wakingtimes--2020-08-06--P is for Predator State: The Building Blocks of Tyranny from A to Z

P is for Predator State : The Building Blocks of Tyranny from A to Z Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
Sign up here .
While America continues to fixate on the drama-filled reality show scripted by the powers-that-be , directed from the nation ’ s capital , and played out in high definition across the country , the American Police State has moved steadily forward .
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a convenient , traumatic , devastating distraction .
The American people , the permanent underclass in America , have allowed themselves to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to notice the building blocks of tyranny being laid down right under their noses by the architects of the Deep State .
Trump , Obama , Bush , Clinton : they have all been complicit in carrying out the Deep State ’ s agenda .
Unless something changes to restore the balance of power , the next president—the new boss—will be the same as the old boss .
Frankly , it really doesn ’ t matter what you call the old/new boss—the Deep State , the Controllers , the masterminds , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police state , the surveillance state , the military industrial complex—so long as you understand that no matter who occupies the White House , it is a profit-driven , an unelected bureaucracy that is actually calling the shots .
If our losses are mounting with every passing day—and they are—it is a calculated siege intended to ensure our defeat at the hands of a totalitarian regime .
Free speech , the right to protest , the right to challenge government wrongdoing , due process , a presumption of innocence , the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , privacy , media , sovereignty , assembly , bodily integrity , representative government : all of these and more are casualties in the government ’ s war on the American people .
Set against a backdrop of government surveillance , militarized federal police , SWAT team raids , asset forfeiture , overcriminalization , armed surveillance drones , whole body scanners , stop and frisk searches , and the like—all of which have been sanctioned by Congress , the White House and the courts—our constitutional freedoms are being steadily chipped away at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and generally discarded .
As a result , the American people have been treated like enemy combatants , to be spied on , tracked , scanned , frisked , searched , subjected to all manner of intrusions , intimidated , invaded , raided , manhandled , censored , silenced , shot at , locked up , and denied due process .
None of these dangers have dissipated in any way .
They have merely disappeared from our televised news streams .
It ’ s time to get educated on what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interest of liberty and truth , here ’ s an A-to-Z primer that spells out the grim realities of life in the American Police State that no one seems to be talking about anymore .
B is for our battered BILL OF RIGHTS .
In the militarized police culture that is America today , where you can be kicked , punched , tasered , shot , intimidated , harassed , stripped , searched , brutalized , terrorized , wrongfully arrested , and even killed by a police officer , and that officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights , the Bill of Rights doesn ’ t amount to much .
C is for CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE .
This governmental scheme to deprive Americans of their liberties—namely , the right to property—is being carried out under the guise of civil asset forfeiture , a government practice wherein government agents ( usually the police and now TSA agents ) seize private property they “ suspect ” may be connected to criminal activity .
Then , whether or not any crime is actually proven to have taken place , the government keeps the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s virtually impossible to get it back .
D is for DRONES .
It was estimated that at least 30,000 drones would be airborne in American airspace by 2020 , part of an $ 80 billion industry .
Although some drones will be used for benevolent purposes , many will also be equipped with lasers , tasers and scanning devices , among other weapons—all aimed at “ we the people.
” E is for EMERGENCY STATE .
From 9/11 to COVID-19 , we have been the subjected to an “ emergency state ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and power grabs in the so-called name of national security .
The government ’ s ongoing attempts to declare so-called national emergencies in order to circumvent the Constitution ’ s system of checks and balances constitutes yet another expansion of presidential power that exposes the nation to further constitutional peril .
F is for FASCISM .
A study conducted by Princeton and Northwestern University concluded that the U.S. government does not represent the majority of American citizens .
Instead , the study found that the government is ruled by the rich and powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Moreover , the researchers concluded that policies enacted by this governmental elite nearly always favor special interests and lobbying groups .
In other words , we are being ruled by an oligarchy disguised as a democracy , and arguably on our way towards fascism—a form of government where private corporate interests rule , money calls the shots , and the people are seen as mere economic units or databits .
G is for GRENADE LAUNCHERS and GLOBAL POLICE .
The federal government has distributed more than $ 18 billion worth of battlefield-appropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as drones , tanks , and grenade launchers to domestic police departments across the country .
As a result , most small-town police forces now have enough firepower to render any citizen resistance futile .
Now take those small-town police forces , train them to look and act like the military , and then enlist them to be part of the United Nations ’ Strong Cities Network program , and you not only have a standing army that operates beyond the reach of the Constitution but one that is part of a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BULLETS .
The government ’ s efforts to militarize and weaponize its agencies and employees is reaching epic proportions , with federal agencies as varied as the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration stockpiling millions of lethal hollow-point bullets , which violate international law .
Ironically , while the government continues to push for stricter gun laws for the general populace , the U.S. military ’ s arsenal of weapons makes the average American ’ s handgun look like a Tinker Toy .
I is for the INTERNET OF THINGS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitor your home , your health and your habits in order to keep your pantry stocked , your utilities regulated and your life under control and relatively worry-free .
The key word here , however , is control .
This “ connected ” industry propels us closer to a future where police agencies apprehend virtually anyone if the government “ thinks ” they may commit a crime , driverless cars populate the highways , and a person ’ s biometrics are constantly scanned and used to track their movements , target them for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveillance .
J is for JAILING FOR PROFIT .
Having outsourced their inmate population to private prisons run by private corporations , this profit-driven form of mass punishment has given rise to a $ 70 billion private prison industry that relies on the complicity of state governments to keep their privately run prisons full by jailing large numbers of Americans for petty crimes .
K is for KENTUCKY V. KING .
In an 8-1 ruling , the Supreme Court ruled that police officers can break into homes , without a warrant , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as they think they may have a reason to do so .
Despite the fact that the police in question ended up pursuing the wrong suspect , invaded the wrong apartment and violated just about every tenet that stands between the citizenry and a police state , the Court sanctioned the warrantless raid , leaving Americans with little real protection in the face of all manner of abuses by law enforcement officials .
L is for LICENSE PLATE READERS , which enable law enforcement and private agencies to track the whereabouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all across the country .
This data collected on tens of thousands of innocent people is also being shared between police agencies , as well as with government fusion centers and private companies .
This puts Big Brother in the driver ’ s seat .
M is for MAIN CORE .
Since the 1980s , the U.S. government has acquired and maintained , without warrant or court order , a database of names and information on Americans considered to be threats to the nation .
As Salon reports , this database , reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be used by the Army and FEMA in times of national emergency or under martial law to locate and round up Americans seen as threats to national security .
There are at least 8 million Americans in the Main Core database .
N is for NO-KNOCK RAIDS .
Owing to the militarization of the nation ’ s police forces , SWAT teams are now increasingly being deployed for routine police matters .
In fact , more than 80,000 of these paramilitary raids are carried out every year .
That translates to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which police crash through doors , damage private property , terrorize adults and children alike , kill family pets , assault or shoot anyone that is perceived as threatening—and all in the pursuit of someone merely suspected of a crime , usually possession of some small amount of drugs .
O is for OVERCRIMINALIZATION and OVERREGULATION .
Thanks to an overabundance of 4500-plus federal crimes and 400,000 plus rules and regulations , it ’ s estimated that the average American actually commits three felonies a day without knowing it .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re seeing an uptick in Americans being arrested and jailed for such absurd “ violations ” as letting their kids play at a park unsupervised , collecting rainwater and snow runoff on their own property , growing vegetables in their yard , and holding Bible studies in their living room .
P is for PATHOCRACY and PRECRIME .
When our own government treats us as things to be manipulated , maneuvered , mined for data , manhandled by police and other government agents , mistreated , and then jailed in profit-driven private prisons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are no longer operating under a constitutional republic .
Instead , what we are experiencing is a pathocracy : tyranny at the hands of a psychopathic government , which “ operates against the interests of its own people except for favoring certain groups.
” Couple that with the government ’ s burgeoning precrime programs , which will use fusion centers , data collection agencies , behavioral scientists , corporations , social media , and community organizers and by relying on cutting-edge technology for surveillance , facial recognition , predictive policing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to identify and deter so-called potential “ extremists , ” dissidents or rabble-rousers .
Bear in mind that anyone seen as opposing the government—whether they ’ re Left , Right or somewhere in between—is now viewed as an extremist .
Q is for QUALIFIED IMMUNITY .
Qualified immunity allows police officers to walk away without paying a dime for their wrongdoing .
Conveniently , those deciding whether a cop should be immune from having to personally pay for misbehavior on the job all belong to the same system , all cronies with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their infamous code of silence : city and county attorneys , police commissioners , city councils and judges .
