.

Dr. Joseph Mercola has written many articles about chemical and heavy metal poisoning, and to google his articles would be time well spent.

Having myself fully recovered from environmental illness more than 26 years ago, and as herbalist with training in this area, let me hereby offer a few thoughts for adjunct support, subject to your physician’s approval.

1) Support your liver, your body’s most important detoxifying organ

2) Support your kidneys, also an important organ of elimination

3) Strengthen cell walls with essential fatty acids, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, and vitamin E. The cell walls form the first line of defense against environmental chemicals and metals. If they make it past this first immune barrier, then the detoxifying organs and immune system kick in. Keeping the first immune barrier strong, the mucosal linings of organs and those of your cells, is one part of the greater arsenal of keys to protection from environmental poisoning.

 (Please note, however, that chemical/heavy metal exposure will break down this immune barrier faster than any supplements can rebuild it. Observe the cautions above, and as many others as you can think of, to reduce exposure. Don’t forget to wear a scarf or mask outdoors!

This will be very important for your protection). IMPORTANT: If your digestive lining has been compromised, you will be far more prone to infections and metal poisoning, or any kind of toxicity, than most people. Make sure you seal up the gut lining, if compromised. You can read about Leaky Gut Syndrome here: http://survivingthemiddleclasscrash.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/leaky-gut-syndrome-or-digestive-permeability/

4) Strengthen your immune system, which should not tolerate long-term infections or illnesses unless it has been broken down to begin with. (The onslaught of mixed heavy metals with noxious microbes is very likely enough to break it down).

5) If actually poisoned by chemtrail sprays, ask your doctor to test and balance your hormones as necessary. NOTE: If your thyroid is low, you will possibly be prone to increased risk of infections, colds and flus. If your adrenals are low, you will be more prone to stress and inflammations, with lowered immunity in general. You could also be at increased hormone-driven cancer risk if DHEA levels are low.

6) Eat as many organic or pesticide-free, hormone-free, antibiotic-free and GMO-free products as you possibly can afford. (Trader Joes and the farmer’s markets offer less-expensive choices). If there is chemtrail spraying in your area, your liver is bound to be overwhelmed by the task of detoxifying the heavy metals, plus the toxins secreted by the various microbes. To give your liver and kidneys a break from any undue burden, is to free them up for the enormous task at hand, to detoxify this noxious mix of products. Use non-toxic household cleansers wherever possible, and do everything you can to reduce the load of chemicals coming in to your body.

7) Ask your doctor if you have any known health concerns, to be sure that there is no contra-indication before proceeding with an heavy metal detoxification, but also with detoxification of any kind. Make sure to ask about drug/herb/nutrient interactions, you would be surprised at how often these can occur. Make sure your doctor approves the protocol here, as well as the herbs and supplements.

8) I do *not* recommend heavy metal detoxification where digestive mucosa has been compromised, as in Leaky Gut Syndrome, Candida albicans infections or untreated Celiac disease. Instead, I strongly recommend rebuilding the gut lining first, prior to proceeding. If you have any known medical condition, or any liver or kidney issues, talk with your doctor prior to doing any heavy metal detoxification program.

If barium and aluminum are part of the chemtrail’s components, then obviously it is important to support your body against inhaled or ingested heavy metals:

 Vitamin C is helpful in buffering heavy metals, plus it raises glutathione levels in the liver, according to Linda Rector Page ND. To accompany this with apple pectin in capsule form would be helpful too, since this binds with and removes heavy metals that are in the gut (but does not pull it out of the cells, per se. It’s very important to remove the metals from the digestive tract, terribly important in fact to prevent reuptake and protect immune integrity). Cilantro is a helpful aid in metal detoxifying, as are sea greens of almost any kind. Take these supplements, eat a lot of apples, garlic, cilantro, onions, sea vegetables and miso, and you will be assisting your body’s heavy metals screening process.

Make sure you are having at least two bowel movements daily. According to Dr. Mark Hyman, heavy metals are contained in stool material, and can be reabsorbed if the stool matter hangs around for too long prior to elimination. Do occasional enemas to clear the colon of impacted waste that causes heavy metal reuptake, plus putrefaction and toxicity-related diseases as stagnant bowel wastes escape into the blood, writes Dr. Linda Rector Page. (Note: Your body can become dependent on enemas, so only do this on occasion and not at regular intervals).

