Independent Living - Amazon S3 · opposed to ETFs or other derivative products that are tied to precious metals prices. The value of your physical bullion in the coin market can rise

The #1 Skill You Need Now

Master Essentials and Dismiss B.S.

By Lee Bellinger

4REVEALED! The biggest preppers of all are top government officials – here’s why.

4Collapsing emergency service alert – see how it’s getting worse.

Talking about what’s wrong and dangerous is sadly a full-time job. It might surprise you, but on the whole I am a very positive guy. No way I live in the woods or dodge all that’s great in life. I live by the idea that we can all thrive, even in dangerous times. Trust me, you can identify and tackle essentials like the greats do – and banish stress triggered by ugly stuff unfolding all around us.

The dirty little secret is you don’t have to be “rich” – it’s about having the conviction to think things through and just make a plan. Most people don’t. That simple action is essential to shielding yourself and your loved ones from dangers in this world.

If that’s where you want to be headed, this edition – and more to come – is exactly what you need.

Independent LivingPrudent strategies for greater self-reliance, freedom, and wealth!

Volume 10, Issue 9 September 2015

China’s Surprise Currency Gambit

What It Means for Your InvestmentsBy Seth Van Brocklin

4Is China’s bold move a precursor to war or an opportunity for investors?

4Deflationary forces gather as world economy slows…but don’t write off inflation threat just yet.

Chinese officials sent shockwaves through financial markets in August by devaluing their currency against the dollar. The yuan (also known as the renminbi) experienced its biggest decline in years. It may fall further as China seeks to make its manufactured goods cheaper on the world market and put U.S. products at a competitive disadvantage.

China’s gambit is the latest escalation of ongoing global currency wars. It has profound implications for geopolitics, for the global economy, for U.S. monetary policy, and for your investments.

Fiat currencies are racing to debase against other fiat currencies. China’s debasement of the yuan drew howls of outrage from U.S. politicians, both Republican and Democrat. China’s currency lost value, and it’s Americans who are upset about it.

China Moves to “Trump” AmericaIf these currency wars all seem counterintuitive to you, you’re not alone. When Chuck Todd of NBC’s “Meet the Press” interviewed presidential contender Donald Trump recently, Todd got confused. (Chuck Todd is no Tim Russert!) He mistakenly thought that The Donald’s tough talk on China meant he wanted China to allow its currency to depreciate. In fact, Mr. Trump (and many others)

See China’s Surprise Currency Gambit, next pageSee The #1 Skill You Need Now, page 17

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Inside This IssueA Camper on Wheels Can Be Good for MUCH More Than Just Road Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Science Proves the Pen Is Mightier Than the Keypad . . 5Don’t Let Your Own Insurance Company Give You the Shaft – Many Will If They Can . . . . . . . . . . 6Ask Lee Now: Answering Readers’ Questions . . . . . . . . . 8

Bossy Busybodies Move to Mandate Dirtier Dishes . . . 11Beat the Coming Politically Engineered Home Electrical Cost Surges . . . . . . . . . . . 13Avoiding Health Threats from Household Pests . . . . . . 15IRS Admits It Lacks Authority to Extract Obamacare Penalty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Independent Living2 September 2015

Independent Living • $139/12 issues • 377 Rubin Center Drive • Suite 203 • Fort Mill, SC 29708

complain that the yuan’s value is being artificially held down.

The billionaire mogul said on August 11, “I think you have to do something to rein in China. They devalued their currency today. They’re making it absolutely impossible for the United States to compete…”

Why would American leaders be upset about China weakening its own currency? Doing so effectively makes our own dollars more valuable in terms of their ability to buy Chinese goods.

The Revealing Fight Over Which Power Has the Weakest Currency

And why would the nations of the world all be vying to make their currencies worth less? Wouldn’t a strong nation want a strong currency?

A strong currency is indeed a national asset, but those schooled in Keynesian economics don’t see it that way. They lament that when money gains value, people tend to hoard it rather than spend it. They view a depreciat-ing currency (inflation) as a form of stimulus and an appreciating currency (deflation) as that which can never be tolerated.

Central Banks Always Stand Ready to Reinflate

The Keynesians who devise policy at the U.S. Federal Reserve view it as their mandate to engineer a positive rate of inflation (currency depreciation). Today, inflation, at least officially, is barely positive. Europe is struggling with deflationary forces. China aimed to stave off any deflation threat by devaluing the yuan.

Chinese officials saw the writing on the wall. Chinese exports fell 8.3% year over year. Its stock market suffered a mini-crash. The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of demand for bulk shipping, plunged to multi-year lows. Crude oil, base metals, and other economically

sensitive commodities did likewise. World trade volumes are plummeting. In short, the global economy appears to be turning down.