R is for ROADSIDE STRIP SEARCHES and BLOOD DRAWS .
The courts have increasingly erred on the side of giving government officials—especially the police—vast discretion in carrying out strip searches , blood draws and even anal and vaginal probes for a broad range of violations , no matter how minor the offense .
In the past , strip searches were resorted to only in exceptional circumstances where police were confident that a serious crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , strip searches have become routine operating procedures in which everyone is rendered a suspect and , as such , is subjected to treatment once reserved for only the most serious of criminals .
S is for the SURVEILLANCE STATE .
On any given day , the average American going about his daily business will be monitored , surveilled , spied on and tracked in more than 20 different ways , by both government and corporate eyes and ears .
A byproduct of the electronic concentration camp in which we live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a store , driving your car , checking email , or talking to friends and family on the phone , you can be sure that some government agency , whether the NSA or some other entity , is listening in and tracking your behavior .
This doesn ’ t even begin to touch on the corporate trackers that monitor your purchases , web browsing , Facebook posts and other activities taking place in the cyber sphere .
T is for TASERS .
Nonlethal weapons such as tasers , stun guns , rubber pellets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police as weapons of compliance more often and with less restraint—even against women and children—and in some instances , even causing death .
These “ nonlethal ” weapons also enable police to aggress with the push of a button , making the potential for overblown confrontations over minor incidents that much more likely .
A Taser Shockwave , for instance , can electrocute a crowd of people at the touch of a button U is for UNARMED CITIZENS SHOT BY POLICE .
No longer is it unusual to hear about incidents in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions later , often attributed to a fear for their safety .
Yet the fatality rate of on-duty patrol officers is reportedly far lower than many other professions , including construction , logging , fishing , truck driving , and even trash collection .
V is for VIRUSES AND FORCED VACCINATIONS .
What started out as an apparent effort to prevent a novel coronavirus from sickening the nation ( and the world ) has become yet another means by which world governments ( including the U.S. ) can expand their powers , abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constituents .
With millions of dollars in stimulus funds being directed towards policing agencies across the country , the federal government plans to fight this COVID-19 virus with riot gear , gas masks , ballistic helmets , drones , and hi-tech surveillance technology .
The road we are traveling is paved with lockdowns , SWAT team raids , mass surveillance and forced vaccinations .
Now there ’ s talk of mobilizing the military to deliver forced vaccinations , mass surveillance in order to carry out contact tracing , and heavy fines and jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out without a mask , congregate in worship without the government ’ s blessing , or re-open their businesses without the government ’ s say-so .
W is for WHOLE-BODY SCANNERS .
Using either x-ray radiation or radio waves , scanning devices and government mobile units are being used not only to “ see ” through your clothes but to spy on you within the privacy of your home .
While these mobile scanners are being sold to the American public as necessary security and safety measures , we can ill afford to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential for abuse , not only by government bureaucrats but by the technicians employed to operate them .
X is for X-KEYSCORE , one of the many spying programs carried out by the National Security Agency that targets every person in the United States who uses a computer or phone .
This top-secret program “ allows analysts to search with no prior authorization through vast databases containing emails , online chats and the browsing histories of millions of individuals.
” Y is for YOU-NESS .
Using your face , mannerisms , social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you are now be tracked based on what you buy , where you go , what you do in public , and how you do what you do .
Facial recognition software promises to create a society in which every individual who steps out into public is tracked and recorded as they go about their daily business .
The goal is for government agents to be able to scan a crowd of people and instantaneously identify all of the individuals present .
Facial recognition programs are being rolled out in states all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ZERO TOLERANCE .
We have moved into a new paradigm in which young people are increasingly viewed as suspects and treated as criminals by school officials and law enforcement alike , often for engaging in little more than childish behavior or for saying the “ wrong ” word .
In some jurisdictions , students have also been penalized under school zero tolerance policies for such inane “ crimes ” as carrying cough drops , wearing black lipstick , bringing nail clippers to school , using Listerine or Scope , and carrying fold-out combs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taught to our youngest—and most impressionable—citizens is this : in the American police state , you ’ re either a prisoner ( shackled , controlled , monitored , ordered about , limited in what you can do and say , your life not your own ) or a prison bureaucrat ( politician , police officer , judge , jailer , spy , profiteer , etc. )
.
As I make clear in my book Battlefield America : The War on the American People , the reality we must come to terms with is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in today , the government does whatever it wants , freedom be damned .
We have moved beyond the era of representative government and entered a new age .
You can call it the age of authoritarianism .
Or fascism .
Or oligarchy .
Or the American police state .
Whatever label you want to put on it , the end result is the same : tyranny .
Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute , where this article ( P Is for Predator State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A to Z ) was originally published .
He is the author of A Government of Wolves : The Emerging American Police State and The Change Manifesto .

P is for Predator State: The Building Blocks of Tyranny from A to Z
John W. Whitehead, Rutherford
Waking Times
“When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk; a culture-death is a clear possibility.” — Professor Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Discourse in the Age of Show Business
While America continues to fixate on the drama-filled reality show scripted by the powers-that-be, directed from the nation’s capital, and played out in high definition across the country, the American Police State has moved steadily forward.
Nothing has changed.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a convenient, traumatic, devastating distraction.
The American people, the permanent underclass in America, have allowed themselves to be so distracted and divided that they have failed to notice the building blocks of tyranny being laid down right under their noses by the architects of the Deep State.
Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton: they have all been complicit in carrying out the Deep State’s agenda. Unless something changes to restore the balance of power, the next president—the new boss—will be the same as the old boss.
Frankly, it really doesn’t matter what you call the old/new boss—the Deep State, the Controllers, the masterminds, the shadow government, the corporate elite, the police state, the surveillance state, the military industrial complex—so long as you understand that no matter who occupies the White House, it is a profit-driven, an unelected bureaucracy that is actually calling the shots.
If our losses are mounting with every passing day—and they are—it is a calculated siege intended to ensure our defeat at the hands of a totalitarian regime.
Free speech, the right to protest, the right to challenge government wrongdoing, due process, a presumption of innocence, the right to self-defense, accountability and transparency in government, privacy, media, sovereignty, assembly, bodily integrity, representative government: all of these and more are casualties in the government’s war on the American people.
Set against a backdrop of government surveillance, militarized federal police, SWAT team raids, asset forfeiture, overcriminalization, armed surveillance drones, whole body scanners, stop and frisk searches, and the like—all of which have been sanctioned by Congress, the White House and the courts—our constitutional freedoms are being steadily chipped away at, undermined, eroded, whittled down, and generally discarded.
As a result, the American people have been treated like enemy combatants, to be spied on, tracked, scanned, frisked, searched, subjected to all manner of intrusions, intimidated, invaded, raided, manhandled, censored, silenced, shot at, locked up, and denied due process.
None of these dangers have dissipated in any way.
They have merely disappeared from our televised news streams.
It’s time to get educated on what’s really going on. Thus, in the interest of liberty and truth, here’s an A-to-Z primer that spells out the grim realities of life in the American Police State that no one seems to be talking about anymore.
A is for the AMERICAN POLICE STATE. A police state “is characterized by bureaucracy, secrecy, perpetual wars, a nation of suspects, militarization, surveillance, widespread police presence, and a citizenry with little recourse against police actions.”
B is for our battered BILL OF RIGHTS. In the militarized police culture that is America today, where you can be kicked, punched, tasered, shot, intimidated, harassed, stripped, searched, brutalized, terrorized, wrongfully arrested, and even killed by a police officer, and that officer is rarely held accountable for violating your rights, the Bill of Rights doesn’t amount to much.
C is for CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE. This governmental scheme to deprive Americans of their liberties—namely, the right to property—is being carried out under the guise of civil asset forfeiture, a government practice wherein government agents (usually the police and now TSA agents) seize private property they “suspect” may be connected to criminal activity. Then, whether or not any crime is actually proven to have taken place, the government keeps the citizen’s property and it’s virtually impossible to get it back.
D is for DRONES. It was estimated that at least 30,000 drones would be airborne in American airspace by 2020, part of an $80 billion industry. Although some drones will be used for benevolent purposes, many will also be equipped with lasers, tasers and scanning devices, among other weapons—all aimed at “we the people.”
E is for EMERGENCY STATE. From 9/11 to COVID-19, we have been the subjected to an “emergency state” that justifies all manner of government tyranny and power grabs in the so-called name of national security. The government’s ongoing attempts to declare so-called national emergencies in order to circumvent the Constitution’s system of checks and balances constitutes yet another expansion of presidential power that exposes the nation to further constitutional peril.