But the above is for dietary “beefing up” so to speak, not for actual heavy metal detoxification. For the latter, I recommend only one product: Metalloclear by Metagenics (available at Vitacost for a substantial discount: www.vitacost.com ). This has a gentle action which boosts your liver’s own glutathione, a sulfur-like detoxifying fluid, that helps to break down heavy metals (among other things). In this way, by acting gently yet working with the liver, this product reduces the chances of heavy metals injuring your system anew as they are chelated out of the body.

(Note that any product which cleanses heavy metals too quickly, can be a source of health injury instead of healthy detoxication. There is never a guarantee by the way, but this product also is a lot safer than many that I know of, at least in my opinion.

 Because going slowly is key with metal detoxifying, I absolutely do not recommend taking this product alongside any of the other metal-buffering supplements or herbs mentioned anywhere in this article. Use this product separately.)

Dr Page warns: Never fast or drink solely liquids when doing heavy metal detoxification. You need the fiber to absorb some of the toxins and metals in order to protect your body. Eat lots of brown rice and vegetables to assist detoxifying, especially of heavy metals. Some of this should be raw vegetable material, such as salad. Liquids can be used to flush out waste, but food and fiber are musts when cleansing metals. Be sure to ask for your physician’s supervision when attempting any heavy metal cleanse, to make sure all is going safely and smoothly.

For extra immune support, prior to actual infection

Vitamin D3 was said by a panel of six physicians at a lecture I attended, to “act like a firewall” against the immune system. It calms down the over-active immune system while activating the tired one, they said. This can be useful against many types of bacteria and viruses. Use only the D3 cholecalciferol version (not D2 ergocalciferol). Biotics Research makes an excipient-free, hypoallergenic product in a natural sesame oil and acacia base, called Bio-D-Mulsion Forte. 
(Do not exceed recommended dose without your doctor’s supervision. Vitamin D can help to strengthen bones and teeth, but excessively high doses can swing too far and calcify the kidneys, according to the physician panelists in the lecture I attended. It’s beneficial in smaller amounts but not in larger portions. Balance is everything with supplements and herbs. According to Earl Mindells Vitamin Bible of the 21st Century, 20,000 iu or more are considered toxic, but it’s almost never administered in such high doses. Ask your doctor for the best dosage suited to your own case).

If you are actually exposed to chemtrail spray and become virally/bacterially infected:
See a naturopathic or integrative physician. The following information is only for educational purposes, based on which you can ask questions of your physician.

(Caution: Echinacea is contra-indicated in auto-immune disease such as, but not limited to lupus, some forms of arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. The same holds true for astragalus and some forms of auto-immunity: Avoid).

Echinacea plus goldenseal as extract (much stronger than the dried herb). Echinacea is an excellent lymphatic cleanser, and goldenseal soothes the mucosal linings. Both have antiviral and antibacterial action, especially together. Use most Echinacea products for ten days, then take a one-week break prior to proceeding again (Exception: Those with low levels of Echinacea, as background herb. Auto-immune patients must avoid Echinacea altogether, regardless of dosage).

See Herb Pharm’s product called Virattack (this will be helpful with viruses and bacterial infections, alike. Contains Echinacea, do not use in auto-immune attack). Available at a deep discount from Vitacost: http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?ss=1&.x=11&.y=8&Ntk=products&Ntt=virattack

If you cannot take Echinacea, try pairing up the Bio D-Mulsion Forte together with Elderberry Extract (Gaia and Herb Pharm are excellent brands). Take the elderberry in moderate doses for the moderate-term, but not long-term. Use vitamin D ongoing, with your doctor’s approval and according to his/her dosage recommendations.

Chamomile tea steam: To keep the lungs clear and offer anti-inflammatory action is a small piece of the protective strategy, because the mucosal linings of the lungs are a part of the immune mucosal barrier.