What do you when nominal asset values and economic indicators move in the wrong direction? If you’re an interventionist who wants to create the superficial appearance of recovery, you debase your currency. Flooding the system with more yuan (or dollars) creates more nominal demand. It also enables foreigners to buy more of your goods denominated in the depreciating currency.

Currency Wars Can Escalate into Shooting Wars

In a sense, China is “stealing” demand away from foreign competitors by cheapening its own currency. So now the question is, How will the United States respond?

By reprimanding Chinese leaders for their currency manipulation? That would be just a tad bit hypocritical coming from a country that orchestrated the largest bank bailouts in history rather than let market forces take their course.

By imposing trade restrictions on China? That would surely ratchet up the geopolitical tension between

China’s Surprise Currency Gambit continued from previous page

Independent Living (ISSN 1943-1686) (USPS 24-808) is published monthly by American Lantern Press, Inc. Known office of publication is 377 Rubin Center Drive, Suite 203, Fort Mill, SC 29708. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Mill, SC, and other mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Independent Living, P.O. Box 1240, Clover, SC 29710-4240.Editor, Lee BellingerKenneth F. Fairleigh Operations Center377 Rubin Center Drive, Suite 203, Fort Mill, SC 297081-803-802-1344 • Fax 1-803-802-1349 • [email protected]

Contributing Editors, Seth Van Brocklin & Heather RobsonToll-free customer service 1-877-371-1807

Visit www.IndependentLivingNews.comCopyright 2015 by American Lantern Press, Inc.

All rights reserved.

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The U.S. dollar’s wild rollercoaster ride.

Independent LivingSeptember 2015 3


the two powers a notch or two. Independent Living founder Lee Bellinger warned in the July 2015 edition (“Obama’s Drift to War With China”) that tensions with China would escalate in the final months of President Obama’s second term in office.

A currency and trade “cold” war could be the precursor to a military “hot” war over Beijing’s disputed claims in the South China Sea. As Lee noted, “China is not fooling around. Now is not a good time for a passive-aggressive U.S. foreign policy.”

Chinese Go for Gold – Should You?That’s the geopolitical backdrop. As for the investing backdrop, the risk level has also ratcheted up a notch or two. China’s currency gambit caused volatility to jump in world financial markets. U.S. stocks got hit. But precious metals finally managed to rally as the Federal Reserve’s plans to raise rates got called into doubt.

At some point gold will reemerge as a premier safe-haven currency. It’s not clear yet whether China’s yuan devaluation will be the proximate trigger. Gold doesn’t always respond to events the way gold bugs think it should. But underlying supply/demand forces are gathering in gold’s favor.

China will be a big factor going forward for precious metals – and not just because of the potential for it to spark geopolitical strife and competitive currency devaluations. China, as it happens, is a big buyer of the yellow metal. The People’s Bank of China recently announced a massive 600-ton increase in its gold bullion reserves.

Regardless of what gold detractors may say about it, gold remains the ultimate money for central banks, for kings, for the super-rich. Gold’s cousin silver is the metal of the masses. And that may be where the best opportunity is for ordinary individual investors.

When gold prices rally, silver prices can be expected to move in an amplified manner. Silver’s volatility has worked to the detriment of investors since 2011. All the silver gurus who tried to call bottoms now have egg on their face. But the upside to a down market is that there is now tremendous value in silver. And investors are taking advantage of it.

Silver’s Woes Conceal Behind-the-Scenes Physical Buying Frenzy

Falling spot prices haven’t dissuaded buyers of physical bullion. In fact, demand for Silver Eagles and other popular bullion products was so brisk in July and early August that the U.S. Mint and other government and private mints couldn’t keep pace. Dealers ran out of inventories. As a result of the scarcity, premiums soared.

That’s an advantage of holding physical bullion as opposed to ETFs or other derivative products that are tied to precious metals prices. The value of your physical bullion in the coin market can rise even when silver as quoted in the futures market isn’t. Ultimately, physical shortages will force spot prices higher.

Mines are going bankrupt or radically scaling down operations in order to survive because metals spot prices are below all-in production costs. In the months

and years ahead, the consequence will be diminished supply.

So hang on to what you have, and buy more at these low prices if you can. Be patient and don’t get down. Gold and silver will rise again.

China’s Ramshackle Markets Represent High-Risk/High-Reward Opportunity

Investors may also find attractive opportunities in China-related equities. They fell hard this summer, and there is certainly the potential for them to fall further. Investing in Chinese equities is somewhat of a faith-based proposition. You often don’t know exactly what you’re getting due to lack of transparency and limited financial disclosures.