F is for FASCISM. A study conducted by Princeton and Northwestern University concluded that the U.S. government does not represent the majority of American citizens. Instead, the study found that the government is ruled by the rich and powerful, or the so-called “economic elite.” Moreover, the researchers concluded that policies enacted by this governmental elite nearly always favor special interests and lobbying groups. In other words, we are being ruled by an oligarchy disguised as a democracy, and arguably on our way towards fascism—a form of government where private corporate interests rule, money calls the shots, and the people are seen as mere economic units or databits.
G is for GRENADE LAUNCHERS and GLOBAL POLICE. The federal government has distributed more than $18 billion worth of battlefield-appropriate military weapons, vehicles and equipment such as drones, tanks, and grenade launchers to domestic police departments across the country. As a result, most small-town police forces now have enough firepower to render any citizen resistance futile. Now take those small-town police forces, train them to look and act like the military, and then enlist them to be part of the United Nations’ Strong Cities Network program, and you not only have a standing army that operates beyond the reach of the Constitution but one that is part of a global police force.
H is for HOLLOW-POINT BULLETS. The government’s efforts to militarize and weaponize its agencies and employees is reaching epic proportions, with federal agencies as varied as the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration stockpiling millions of lethal hollow-point bullets, which violate international law. Ironically, while the government continues to push for stricter gun laws for the general populace, the U.S. military’s arsenal of weapons makes the average American’s handgun look like a Tinker Toy.
I is for the INTERNET OF THINGS, in which internet-connected “things” monitor your home, your health and your habits in order to keep your pantry stocked, your utilities regulated and your life under control and relatively worry-free. The key word here, however, is control. This “connected” industry propels us closer to a future where police agencies apprehend virtually anyone if the government “thinks” they may commit a crime, driverless cars populate the highways, and a person’s biometrics are constantly scanned and used to track their movements, target them for advertising, and keep them under perpetual surveillance.
J is for JAILING FOR PROFIT. Having outsourced their inmate population to private prisons run by private corporations, this profit-driven form of mass punishment has given rise to a $70 billion private prison industry that relies on the complicity of state governments to keep their privately run prisons full by jailing large numbers of Americans for petty crimes.
K is for KENTUCKY V. KING. In an 8-1 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that police officers can break into homes, without a warrant, even if it’s the wrong home as long as they think they may have a reason to do so. Despite the fact that the police in question ended up pursuing the wrong suspect, invaded the wrong apartment and violated just about every tenet that stands between the citizenry and a police state, the Court sanctioned the warrantless raid, leaving Americans with little real protection in the face of all manner of abuses by law enforcement officials.
L is for LICENSE PLATE READERS, which enable law enforcement and private agencies to track the whereabouts of vehicles, and their occupants, all across the country. This data collected on tens of thousands of innocent people is also being shared between police agencies, as well as with government fusion centers and private companies. This puts Big Brother in the driver’s seat.
M is for MAIN CORE. Since the 1980s, the U.S. government has acquired and maintained, without warrant or court order, a database of names and information on Americans considered to be threats to the nation. As Salon reports, this database, reportedly dubbed “Main Core,” is to be used by the Army and FEMA in times of national emergency or under martial law to locate and round up Americans seen as threats to national security. There are at least 8 million Americans in the Main Core database.
N is for NO-KNOCK RAIDS. Owing to the militarization of the nation’s police forces, SWAT teams are now increasingly being deployed for routine police matters. In fact, more than 80,000 of these paramilitary raids are carried out every year. That translates to more than 200 SWAT team raids every day in which police crash through doors, damage private property, terrorize adults and children alike, kill family pets, assault or shoot anyone that is perceived as threatening—and all in the pursuit of someone merely suspected of a crime, usually possession of some small amount of drugs.
O is for OVERCRIMINALIZATION and OVERREGULATION. Thanks to an overabundance of 4500-plus federal crimes and 400,000 plus rules and regulations, it’s estimated that the average American actually commits three felonies a day without knowing it. As a result of this overcriminalization, we’re seeing an uptick in Americans being arrested and jailed for such absurd “violations” as letting their kids play at a park unsupervised, collecting rainwater and snow runoff on their own property, growing vegetables in their yard, and holding Bible studies in their living room.
P is for PATHOCRACY and PRECRIME. When our own government treats us as things to be manipulated, maneuvered, mined for data, manhandled by police and other government agents, mistreated, and then jailed in profit-driven private prisons if we dare step out of line, we are no longer operating under a constitutional republic. Instead, what we are experiencing is a pathocracy: tyranny at the hands of a psychopathic government, which “operates against the interests of its own people except for favoring certain groups.” Couple that with the government’s burgeoning precrime programs, which will use fusion centers, data collection agencies, behavioral scientists, corporations, social media, and community organizers and by relying on cutting-edge technology for surveillance, facial recognition, predictive policing, biometrics, and behavioral epigenetics in order to identify and deter so-called potential “extremists,” dissidents or rabble-rousers. Bear in mind that anyone seen as opposing the government—whether they’re Left, Right or somewhere in between—is now viewed as an extremist.
Q is for QUALIFIED IMMUNITY. Qualified immunity allows police officers to walk away without paying a dime for their wrongdoing. Conveniently, those deciding whether a cop should be immune from having to personally pay for misbehavior on the job all belong to the same system, all cronies with a vested interest in protecting the police and their infamous code of silence: city and county attorneys, police commissioners, city councils and judges.
R is for ROADSIDE STRIP SEARCHES and BLOOD DRAWS. The courts have increasingly erred on the side of giving government officials—especially the police—vast discretion in carrying out strip searches, blood draws and even anal and vaginal probes for a broad range of violations, no matter how minor the offense. In the past, strip searches were resorted to only in exceptional circumstances where police were confident that a serious crime was in progress. In recent years, however, strip searches have become routine operating procedures in which everyone is rendered a suspect and, as such, is subjected to treatment once reserved for only the most serious of criminals.
S is for the SURVEILLANCE STATE. On any given day, the average American going about his daily business will be monitored, surveilled, spied on and tracked in more than 20 different ways, by both government and corporate eyes and ears. A byproduct of the electronic concentration camp in which we live, whether you’re walking through a store, driving your car, checking email, or talking to friends and family on the phone, you can be sure that some government agency, whether the NSA or some other entity, is listening in and tracking your behavior. This doesn’t even begin to touch on the corporate trackers that monitor your purchases, web browsing, Facebook posts and other activities taking place in the cyber sphere.
T is for TASERS. Nonlethal weapons such as tasers, stun guns, rubber pellets and the like have been used by police as weapons of compliance more often and with less restraint—even against women and children—and in some instances, even causing death. These “nonlethal” weapons also enable police to aggress with the push of a button, making the potential for overblown confrontations over minor incidents that much more likely. A Taser Shockwave, for instance, can electrocute a crowd of people at the touch of a button
U is for UNARMED CITIZENS SHOT BY POLICE. No longer is it unusual to hear about incidents in which police shoot unarmed individuals first and ask questions later, often attributed to a fear for their safety. Yet the fatality rate of on-duty patrol officers is reportedly far lower than many other professions, including construction, logging, fishing, truck driving, and even trash collection.
V is for VIRUSES AND FORCED VACCINATIONS. What started out as an apparent effort to prevent a novel coronavirus from sickening the nation (and the world) has become yet another means by which world governments (including the U.S.) can expand their powers, abuse their authority, and further oppress their constituents. With millions of dollars in stimulus funds being directed towards policing agencies across the country, the federal government plans to fight this COVID-19 virus with riot gear, gas masks, ballistic helmets, drones, and hi-tech surveillance technology. The road we are traveling is paved with lockdowns, SWAT team raids, mass surveillance and forced vaccinations. Now there’s talk of mobilizing the military to deliver forced vaccinations, mass surveillance in order to carry out contact tracing, and heavy fines and jail time for those who dare to venture out without a mask, congregate in worship without the government’s blessing, or re-open their businesses without the government’s say-so.
W is for WHOLE-BODY SCANNERS. Using either x-ray radiation or radio waves, scanning devices and government mobile units are being used not only to “see” through your clothes but to spy on you within the privacy of your home. While these mobile scanners are being sold to the American public as necessary security and safety measures, we can ill afford to forget that such systems are rife with the potential for abuse, not only by government bureaucrats but by the technicians employed to operate them.
X is for X-KEYSCORE, one of the many spying programs carried out by the National Security Agency that targets every person in the United States who uses a computer or phone. This top-secret program “allows analysts to search with no prior authorization through vast databases containing emails, online chats and the browsing histories of millions of individuals.”