Prepare a pot of chamomile tea. Remove from the stove, place on a trivet on a table top. Sit down, and drape a towel over your head and the pot, to form a tent which catches the steam. Inhale the tolerably warm steam, preferably through your nose, to your comfort level (five to ten minutes). Chamomile contains anti-inflammatory bisabolol, and is just mildly anti-microbial, helps to clear the lungs and is a gentle tonic. This is a good adjunct therapy for lung infections, but also for aiding in clearing your lungs. (It may not be able to remove all of the chemicals and metals from your lungs coming from chemtrails, but can assist).

Caution: Use tolerably warm steam but not hot enough to burn your face, or it can burn your nasal passages, bronchial airways and lungs too. Rinse off with cold water and pat your skin dry, do not rub with the towel because your pores will be open and sensitive after steaming.

For lung infections: See your physician
Gaia Herbs’s Respiratory Defense (most important keystone, excellent) plus chamomile tea steam, above.

As adjunct:
Mullein tea mixed with marshmallow root and fenugreek can help to reduce excess mucus. Drink the prepared tea. Very soothing to digestive mucosal linings too.

Ginger compress: Grate fresh ginger root and add hot water. Put on a cloth, place on the chest with ginger directly in contact with the skin. Leave on for no more than fifteen minutes to loosen phlegm. Wipe the skin with olive oil after removing the compress. CAUTION: Do not leave a person with a ginger compress unattended. The skin can burn if left on for too long, and if the person falls asleep, the skin can actually blister. Let the skin turn a healthy pink, but not an unhealthy red.
For asthma: See your physician

Gaia Herbs’s Breathe Naturally or Herb Pharm’s Calm Breath. See also Amla Fruit, below for adjunct support alongside the herbs.

For digestive disturbances:
Mullein, fennel, marshmallow root tea plus added peppermint leaf to soothe irritated digestive lining.
Chamomile and mint tea, together for stomach flu or aches. Honey has mild antimicrobial action and can help to counteract nausea (avoid with diabetes or hypoglycemia).
Ginger and lavender help nausea, mix with mint for pleasing flavor and to break up digestive gas.
If you have Leaky Gut Syndrome, consider the use of L-Glutamine and Gamma Oryzanol (from rice bran oil) to rebuild the gut lining. Use the marshmallow root tea above to soothe the inflamed digestive mucosa.

Digestive PH is important to breaking down unfriendly bacteria and viruses: If your PH is too low, use apple cider vinegar daily (a couple of teaspoons or tablespoons in a glass of water, to tolerance. Think also of salad dressing). Lemon is in itself acidic, but actually alkalizes the system once ingested. Unfriendly bacteria and viruses require an alkaline environment for their survival, and most will not survive the stomach acids if strong enough. Keeping your PH balanced is an important part of your defense.

For nose bleeds:
Quercitin, one of the bioflavonoids, strengthens capillary vessels. Often sold paired up with nettle leaves, an excellent choice because this checks histamine secretions and thus mitigates allergic reactions (helpful with asthma as adjunct support). Additionally, nettles deeply support the kidneys, which will need extra assistance during this time. For capillary strength, you could also try the Ayurvedic Amla fruit, which according to Dr Rector Page is “one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C and bioflavonoids; each amla fruit contains up to 700 mg of vitamin C. Amla is revered for its anti-aging, immune enhancing properties. It has been used since ancient times for anemia, asthma, bleeding gums, diabetes, colds, chronic lung disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, yeast infections, scurvy and cancer. Studies show that amla protects against chromosome damage from heavy metal exposure”. (Please note that for cancer, asthma and other serious matters, it is not one herb acting alone which will do the whole trick. A combination of elements will be necessary, under a naturopathic or integrative physician’s guidance). You can purchase Amla Fruit by the excellent Paradise Herbs company at a discount from Vitacost or iherbs.com


Ginkgo, hawthorn and horse chestnut also benefit capillary strength and elasticity. For nose bleeds, use these as backups to the quercitin or amla.
For liver support to cleanse heavy metals:

Dr. Rector-Page writes that “Lipoic Acid is a potent promoter of glutathione, and an important co-factor in energy metabolism, especially during stress conditions. It also increases the effectiveness of other antioxidants, like vitamins C and E. Lipoic acid is one of the most potent liver detoxifiers ever discovered”.