Y is for YOU-NESS. Using your face, mannerisms, social media and “you-ness” against you, you are now be tracked based on what you buy, where you go, what you do in public, and how you do what you do. Facial recognition software promises to create a society in which every individual who steps out into public is tracked and recorded as they go about their daily business. The goal is for government agents to be able to scan a crowd of people and instantaneously identify all of the individuals present. Facial recognition programs are being rolled out in states all across the country.
Z is for ZERO TOLERANCE. We have moved into a new paradigm in which young people are increasingly viewed as suspects and treated as criminals by school officials and law enforcement alike, often for engaging in little more than childish behavior or for saying the “wrong” word. In some jurisdictions, students have also been penalized under school zero tolerance policies for such inane “crimes” as carrying cough drops, wearing black lipstick, bringing nail clippers to school, using Listerine or Scope, and carrying fold-out combs that resemble switchblades. The lesson being taught to our youngest—and most impressionable—citizens is this: in the American police state, you’re either a prisoner (shackled, controlled, monitored, ordered about, limited in what you can do and say, your life not your own) or a prison bureaucrat (politician, police officer, judge, jailer, spy, profiteer, etc.).
As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the reality we must come to terms with is that in the post-9/11 America we live in today, the government does whatever it wants, freedom be damned.
We have moved beyond the era of representative government and entered a new age.
You can call it the age of authoritarianism. Or fascism. Or oligarchy. Or the American police state.
Whatever label you want to put on it, the end result is the same: tyranny.
About the Author
Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute, where this article (P Is for Predator State: The Building Blocks of Tyranny from A to Z) was originally published. He is the author of A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State and The Change Manifesto.


wakingtimes--2020-08-06--WATCH: Cops ‘Protect’ Beachgoers by Cuffing, Detaining 2 Women for Skimpy Bikinis

Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
Sign up here .
Myrtle Beach , SC — In South Carolina , according to their extreme laws , a man can violently rape his significant other and it is only considered illegal if the act involves a weapon or “ highly aggravated ” violence .
If the victim waits more than 30 days , even if it involved a weapon or highly aggravated violence then she has no recourse .
Continuing down the same misogynist road , in a move that echoes many laws in the terrorist nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also kidnap and cage women for wearing skimpy bikinis on the beach .
In 2020 , one would think that a woman wearing a thong bikini on a beach would be a non-issue .
Sadly , however , as the video below illustrates , one would be wrong .
Sam Panda and her friends went to Myrtle Beach over the weekend and because she and another woman were wearing revealing bikinis , they became the target of the police state .
According to Sam , a “ Karen ” called police on them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seriously .
According to South Carolina law , it is illegal to be nude on the beach : It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally appear on any public beach , beach access , in the public waters , any other public property , or in view of the public in such a state of dress or undress so as to expose to the view of others specified anatomical areas .
Specified anatomical areas means human male or female genitals , pubic area , pubic hair , buttocks , anus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the female breast at or below the areola thereof .
They were not nude .
Sam and her friend , though their bikinis were skimpy , did not show their bare nipples or buttocks .
It is the amount of butt being shown that apparently enraged the “ Karen ” and subsequently set off the cops .
As the video shows , the officers handcuffed the scantily clad duo and brought them to their truck where they broke out the law book which stated that it is illegal to be nude .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officers ’ claims , pointing out the fact that neither of them were showing any nudity .
As the cops are dealing with two women in bikinis , they apparently felt threatened because they called for backup .
Eventually , the officers concede that they shouldn ’ t be arresting two women for their choice of attire and they are uncuffed and allowed to return to the beach — but not before being detained and “ slut shamed ” for over 20 minutes by Myrtle Beach ’ s finest .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ridiculous and demeaning it is for a mother to call the cops on another woman over her body .
“ If you are a woman , and you decide to call the police on other women for their bodies ON A BEACH , IN FRONT OF YOUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER… You have allowed a 105 pound woman to get rushed , aggressively grabbed , manhandled , and cuffed .
You allowed two women to be slut shamed publicly on a beach for their bathing suits .
And worst of all , you showed your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be ashamed of and could be detained for .
You showed her that a man can harm a woman over the way her body is viewed by other people .
You have objectified a female body that does not belong to you and have showed your daughter that those actions are acceptable .
You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself .
Though these women were let go , other women , on the exact same beach haven ’ t been so fortunate .
In 2013 , Tiara Monique Garness and three of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indecent exposure because the skimpy swimsuit didn ’ t cover her buttocks .
Sam and her friend were white while Tiara and her friends were black .
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA .
This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state .
Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world .
Agorist is also the Editor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow @ MattAgorist on Twitter , Steemit , and now on Minds .

WATCH: Cops ‘Protect’ Beachgoers by Cuffing, Detaining 2 Women for Skimpy Bikinis
Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project
Waking Times
Myrtle Beach, SC — In South Carolina, according to their extreme laws, a man can violently rape his significant other and it is only considered illegal if the act involves a weapon or “highly aggravated” violence. If the victim waits more than 30 days, even if it involved a weapon or highly aggravated violence then she has no recourse. Continuing down the same misogynist road, in a move that echoes many laws in the terrorist nation of Saudi Arabia, South Carolina will also kidnap and cage women for wearing skimpy bikinis on the beach.
In 2020, one would think that a woman wearing a thong bikini on a beach would be a non-issue. Sadly, however, as the video below illustrates, one would be wrong.
Sam Panda and her friends went to Myrtle Beach over the weekend and because she and another woman were wearing revealing bikinis, they became the target of the police state.
According to Sam, a “Karen” called police on them because she was offended at their bikinis. Seriously.
“A woman called the cops on me because of my bikini,” Sam said. “That’s how this all started. Some Karen decided that my body was offensive to her and showed her child that her body could one day lead to her arrest. Her body could be the reason a grown ass man violates her. Her body is wrong.”
According to South Carolina law, it is illegal to be nude on the beach:
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally appear on any public beach, beach access, in the public waters, any other public property, or in view of the public in such a state of dress or undress so as to expose to the view of others specified anatomical areas. Specified anatomical areas means human male or female genitals, pubic area, pubic hair, buttocks, anus, vulva, or any portion of the female breast at or below the areola thereof.
They were not nude. Sam and her friend, though their bikinis were skimpy, did not show their bare nipples or buttocks. It is the amount of butt being shown that apparently enraged the “Karen” and subsequently set off the cops.
As the video shows, the officers handcuffed the scantily clad duo and brought them to their truck where they broke out the law book which stated that it is illegal to be nude. But Sam and the man filming objected to the officers’ claims, pointing out the fact that neither of them were showing any nudity.
As the cops are dealing with two women in bikinis, they apparently felt threatened because they called for backup. Eventually, the officers concede that they shouldn’t be arresting two women for their choice of attire and they are uncuffed and allowed to return to the beach — but not before being detained and “slut shamed” for over 20 minutes by Myrtle Beach’s finest.
After the incident, Sam pointed out just how ridiculous and demeaning it is for a mother to call the cops on another woman over her body.
“If you are a woman, and you decide to call the police on other women for their bodies ON A BEACH, IN FRONT OF YOUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER… You have allowed a 105 pound woman to get rushed, aggressively grabbed, manhandled, and cuffed. You allowed two women to be slut shamed publicly on a beach for their bathing suits. And worst of all, you showed your daughter that her body is something she should be ashamed of and could be detained for. You showed her that a man can harm a woman over the way her body is viewed by other people. You have objectified a female body that does not belong to you and have showed your daughter that those actions are acceptable.
You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself.
We agree.
Though these women were let go, other women, on the exact same beach haven’t been so fortunate. In 2013, Tiara Monique Garness and three of her friends were arrested and charged with indecent exposure because the skimpy swimsuit didn’t cover her buttocks. Sam and her friend were white while Tiara and her friends were black.
About the Author
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.


wakingtimes--2020-08-07--11 New Symptoms of the Collective Awakening

11 New Symptoms of the Collective Awakening Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
Sign up here .
During the run up to 2012 the world was fascinated by the idea of the shift , that is , an awakening that first takes place within the individual , then radiates outward into our communities and societies at large , changing the world for the better .
At that time , attention was mainly focused around the personal dynamics involved in this , including the work of navigating the upheaval and turmoil that precedes inner peace and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was triggered by newfound awareness of the corruption and deception in our political and social institutions .
The pain of realizing that the material world is built on lies left us with no place to go but inward .
We explored meditation and energy healing , radically altered our diets , opened our minds to different ways of thinking and relating to the world , embraced ancestral wisdom , and we fearlessly answered the call to purge , heal and connect .
The energy around this was very intense , but it inspired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But , as all things do , the flow in this new space began to ebb , and since around 2016 it has felt like a major regression happened , taking us back into the dense , murky energies of cognitive dissonance and willful ignorance .
So much so , that the last few years has had many of us wondering what the hell the point was in all of this .
We began to doubt that our willingness to change had any real value in a world so hopelessly shipwrecked in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When 2020 began , nothing had substantively changed in the world around us , and for many of us , this muddled our sense of purpose and direction .
Many of us fell back into old habits and old pursuits .
Business and pleasure .
And then all of a sudden , boom !
Here we are .
No denying it now , the train has left the station and everything is being exposed .
All of the darkness , depravity and evil that we ’ ve been collectively covering up and ignoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this flash of bright light .
The powers that be see what ’ s happening , they ’ ve revealed their hand , and they ’ re pulling out all the stops in order to maintain the illusion of control .
Indeed , we find ourselves in quite a vulnerable position , and since we ’ ve been quarantined from all of the distractions that ’ ve helped to blanket us from reality , we can no longer avoid the truth .
A new awakening is happening now , and this time it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numb ourselves to this .
“ We numb vulnerability — when we ’ re waiting for the call… This is the world we live in .
We live in a vulnerable world .
And one of the ways we deal with it is we numb vulnerability… And I think there ’ s evidence — and it ’ s not the only reason this evidence exists , but I think it ’ s a huge cause — We are the most in-debt … obese … addicted and medicated adult cohort in U.S. history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this from the research — that you can not selectively numb emotion .
You can ’ t say , here ’ s the bad stuff .
Here ’ s vulnerability , here ’ s grief , here ’ s shame , here ’ s fear , here ’ s disappointment .
I don ’ t want to feel these .
I ’ m going to have a couple of beers and a banana nut muffin.
” ~Brené Brown As the awakening rolls forward , it ’ s taking everyone with it .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and since we ’ re all along for the ride , it may be insightful to connect some of what we ’ re feeling to the bigger picture of the change that is coming our way .
Perhaps you can relate to some of these new signs of the awakening ?
• You see a clear connection between the chaos in the world and the inner turmoil you ’ ve been diligently working to transform .
• You just don ’ t do fear anymore .
It no longer has the pull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know yourself to be spirit .
• You understand that the universe is mental , and that your thoughts are the most precious tools of creation .
For this , you readily notice when your mind is slipping from the present moment and when it tries to engage you in fear .
You have the power and determination to bring it back into alignment with your purpose and mission .
• You ’ re learning how to powerfully use your voice to contribute to the awakening and to help those who can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t play sides , and you don ’ t choose a team .
You watch , observe , and disengage when you see people acting out on agendas that are not their own .
• You see the futility and danger in belief systems , and you don ’ t bow to authority .
You stay firmly grounded in what is real and what can be verified by your own experience .
You are your own master .
• You give people of all beliefs the freedom to expose their fear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You don ’ t judge , debate , or try to correct people who don ’ t see the world as you do .
• You care for yourself first so that you may have more power to care for others .
• You deliberately work to foster connection between yourself and others , above and beyond the superficiality so prevalent in public discourse .
• You fully trust in this process and accept the fate of the world as part of it .
• You recognize that your most powerful task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stakes are incredibly high right now and the future of human freedom is at stake .
This is not hyperbole .
The Great Reset is coming our way , and while the globalists , central banks and international agencies would like to hijack this and steer us toward a new form of technocratic worldwide Orwellian slavery , the human race has never before had such a true opportunity to free itself from their chains .
It ’ s game on people , time to play your part .
P.S .
– I talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcast , Battered Souls .
Check out this recent talk with licensed psychotherapist and Bwiti initiate , Jenny Kolb .
Dylan Charles is the editor of Waking Times and host of Battered Souls : A Podcast About Transformation , both dedicated to ideas of personal transformation , societal awakening , and planetary renewal .
His personal journey is deeply inspired by shamanic plant medicines and the arts of Kung Fu , Qi Gong and Yoga .
After seven years of living in Costa Rica , he now lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and enjoys spending time with family .
He has written hundreds of articles , reaching and inspiring millions of people around the world .
Dylan is available for interviews and podcasts , and offers his services as a professional life coach to people looking to break free from the patterns and programming that hold them back in life .
Contact Dylan at WakingTimes @ gmail.com .
This article ( 11 New Symptoms of the Collective Awakening ) was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WakingTimes.com .
It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution , author bio , and this copyright statement .

11 New Symptoms of the Collective Awakening
Dylan Charles, Editor
Waking Times
During the run up to 2012 the world was fascinated by the idea of the shift, that is, an awakening that first takes place within the individual, then radiates outward into our communities and societies at large, changing the world for the better.
At that time, attention was mainly focused around the personal dynamics involved in this, including the work of navigating the upheaval and turmoil that precedes inner peace and profound transformation. Much of this shift was triggered by newfound awareness of the corruption and deception in our political and social institutions. The pain of realizing that the material world is built on lies left us with no place to go but inward.
We explored meditation and energy healing, radically altered our diets, opened our minds to different ways of thinking and relating to the world, embraced ancestral wisdom, and we fearlessly answered the call to purge, heal and connect. The energy around this was very intense, but it inspired a tremendous sense of wonder and creativity.
But, as all things do, the flow in this new space began to ebb, and since around 2016 it has felt like a major regression happened, taking us back into the dense, murky energies of cognitive dissonance and willful ignorance. So much so, that the last few years has had many of us wondering what the hell the point was in all of this. We began to doubt that our willingness to change had any real value in a world so hopelessly shipwrecked in the shallow end of the pool.
When 2020 began, nothing had substantively changed in the world around us, and for many of us, this muddled our sense of purpose and direction. Many of us fell back into old habits and old pursuits. Business and pleasure.
And then all of a sudden, boom! Here we are.
No denying it now, the train has left the station and everything is being exposed. All of the darkness, depravity and evil that we’ve been collectively covering up and ignoring for generations is squealing and squirming in this flash of bright light. The powers that be see what’s happening, they’ve revealed their hand, and they’re pulling out all the stops in order to maintain the illusion of control.
Indeed, we find ourselves in quite a vulnerable position, and since we’ve been quarantined from all of the distractions that’ve helped to blanket us from reality, we can no longer avoid the truth. A new awakening is happening now, and this time it is global. We can no longer numb ourselves to this.
“We numb vulnerability — when we’re waiting for the call… This is the world we live in. We live in a vulnerable world. And one of the ways we deal with it is we numb vulnerability… And I think there’s evidence — and it’s not the only reason this evidence exists, but I think it’s a huge cause — We are the most in-debt … obese … addicted and medicated adult cohort in U.S. history. The problem is — and I learned this from the research — that you cannot selectively numb emotion. You can’t say, here’s the bad stuff. Here’s vulnerability, here’s grief, here’s shame, here’s fear, here’s disappointment. I don’t want to feel these. I’m going to have a couple of beers and a banana nut muffin.” ~Brené Brown
As the awakening rolls forward, it’s taking everyone with it. How it ends is anyone’s guess, and since we’re all along for the ride, it may be insightful to connect some of what we’re feeling to the bigger picture of the change that is coming our way.
Perhaps you can relate to some of these new signs of the awakening?
You see a clear connection between the chaos in the world and the inner turmoil you’ve been diligently working to transform. You just don’t do fear anymore. It no longer has the pull on you it once did. You know yourself to be spirit. You understand that the universe is mental, and that your thoughts are the most precious tools of creation. For this, you readily notice when your mind is slipping from the present moment and when it tries to engage you in fear. You have the power and determination to bring it back into alignment with your purpose and mission. You’re learning how to powerfully use your voice to contribute to the awakening and to help those who cannot speak for themselves. You don’t play sides, and you don’t choose a team. You watch, observe, and disengage when you see people acting out on agendas that are not their own. You see the futility and danger in belief systems, and you don’t bow to authority. You stay firmly grounded in what is real and what can be verified by your own experience. You are your own master. You give people of all beliefs the freedom to expose their fear, anger and confusion however it may surface. You don’t judge, debate, or try to correct people who don’t see the world as you do. You care for yourself first so that you may have more power to care for others. You deliberately work to foster connection between yourself and others, above and beyond the superficiality so prevalent in public discourse. You fully trust in this process and accept the fate of the world as part of it. You recognize that your most powerful task is that of letting go.