Chlorella has actually been used by the army to mitigate chemical warfare, writes Dr Page. She also writes that “chlorella strengthens the liver, the body’s major detoxifying organ, to rid you of infective agents. Chlorella eliminates heavy metals, like lead, mercury, copper and cadmium” (almost all of which are ingredients in dental “Silver” amalgam fillings). One physician I know personally, cautioned that chlorella “will grab onto the good stuff too, so don’t take it with other herbs or medication. Instead, administer it separately, several hours after taking the medication or herbs” (or supplements). 


Milk thistle would usually be associated with chemical detoxifying more than with heavy metals, but would also be extremely useful as extra support in this situation. It helps the liver to build new liver tissue, and its constituents are believed to bind with receptor sites to block chemical uptake, thereby protecting the body from toxicity. A liver protectant, also has some adrenal gland supporting functions. Caution: Do not mix milk thistle with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, the herb potentiates the uptake of both regimens and can put you at risk of drug toxicity. In fact, do not mix any of the instructions here with any cancer therapy. See your doctor. This is very important, for your own well-being.

Schizandra is a Chinese herb which has liver protectant functions, supports the adrenal glands (involved in anti-inflammatory responses) and the immune system, each alike.

Burdock, artichoke and dandelion root are helpful adjuncts alongside milk thistle or schizandra for liver support and detoxification. Bupleurum is a Chinese herb that regulates energy flow through the liver, stabilizing liver function and aiding cleansing. Helpful with mood swings.
It’s okay and even optimal to mix the above herbs as a liver-supportive formula. Many commercially-prepared herbal formulas contain a mix of several herbs above. I like GAIA Herb’s Milk Thistle Yellow Dock.

Build up your mucosal linings, or the linings of your organs (digestive, lungs, nasal and bronchial passages, and more) and which are part of your immune system’s first shield. See note above about Leaky Gut Syndrome, if you have compromised digestive linings then you will be especially vulnerable. Take care of a leaky gut, if present, as your very first line of defense):

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) strengthen the walls of fatty tissue such as in the brain and spinal cord, also assisting the screening of foreign matter from the cells. Fish oils, evening primrose, flax seed or borage oil would be excellent choices. Vitamin E can assist too, but start at a low dose and creep it up gradually, to avoid any raising of  blood pressure. Ask your doctor about taking vitamin E if you already have high blood pressure. Use as adjunct alongside the EFA’s.

Vitamin C and bioflavonoids build collagen, the cement that binds cellular material together. This plays a role in mucosal barriers as well. Bioflavonoids also have some anti-viral activity.
Support your kidneys:

Dandelion leaf plus nettles will be gently diuretic and kidney-strengthening, while replacing some of the potassium excreted in the urine and building up the body’s mineral reserve.
If kidneys are painful or sore, see your doctor. Use a chamomile compress on your back. For cysts, see your physician. Use a warm castor oil pack topically, but not for long-term repeated use.
For nerve health:
St Johnswort oil (different constituents than the tincture) is a superb topical nervous system anti-inflammatory. Coconut oil mixed with St Johnswort oil (apply topically) can be very soothing to inflamed, tingling or irritated nerves. Mix St Johnswort Oil with homeopathic Traumeel Oil for often very good results, apply topically as massage oil. Homeopathic Avena Sativa (wild oats) can be calming, and homeopathic Hypericum Perforatum (From St Johnswort) is specifically used for nerve injuries. Heavy metals will likely damage nerves: Make sure to safely and slowly detoxify metals for nerve health. Building liver health will be key too, Traditional Chinese Medicine has traced a connection between the nervous system and the liver. Eat oatsdaily, if you are not gluten intolerant: They can gradually and gently build up nerve health over time.

Last but not least, let me hereby offer a few thoughts to stop chemtrail spraying in the first place. Class action lawsuits may be most effective, to hit the pocketbook is where it counts most. The pursuit of life, liberty and happiness is a basic Constitutional right (once upon a time, and we have to restore it).

Those who approve such chemtrail spraying, must immediately be unseated from public office or their other positions of authority, and frankly be locked up. Expose their misdeeds with the power of the pen, and urge people to get involved in unseating this person abusing their position of power. Murdering one’s own people is treason.

Also, let me be very bold and say truly and from the core of conviction, that by U.S. law, anybody who poses a physical threat to Self or Others, must be held against his/her own will in psychiatric hospitals. The hospitals cannot hold psychotic delusionals or anybody else against their will. But anybody who poses a threat of physical harm to anybody, must be held by law.

I wouldn’t think they could lock You up as The Kook for saying such a thing, if you were in a class action group of people alleging such insanity among our high-ranking officials. But of course, you never know.

(I am not an attorney, and do not know how binding this matter would be on a legal level).
Let me also close on a note of hope. According to the reference book, “Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide”:

“Metals that have no safe amount in the human system, may accumulate within the body (fat cells, central nervous system,bones, brain, glands, and hair) and may have negative health effects. Any level of these toxic metals is not normal. The levels usually need to rise above the established safety ranges to actually manifest in health problems. However, there is individual variation, and high normal levels may aggravate one person and not another”.

So if you keep your immune system healthy and routinely detoxify in a safe and gentle way, you may have a much better chance of tolerating the toxic exposure.
Blessings on your journey!

WARNING H1N1 Contents

20 Ways To Be More Self Sufficient

One thing you don't want to be during the coming "crunch" – a polite word for "collapse" – is dependent on the system. 

The more you can take care of yourself, the better off you'll be physically, financially, emotionally and even spiritually. Here are 20 ways to become more self-sufficient while you still can: 

1) Get a small solar system that can be used to run a laptop or recharge batteries
2) Drill a water well and install a hand pump or solar-powered DC pump
3) Set up a rainwater collection system or barrel
4) Stash some cash: stock away some green dollar bills and lots of U.S. nickels
5) Own and learn how to use a handgun, rifle and shotgun
6) Store some ammunition
7) Own and know how to use a water filter
8) Start a garden this spring and acquire more food production skills
9) Save garden seeds so you can plant the next generation of food
10) Acquire a wood-burning stove for heat and cooking
11) Possess a large quantity of stored food; enough for at least 90 days
12) Get to know your local farmers and ranchers
13) Store up valuable barter items that are relatively cheap today: Alcohol, coffee, ammo, matches, etc.
14) Safely store extra vehicle fuel (gasoline, diesel) at your home or ranch
Be sure to use fuel stabilizers to extend their life.
15) Learn emergency first aid skills and own first aid supplies
This could save a life or possibly save a trip to the emergency room.
16) Start growing your own medicine
Plant and grow aloe vera, oregano, garlic, cayenne pepper and other medicinal herbs that can replace a surprisingly large number of prescription drugs. Oregano, for example, is a potent antibiotic. Aloe vera treats cuts, scrapes and burns.
17) Own emergency hand-cranked radios so you can tune in to news and announcements
My #1 recommended brand is Freeplay.
18) Boost your immune system with vitamin D and superfoods
19) Increase your level of physical fitness
20) Learn how to raise animals such as rabbits, chickens, goats or cow

Who Isn't or Isn't a Well Paid "Herlo?:

America’s two biggest groups of scammers have got to be police officers and firefighters, whose union reps routinely tell Americans that their members put their lives on the line every day simply by slipping into their uniforms. They really use that terminology as they lobby for "donning and doffing" rules that give them extra pay for the time they spend slipping into their government-supplied garments.

But the latest data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics once again show that these groups of government employees work in relatively safe professions, with firefighters having a lower death rate than the average American worker and barely edging out cashiers in terms of putting their lives on the line. Most cashiers are killed on the job because of homicides, whereas a quarter of firefighter deaths are from truck accidents – and the numbers have declined, apparently, after concerted efforts to convince these heroes to buckle their seatbelts.

Fishermen, loggers, pilots and farmers/ranchers have the most dangerous jobs in America. Police officers and sheriffs fall below farmers, but above construction workers. About half of their deaths are because of car accidents, often the fault of their own driving habits.

This list looks at the data over a longer period and reinforces the same point. None of the top 10 dangerous jobs are in the government "public safety" area and only one category (trash collectors) is dominated by government employees.