Final Thoughts
The stakes are incredibly high right now and the future of human freedom is at stake. This is not hyperbole. The Great Reset is coming our way, and while the globalists, central banks and international agencies would like to hijack this and steer us toward a new form of technocratic worldwide Orwellian slavery, the human race has never before had such a true opportunity to free itself from their chains.
It’s game on people, time to play your part.
“Defy them. Glory in your awareness and freedom. Be bold and brash in the face of whatever they throw at us. Our fire is what is setting their cobweb of deceit aflame and they know it…but never mind them. Our concentration needs to be on manifesting the Truth. Their mechanisms are in place to discourage initiative, any sense of freedom or autonomy, and our clear and given knowledge of personal sovereignty.” ~ Zen Gardner
P.S. – I talk about some of these issues in my podcast, Battered Souls. Check out this recent talk with licensed psychotherapist and Bwiti initiate, Jenny Kolb.
Read more articles by Dylan Charles .
About the Author
Dylan Charles is the editor of Waking Times and host of Battered Souls: A Podcast About Transformation, both dedicated to ideas of personal transformation, societal awakening, and planetary renewal. His personal journey is deeply inspired by shamanic plant medicines and the arts of Kung Fu, Qi Gong and Yoga. After seven years of living in Costa Rica, he now lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and enjoys spending time with family. He has written hundreds of articles, reaching and inspiring millions of people around the world.
Dylan is available for interviews and podcasts, and offers his services as a professional life coach to people looking to break free from the patterns and programming that hold them back in life. Contact Dylan at WakingTimes@gmail.com.
This article (11 New Symptoms of the Collective Awakening) was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Dylan Charles and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.


wakingtimes--2020-08-07--Expert Issues Warning: Decriminalization of Psychedelics is NOT What You Think it Is

Expert Issues Warning : Decriminalization of Psychedelics is NOT What You Think it Is Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
Sign up here .
The drug war is the most destructive and the most racist official American policy today .
Millions of non-violent criminals filling up the cells and coiffures of the prison-industrial complex , millions of lives ruined and people killed , families destroyed , and dreams crushed .
It is violent , deadly , corrupt and an affront to free-thinking people who should have the sovereign right to alter their own consciousness with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no harm to anyone else .
Times are changing , however , although a bit more slowly than they could and should .
Cannabis legalization is moving forward but has stalled out in recent years , and governors in legal states have been slow to release and expunge the records of people incarcerated for possession of this plant .
The drug war , though , is not just a war against substances , it is a war on consciousness .
“ There can be no more intimate and elemental part of the individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the deepest level , our consciousness is what we are—to the extent that if we are not sovereign over our own consciousness then we can not in any meaningful sense be sovereign over anything else either .
So it has to be highly significant that , far from encouraging freedom of consciousness , our societies in fact violently deny our right to sovereignty in this intensely personal area , and have effectively outlawed all states of consciousness other than those on a very narrowly defined and officially approved list.
” ~Graham Hancock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapeutic benefits of psychedelic substances has been making the case that these drugs are the least harmful of the DEA scheduled drugs , and that they can be effectively used to treat mental health issues like depression , PTSD , and even benefit end-of-life patients cope with and understand their impending death .
For this , a few states and cities in America have bypassed federal law and created legislation to decriminalize possession and usage of psychedelics including mushrooms and ayahuasca .
Oakland , CA passed this in 2019 , following the lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Oregon should see similar measures on the ballot soon .
While this news was cause for celebration for advocates and users of these substances , the term ‘ decriminalization ’ is misleading , and in the muddled world of state vs. federal drug laws , it turns out the it is far more dangerous than people realize .
The main issue is that a change in local laws has no bearing on federal laws , and while communities may wish to stop locking people up for possession , the DEA is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on drugs .
Furthermore , decriminalization does not mean the same thing as ‘ legal , ’ but merely means that local police departments put these offenses on a lower enforcement priority .
If the cops want to bust you , they can and they will .
Commenting on this , and issuing a warning to those who may not fully understand the risks still involved , mycologist William Laird Goss III recently posted about how this is playing out .
Citing an article about a man who was hunted down by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Denver area after decriminalization was enacted .
“ Every day we get asked “ Now that Magic Mushrooms and Entheogenic plants are decriminalized , how do I go about buying or selling in my area ?
” Well , the simple fact is that it ’ s actually still not decriminalized .
For example : On September 11 , 2019 , Drug Enforcement Agency agents executed a search warrant on the Denver apartment unit of 27 year old Kole Douglas Milner , seizing 906 live psilocybin mushrooms and 20.42 ounces of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Denver passed Initiative 301 decriminalizing possession , and personal use of magic mushrooms .
He now faces 20 years in prison and a $ 1,000,000 fine .
The DEA does not give a fuck about decriminalization .
People possessing , growing , selling , buying , giving away mushrooms , or any psychedelics , are not safe or protected by “ lowest law enforcement priority ” Decriminalize Nature citywide resolutions .
Police departments in decriminalized cities can arbitrarily decide what ’ s a priority to them , and can add charges to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for a long time .
Additionally , the county and state law enforcement agents don ’ t have to abide by city resolutions either .
Decriminalize Nature city resolutions also fail to address record expungement for folks currently convicted and behind bars .
We believe criminal justice reform should be a prerequisite for any and all drug policy , which is why we ’ ve made it our number one priority in the California Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative .
Who here would like to help start the Psilocybin Defense Fund for all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for misinterpreting the new decriminalization policies ?
If there any lawyers out there interested , please contact us.
” ~William Laird Goss III , Mycology Director at Decriminalize California The message for people in these communities is ‘ be careful , be discreet , and be smart , because the long arm of the law is most unforgiving .
Isaac Davis is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com .
He is an outspoken advocate of liberty and of a voluntary society .
He is an avid reader of history and passionate about becoming self-sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Follow him on Facebook , here .
This article ( Expert Issues Warning : Decriminalization of Psychedelics is NOT What You Think it Is ) was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Isaac Davis and WakingTimes.com .
It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution , author bio , and this copyright statement .

Expert Issues Warning: Decriminalization of Psychedelics is NOT What You Think it Is
Isaac Davis, Staff Writer
Waking Times
The drug war is the most destructive and the most racist official American policy today. Millions of non-violent criminals filling up the cells and coiffures of the prison-industrial complex, millions of lives ruined and people killed, families destroyed, and dreams crushed. It is violent, deadly, corrupt and an affront to free-thinking people who should have the sovereign right to alter their own consciousness with any substance so long as they do no harm to anyone else.
Times are changing, however, although a bit more slowly than they could and should. Cannabis legalization is moving forward but has stalled out in recent years, and governors in legal states have been slow to release and expunge the records of people incarcerated for possession of this plant.
The drug war, though, is not just a war against substances, it is a war on consciousness.
“There can be no more intimate and elemental part of the individual than his or her own consciousness. At the deepest level, our consciousness is what we are—to the extent that if we are not sovereign over our own consciousness then we cannot in any meaningful sense be sovereign over anything else either. So it has to be highly significant that, far from encouraging freedom of consciousness, our societies in fact violently deny our right to sovereignty in this intensely personal area, and have effectively outlawed all states of consciousness other than those on a very narrowly defined and officially approved list.” ~Graham Hancock
Ever so slowly, research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic substances has been making the case that these drugs are the least harmful of the DEA scheduled drugs, and that they can be effectively used to treat mental health issues like depression, PTSD, and even benefit end-of-life patients cope with and understand their impending death.
For this, a few states and cities in America have bypassed federal law and created legislation to decriminalize possession and usage of psychedelics including mushrooms and ayahuasca. Oakland, CA passed this in 2019, following the lead of Denver, CO, while the state of Oregon should see similar measures on the ballot soon.
While this news was cause for celebration for advocates and users of these substances, the term ‘decriminalization’ is misleading, and in the muddled world of state vs. federal drug laws, it turns out the it is far more dangerous than people realize.
The main issue is that a change in local laws has no bearing on federal laws, and while communities may wish to stop locking people up for possession, the DEA is still going full bore with the war on drugs. Furthermore, decriminalization does not mean the same thing as ‘legal,’ but merely means that local police departments put these offenses on a lower enforcement priority. If the cops want to bust you, they can and they will.
Commenting on this, and issuing a warning to those who may not fully understand the risks still involved, mycologist William Laird Goss III recently posted about how this is playing out. Citing an article about a man who was hunted down by the feds for growing and selling magic mushrooms in the Denver area after decriminalization was enacted.