I’ve known people who work in a number of the most-dangerous professions – taxi drivers, truck drivers, trash collectors, electrical line workers, loggers, fishermen, pilots, roofers, coal miners, farmers – and I cannot ever recall any of them insisting to me personally or publicly that they are "heroes" who "put their lives on the line."

 Once in a while, I’ll hear a farmer insist that it’s thanks to his kind that we have food on our table, but even that’s a rarity and it's usually part of a political campaign to keep the environmental crazies from restricting his water or property use.

I can’t recall ever telling people that, by writing this article, I am a hero of the First Amendment. As annoying as my profession may be, I don’t know any journalists who would argue such an absurdity.
By contrast, police officers and paid government firefighters – as opposed to the largely noble group of volunteers, who provide this service to the public for free, despite the harassment they receive from firefighter unions who try to put them out of business – always insist that they are heroes. 

They do so in their public pronouncements and especially during union negotiations. They love to have press conferences and hand out heroism awards to fellow union members. They often tell me that it's thanks to them that I am safe to enjoy my life.

During negotiations, firefighters and police routinely invoke the memory of 9/11 for their own personal gain. I remember when Laguna Beach, Calif., firefighters – who have a cushy gig on the Southern California coast – plastered photos of 9/11 all over a fire truck as they lobbied for higher pay during their dispute with the city manager.

In the California Legislature this year, Democratic leaders quietly pushed ahead legislation that would have declared that any retired cop or firefighter, no matter how old, would be presumed to have died of a work-related injury if he or she died from some common ailments such as blood disorders, heart disease or cancer. The purpose was to give huge payouts to their survivors. The bill was softened then vetoed, but it shows the lengths to which the unions will go to play the hero card for self enrichment.

A few years ago, I wrote about a bill that would have exempted firefighters from criminal negligence for on-the-job behavior. It, too, died, but there’s no special protection that these heroes won’t seek. Police unions lobby to assure that even the most abusive among them don’t have to suffer any penalties, even in instances where they shoot unarmed members of the public in the back.

Heroes are people who display great courage and selflessness to protect others. Here, we see people who are extremely well paid for services that entail only modest risk, and then rig the legal system so there is no accountability if they misbehave. They increasingly follow bureaucratic rules designed to protect "officer safety," assuring in essence that they are forced to endure virtually zero risk during their work day. Is that heroism?

In 2011, Alameda, Calif., firefighters stood around and let a man drown to death. They said they couldn’t go into the 60-degree San Francisco Bay water because they didn’t have the proper cold-water training.

 Many believe they were selfishly withholding "services" as a way to make a point about proposed budget cutbacks. When asked by a local TV station whether he would go into the water and save a drowning child, division chief Ricci Zombeck said:

 "Well, if I was off duty I would know what I would do, but I think you’re asking me my on-duty response and I would have to stay within our policies and procedures because that’s what’s required by our department to do." 

Is this the answer of a hero or a bureaucrat? My first LewRockwell article was about a similar event in Philadelphia, where police and firefighters stood around eating and joking as a suicidal man jumped into the water. Despite the assembled minions of well-paid uniformed government workers, it took some unpaid bystanders to risk their lives and try to save the jumper.

Unfortunately, the public seems to buy this nonsense. When I was on the Stossel show discussing such issues, a California union spokesman, Dave Low, argued that cops and firefighters receive big pensions because they die soon after retirement. But fortunately I had already done the research. 

According to the union-controlled California Public Employees Retirement System, police are the longest-living public employee category followed closely by firefighters. They live well into their 80s, enjoying those millionaires’ pensions that their unions have secured for them.

Enough is enough. Police and firefighters work in professions that are not particularly dangerous and they live longer lives than most people. Most of this work can be replaced by the private sector. There are no categories of hero. Individuals in all professions and all walks of life engage in heroic acts. The truth will set us free – and might just lighten our tax burden also.

Sign Entering Virginia

Uruguary Has Poorest President With Richest Ideas

It's a common grumble that politicians' lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate. Not so in Uruguay. Meet the president - who lives on a ramshackle farm and gives away most of his pay.

Laundry is strung outside the house. The water comes from a well in a yard, overgrown with weeds. Only two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog, keep watch outside.
This is the residence of the president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, whose lifestyle clearly differs sharply from that of most other world leaders.

President Mujica has shunned the luxurious house that the Uruguayan state provides for its leaders and opted to stay at his wife's farmhouse, off a dirt road outside the capital, Montevideo.

The president and his wife work the land themselves, growing flowers.

This austere lifestyle - and the fact that Mujica donates about 90% of his monthly salary, equivalent to $12,000 (£7,500), to charity - has led him to be labelled the poorest president in the world.

"I may appear to be an eccentric old man... But this is a free choice."

"I've lived like this most of my life," he says, sitting on an old chair in his garden, using a cushion favoured by Manuela the dog.

"I can live well with what I have."

His charitable donations - which benefit poor people and small entrepreneurs - mean his salary is roughly in line with the average Uruguayan income of $775 (£485) a month.

 

 

All the president's wealth - a 1987 VW Beetle

In 2010, his annual personal wealth declaration - mandatory for officials in Uruguay - was $1,800 (£1,100), the value of his 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.

This year, he added half of his wife's assets - land, tractors and a house - reaching $215,000 (£135,000).

That's still only about two-thirds of Vice-President Danilo Astori's declared wealth, and a third of the figure declared by Mujica's predecessor as president, Tabare Vasquez.

Elected in 2009, Mujica spent the 1960s and 1970s as part of the Uruguayan guerrilla Tupamaros, a leftist armed group inspired by the Cuban revolution.

He was shot six times and spent 14 years in jail. Most of his detention was spent in harsh conditions and isolation, until he was freed in 1985 when Uruguay returned to democracy.
Those years in jail, Mujica says, helped shape his outlook on life.

Tupamaros: Guerrillas to government

 

• Left-wing guerrilla group formed initially from poor sugar cane workers and students
• Named after Inca king Tupac Amaru
• Key tactic was political kidnapping - UK ambassador Geoffrey Jackson held for eight months in 1971
• Crushed after 1973 coup led by President Juan Maria Bordaberry
• Mujica was one of many rebels jailed, spending 14 years behind bars - until constitutional government returned in 1985
• He played key role in transforming Tupamaros into a legitimate political party, which joined the Frente Amplio (broad front) coalition

"I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor.

 Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more," he says.

"This is a matter of freedom. If you don't have many possessions then you don't need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself," he says.
"I may appear to be an eccentric old man... But this is a free choice."

The Uruguayan leader made a similar point when he addressed the Rio+20 summit in June this year: "We've been talking all afternoon about sustainable development. To get the masses out of poverty.

"But what are we thinking? Do we want the model of development and consumption of the rich countries?

I ask you now: what would happen to this planet if Indians would have the same proportion of cars per household than Germans? How much oxygen would we have left?

"Does this planet have enough resources so seven or eight billion can have the same level of consumption and waste that today is seen in rich societies? It is this level of hyper-consumption that is harming our planet."

Mujica accuses most world leaders of having a "blind obsession to achieve growth with consumption, as if the contrary would mean the end of the world".

 

 

Mujica could have followed his predecessors into a grand official residence

But however large the gulf between the vegetarian Mujica and these other leaders, he is no more immune than they are to the ups and downs of political life.

"Many sympathise with President Mujica because of how he lives. But this does not stop him for being criticised for how the government is doing," says Ignacio Zuasnabar, a Uruguayan pollster.

The Uruguayan opposition says the country's recent economic prosperity has not resulted in better public services in health and education, and for the first time since Mujica's election in 2009 his popularity has fallen below 50%.

This year he has also been under fire because of two controversial moves. Uruguay's Congress recently passed a bill which legalised abortions for pregnancies up to 12 weeks. Unlike his predecessor, Mujica did not veto it.

I

 

nstead, he chose to stay on his wife's farm

 

He is also supporting a debate on the legalisation of the consumption of cannabis, in a bill that would also give the state the monopoly over its trade.

"Consumption of cannabis is not the most worrying thing, drug-dealing is the real problem," he says.

However, he doesn't have to worry too much about his popularity rating - Uruguayan law means he is not allowed to seek re-election in 2014. Also, at 77, he is likely to retire from politics altogether before long.

When he does, he will be eligible for a state pension - and unlike some other former presidents, he may not find the drop in income too hard to get used to.