Goss notes:
“Every day we get asked “Now that Magic Mushrooms and Entheogenic plants are decriminalized, how do I go about buying or selling in my area?” Well, the simple fact is that it’s actually still not decriminalized. For example: On September 11, 2019, Drug Enforcement Agency agents executed a search warrant on the Denver apartment unit of 27 year old Kole Douglas Milner, seizing 906 live psilocybin mushrooms and 20.42 ounces of dried psilocybin mushrooms. Four months earlier, Denver passed Initiative 301 decriminalizing possession, and personal use of magic mushrooms. He now faces 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The DEA does not give a fuck about decriminalization. People possessing, growing, selling, buying, giving away mushrooms, or any psychedelics, are not safe or protected by “lowest law enforcement priority” Decriminalize Nature citywide resolutions. Police departments in decriminalized cities can arbitrarily decide what’s a priority to them, and can add charges to your arrest which will get you locked up for a long time. Additionally, the county and state law enforcement agents don’t have to abide by city resolutions either. Decriminalize Nature city resolutions also fail to address record expungement for folks currently convicted and behind bars. We believe criminal justice reform should be a prerequisite for any and all drug policy, which is why we’ve made it our number one priority in the California Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative. Who here would like to help start the Psilocybin Defense Fund for all the people that are going to get arrested for misinterpreting the new decriminalization policies? If there any lawyers out there interested, please contact us.” ~William Laird Goss III, Mycology Director at Decriminalize California
The message for people in these communities is ‘be careful, be discreet, and be smart, because the long arm of the law is most unforgiving.
About the Author
Isaac Davis is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com. He is an outspoken advocate of liberty and of a voluntary society. He is an avid reader of history and passionate about becoming self-sufficient to break free of the control matrix. Follow him on Facebook, here.
This article (Expert Issues Warning: Decriminalization of Psychedelics is NOT What You Think it Is) was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Isaac Davis and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.


wakingtimes--2020-08-07--Components of mRNA Technology “Could Lead to Significant Adverse Events in One or More of Our Clinic

Components of mRNA Technology “ Could Lead to Significant Adverse Events in One or More of Our Clinical Trials , ” says Moderna Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
Sign up here .
A dozen Covid-19 vaccines are undergoing clinical trials , leading a crowded field that now numbers approximately 170 candidates .
Several of the U.S. contenders—Moderna , Pfizer/BioNTech and Arcturus Therapeutics—are deploying never-before-approved messenger RNA ( mRNA ) technology , an experimental approach designed to turn the body ’ s cells into viral-protein-making factories .
A key technical challenge is to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the cells intact—without it breaking down prior to arriving at its destination .
In other words , mRNA vaccines will not work without an in-built delivery mechanism that enables the mRNA to shove its way into a cell ’ s cytoplasm .
The chosen solution is to use trendy biotech “ carrier systems ” involving lipid nanoparticles ( LNPs ) .
LNPs “ encapsulate the mRNA constructs to protect them from degradation and promote cellular uptake ” and , additionally , rev up the immune system ( a property that vaccine scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjuvant properties ” ) .
The LNP formulations in the three Covid-19 vaccines are also “ PEGylated , ” meaning that the vaccine nanoparticles are coated with a synthetic , nondegradable and increasingly controversial polymer called polyethylene glycol ( PEG ) .
In the corporate prospectus supporting Moderna ’ s stock market launch in late 2018 ( an initial public offering that set a record for the biotech industry ) , the company was frank that its technical approach has numerous risks .
Specifically , Moderna acknowledged the potential for its proprietary LNPs—and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” particularly given the scientific literature ’ s documentation of these types of side effects for other LNPs .
In comments not generally seen by the public , Moderna stated ( p. 33 ) : [ T ] here can be no assurance that our LNPs will not have undesired effects .
Our LNPs could contribute , in whole or in part , to one or more of the following : immune reactions , infusion reactions , complement reactions , opsonation reactions , antibody reactions .
.
.
or reactions to the PEG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the LNP .
Certain aspects of our investigational medicines may induce immune reactions from either the mRNA or the lipid as well as adverse reactions within liver pathways or degradation of the mRNA or the LNP , any of which could lead to significant adverse events in one or more of our clinical trials .
[ Emphases and links added ] Far from expressing concern over clinical trial participants ’ welfare , that section of the prospectus concluded that any one of these problems “ could materially harm [ the company ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prospects.
” PEG is widely used in drugs , personal care products , lubricants , gels ( such as ultrasound gel ) , food additives and more .
For example , PEG is a notorious ingredient of the controversial Bayer laxative MiraLAX , a medication used for constipation and to prep individuals for colonoscopy .
Many parents of chronically constipated children have accused MiraLAX of provoking severe neuropsychiatric symptoms in their offspring , including mood swings , rage , phobias and paranoia .
The biopharma and vaccine industries appreciate PEG for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which allow the particles to evade detection by the immune system and make an end run around the body ’ s ordinary defenses .
In recent years , however , PEG has come under increasing scrutiny .
Investigators who once assumed that the polymer was largely “ inert ” are now questioning its biocompatibility and warning about PEGylated particles ’ promotion of tumor growth and adverse immune responses that include “ probably underdiagnosed ” life-threatening anaphylaxis ( also called hypersensitivity ) .
These undesirable responses have , on occasion , halted clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlight “ underrecognized ” cross-reactivity between PEG and polysorbates ( surfactants/emulsifiers present in many products , including some vaccines ) , meaning that individuals may experience dangerous hypersensitivity to both .
As a result , some scientists argue that it is time to develop alternatives to replace PEG .
U.S. and Dutch researchers declared in 2013 : Drug company concerns center on a different issue : PEG-specific immune responses can actually reduce the efficacy of PEG-containing therapeutics .
It must have worried many in the pharmaceutical industry when a 2016 study in Analytical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anti-PEG antibodies ( including first-line-of-defense IgM antibodies and later-stage IgG antibodies ) in approximately 72 % of contemporary human samples and about 56 % of historical specimens from the 1970s through the 1990s .
The researchers confessed that the results were entirely unexpected .
They also confirmed that sensitization to PEG could be induced through exposure to PEGylated drugs or could be “ pre-existing ” in individuals never treated with PEGylated drugs but “ most likely .
.
.
exposed to PEG through other means.
” The population ’ s increased exposure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assume ” that anti-PEG antibodies will continue to be both widespread and “ inevitable.
” However , if one of the PEGylated mRNA vaccines for Covid-19 gains FDA approval , the uptick in exposure to PEG will be unprecedented—and potentially disastrous .
Unfortunately , while four out of five doctors already regularly prescribe PEGylated drugs , only one out of five are aware of the potential for anti-PEG antibody responses and only a third even know that PEG is in the drugs that they are prescribing .
A Vanderbilt University researcher agrees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognition that PEG hypersensitivity is possible , much less that it manifests on a regular basis .
Moreover , while it could be very important to screen patients for anti-PEG antibody levels “ prior to administration of therapeutics containing PEG ” —including vaccines—such testing is currently only available in research settings and not commercially .
mRNA vaccines are not the only vehicle for PEG involvement in Covid-19 vaccine production .
For example , researchers at Germany ’ s Max Planck Institute report developing a process for Covid-19 vaccine production to purify virus particles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involves adding PEG to a virus-containing liquid and passing the liquid through membranes : “ The high PEG content causes the viruses to attach themselves to the cellulose surface ” while the impurities “ flow straight through the membranes.
” Pre-Covid-19 , researchers were also praising PEG as an inexpensive additive helpful for addressing vaccine storage challenges , particularly for vaccines that use genetically engineered adenoviruses ; they noted that up to 80 % of the cost of vaccination programs “ is due to the cold chain problem ( that is , keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can increase the vaccine half-life from seven to over 30 days at room temperature .
Three of the Covid-19 vaccines undergoing clinical trials ( Johnson & Johnson , Oxford and CanSino ) are adenoviral vector vaccines .
As the excerpts from the Moderna prospectus illustrate , Moderna scientists are fully aware of PEG-related safety concerns .
Addressing the efficacy side of the equation , a mid-2019 study by authors who “ are or have been employees of Moderna , Inc. and receive salary and stock options from Moderna , Inc. ” likewise admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the clinical efficacy of PEGylated therapeutics and will require strategies to overcome [ their ] effects.
” Nonetheless , with the “ incredibly high ” corporate stakes surrounding Covid-19 vaccine development , Moderna ’ s published reservations about PEG and its LNP technology have not stopped it from contesting ( thus far unsuccessfully ) the LNP patents of its competitors or glossing over side effects in its initial Covid-19 clinical trials .
In its prospectus , Moderna admits only that “ unacceptable health risks or adverse side effects ” could make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants and that an “ unfavorable benefit risk ratio could “ inhibit market acceptance ” if their product proceeds to market .
The stakes are even higher for the individuals that governments and companies will target to receive a vaccine .
Covid-19 vaccine developers have not disclosed whether they are taking any steps to screen their clinical trial participants for anti-PEG antibodies or whether they are doing anything to mitigate the potentially life-threatening risks of hypersensitivity reactions .
If almost three-fourths of the U.S. population has anti-PEG antibodies , then these are far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

Components of mRNA Technology “Could Lead to Significant Adverse Events in One or More of Our Clinical Trials,” says Moderna
Children’s Health Defense Team, Guest
Waking Times
A dozen Covid-19 vaccines are undergoing clinical trials, leading a crowded field that now numbers approximately 170 candidates. Several of the U.S. contenders—Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and Arcturus Therapeutics—are deploying never-before-approved messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, an experimental approach designed to turn the body’s cells into viral-protein-making factories.
A key technical challenge is to get the vaccines’ bulky RNA “payload” into the cells intact—without it breaking down prior to arriving at its destination. In other words, mRNA vaccines will not work without an in-built delivery mechanism that enables the mRNA to shove its way into a cell’s cytoplasm. The chosen solution is to use trendy biotech “carrier systems” involving lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). LNPs “encapsulate the mRNA constructs to protect them from degradation and promote cellular uptake” and, additionally, rev up the immune system (a property that vaccine scientists tamely describe as LNPs’ “inherent adjuvant properties”). The LNP formulations in the three Covid-19 vaccines are also “PEGylated,” meaning that the vaccine nanoparticles are coated with a synthetic, nondegradable and increasingly controversial polymer called polyethylene glycol (PEG).
… Moderna acknowledged the potential for its proprietary LNPs—and PEG—to produce “systemic side effects,” …
In the corporate prospectus supporting Moderna’s stock market launch in late 2018 (an initial public offering that set a record for the biotech industry), the company was frank that its technical approach has numerous risks. Specifically, Moderna acknowledged the potential for its proprietary LNPs—and PEG—to produce “systemic side effects,” particularly given the scientific literature’s documentation of these types of side effects for other LNPs. In comments not generally seen by the public, Moderna stated (p. 33):
[T]here can be no assurance that our LNPs will not have undesired effects. Our LNPs could contribute, in whole or in part, to one or more of the following: immune reactions, infusion reactions, complement reactions, opsonation reactions, antibody reactions . . . or reactions to the PEG from some lipids or PEG otherwise associated with the LNP. Certain aspects of our investigational medicines may induce immune reactions from either the mRNA or the lipid as well as adverse reactions within liver pathways or degradation of the mRNA or the LNP, any of which could lead to significant adverse events in one or more of our clinical trials. [Emphases and links added]
Far from expressing concern over clinical trial participants’ welfare, that section of the prospectus concluded that any one of these problems “could materially harm [the company’s] business, financial conditions, and prospects.”
Investigators who once assumed that the polymer was largely inert are now questioning its biocompatibility and warning about … adverse immune responses that include probably underdiagnosed life-threatening anaphylaxis…
“Stealthy” PEG
PEG is widely used in drugs, personal care products, lubricants, gels (such as ultrasound gel), food additives and more. For example, PEG is a notorious ingredient of the controversial Bayer laxative MiraLAX, a medication used for constipation and to prep individuals for colonoscopy. Many parents of chronically constipated children have accused MiraLAX of provoking severe neuropsychiatric symptoms in their offspring, including mood swings, rage, phobias and paranoia.
The biopharma and vaccine industries appreciate PEG for its capacity to endow nanoparticles with stealth properties, which allow the particles to evade detection by the immune system and make an end run around the body’s ordinary defenses. In recent years, however, PEG has come under increasing scrutiny. Investigators who once assumed that the polymer was largely “inert” are now questioning its biocompatibility and warning about PEGylated particles’ promotion of tumor growth and adverse immune responses that include “probably underdiagnosed” life-threatening anaphylaxis (also called hypersensitivity). These undesirable responses have, on occasion, halted clinical trials. In addition, case studies highlight “underrecognized” cross-reactivity between PEG and polysorbates (surfactants/emulsifiers present in many products, including some vaccines), meaning that individuals may experience dangerous hypersensitivity to both. As a result, some scientists argue that it is time to develop alternatives to replace PEG. U.S. and Dutch researchers declared in 2013:
[T]he accumulating evidence documenting the detrimental effects of PEG on drug delivery make it imperative that scientists in this field break their dependence on PEGylation.
Drug company concerns center on a different issue: PEG-specific immune responses can actually reduce the efficacy of PEG-containing therapeutics. It must have worried many in the pharmaceutical industry when a 2016 study in Analytical Chemistry reported detectable and sometimes high levels of anti-PEG antibodies (including first-line-of-defense IgM antibodies and later-stage IgG antibodies) in approximately 72% of contemporary human samples and about 56% of historical specimens from the 1970s through the 1990s. The researchers confessed that the results were entirely unexpected. They also confirmed that sensitization to PEG could be induced through exposure to PEGylated drugs or could be “pre-existing” in individuals never treated with PEGylated drugs but “most likely . . . exposed to PEG through other means.”
Unfortunately, while four out of five doctors already regularly prescribe PEGylated drugs, only one out of five are aware of the potential for anti-PEG antibody responses and only a third even know that PEG is in the drugs that they are prescribing.
PEG and Covid-19 vaccines
The population’s increased exposure to PEG-containing products makes it “natural to assume” that anti-PEG antibodies will continue to be both widespread and “inevitable.” However, if one of the PEGylated mRNA vaccines for Covid-19 gains FDA approval, the uptick in exposure to PEG will be unprecedented—and potentially disastrous.
Unfortunately, while four out of five doctors already regularly prescribe PEGylated drugs, only one out of five are aware of the potential for anti-PEG antibody responses and only a third even know that PEG is in the drugs that they are prescribing. A Vanderbilt University researcher agrees that there is a widespread lack of recognition that PEG hypersensitivity is possible, much less that it manifests on a regular basis. Moreover, while it could be very important to screen patients for anti-PEG antibody levels “prior to administration of therapeutics containing PEG”—including vaccines—such testing is currently only available in research settings and not commercially.
mRNA vaccines are not the only vehicle for PEG involvement in Covid-19 vaccine production. For example, researchers at Germany’s Max Planck Institute report developing a process for Covid-19 vaccine production to purify virus particles at “high yield.” The process involves adding PEG to a virus-containing liquid and passing the liquid through membranes: “The high PEG content causes the viruses to attach themselves to the cellulose surface” while the impurities “flow straight through the membranes.”
Pre-Covid-19, researchers were also praising PEG as an inexpensive additive helpful for addressing vaccine storage challenges, particularly for vaccines that use genetically engineered adenoviruses; they noted that up to 80% of the cost of vaccination programs “is due to the cold chain problem (that is, keeping vaccines cold)” and that PEG can increase the vaccine half-life from seven to over 30 days at room temperature. Three of the Covid-19 vaccines undergoing clinical trials (Johnson & Johnson, Oxford and CanSino) are adenoviral vector vaccines.
… admitted that anti-PEG antibodies present significant challenges to the clinical efficacy of PEGylated therapeutics …
Down and dirty
As the excerpts from the Moderna prospectus illustrate, Moderna scientists are fully aware of PEG-related safety concerns. Addressing the efficacy side of the equation, a mid-2019 study by authors who “are or have been employees of Moderna, Inc. and receive salary and stock options from Moderna, Inc.” likewise admitted that anti-PEG antibodies “present significant challenges to the clinical efficacy of PEGylated therapeutics and will require strategies to overcome [their] effects.” Nonetheless, with the “incredibly high” corporate stakes surrounding Covid-19 vaccine development, Moderna’s published reservations about PEG and its LNP technology have not stopped it from contesting (thus far unsuccessfully) the LNP patents of its competitors or glossing over side effects in its initial Covid-19 clinical trials. In its prospectus, Moderna admits only that “unacceptable health risks or adverse side effects” could make it difficult to recruit or retain clinical trial participants and that an “unfavorable benefit risk ratio could “inhibit market acceptance” if their product proceeds to market.
The stakes are even higher for the individuals that governments and companies will target to receive a vaccine. Covid-19 vaccine developers have not disclosed whether they are taking any steps to screen their clinical trial participants for anti-PEG antibodies or whether they are doing anything to mitigate the potentially life-threatening risks of hypersensitivity reactions. If almost three-fourths of the U.S. population has anti-PEG antibodies, then these are far from trivial questions.