You also never know what the Chinese government will do. But it does at least seem to want its markets to stabilize. Amidst the recent sell-off, it tried to prevent shares from free-falling by intervening and banning large institutional selling.

I wrote about the opportunities and risks I saw in China in the June 2014 issue (“Investing Insights from a Westerner in the Far East”). I shared my insights after spending a few days walking the streets of Beijing and Shanghai. Some parts of China’s cities are as modern and advanced as any in the Western world. But in other ways, they remain primitive and backward. The

China’s Surprise Currency Gambit continued from previous page

See China’s Surprise Currency Gambit, page 20

Wouldn’t a strong nation want a strong currency?




A Camper on Wheels Can Be Good for MUCH More Than Just Road Trips

Fuel is cheap right now, so we have a thought for you. There’s nothing like hitting the open road and experienc-ing the countryside. What some call “flyover country” is what others call on-the-ground adventure territory. And the upscale way to experience it is in an RV.

Recreational vehicles can come in many shapes and sizes – from basic camper vans to luxury coaches complete with slide-outs, full kitchens, and king-size beds. Some people literally live in their motor homes. Most use them primarily for vacationing – though there are other uses as well...

Say NO to the TSA and Have Fun With Your Dogs Too

When you tour via RV you avoid airport hassles. You don’t have to check into and out of hotels. And you can stay in off-the-beaten-path places such as desert campgrounds without having to rough it in tents. You can go where you want and do what you want, all in the privacy and comfort of your own home on wheels.

An RV makes for an ideal emergency second home. In the event that you need to flee, your home goes on the road with you. Of course, the larger the RV, the less nimble and maneuverable it will be in tight areas. A smaller RV gives you more flexibility and costs less.

On the downside, RVing can be an expensive hobby. There are the costs, the maintenance, the upkeep, and… the costs. RVs carry high up-front price tags and they guzzle gas. Expect less than 10 mpg typically for large class A motor coaches.

But there are ways to offset the costs. You can even use your RV to generate income (more on that in a bit).

Get Surprisingly Great Terms on an RV LoanThere are ways to finance an RV much like you would a car. A bank often can approve an RV loan as quickly as a new car loan – no appraisals, no closing costs. But you can end up getting a loan that looks more like a home mortgage. RV loans are available in durations of up to 20 years with an interest rate below 4% in some cases.

Lenders are willing to offer relatively favorable terms on RVs as compared to cars because RV buyers tend to be mature, well-off, and responsible (i.e., low default

risk). You may be asked to provide more personal financial disclosures than you would to get financing on a car. However, if you have very good credit and are willing to put at least 20% down, you shouldn’t have a problem getting an RV loan.

Try Before You Buy Because That’s EasyIf you’ve never spent any significant time behind the wheel of an RV before, then you should first try renting one for a few days. After the experience, you may decide that you don’t want to take on the obligation of owning one. As with boats and other expensive “toys,” motor homes can become a money pit that you spend more time worrying about than enjoying.

Renting is a much smaller financial commitment. A leading source of RVs for rent nationwide is Cruise America. It has a limited number of models within its fleet, mainly of the class C variety powered by a van cutaway.

For a wider array of motor homes to choose from, you can turn to the peer-to-peer economy. RVShare (rvshare.com) connects people who are looking to rent an RV with those willing to make theirs available for rent.

Yes, RV’s Go From a Money Drain to a Money-Making Business

This is one way your RV can pay for itself over time. Of course, renting it out means your RV will be subjected to more wear and tear and have a lower life expectancy. You may not want to risk it getting wrecked, even if it is fully insured. You may also not want to risk potential liability claims if someone gets injured in your RV.

There are lower risk ways to monetize your motor home. For example, you can rent it out as a place to sleep, like a guest house vacation rental that sits on your property (or wherever you have it parked and hooked up to power and water). You rent out the home but not the motor.

You may be surprised at how much money you can make doing this. Millennials especially love to scour web sites like Craigslist and Airbnb looking for alternatives to conventional hotel rooms. A motor home offers guests privacy and convenience – and



you a source of revenue. You can take most of the work out of the equation by charging a cleaning fee and hiring a cleaning service to prepare the RV after each guest leaves.

Turn Your Travels Into Tax Write OffsOwning an RV for business or for fun isn’t for everyone. But you can get the most out of an RV purchase if you find ways to use it for both. Businesses can deduct travel costs when that travel is business related.

Your business need not be profitable in order to claim business deductions. However, you must have a profit motive. You can’t deduct any of your RV travel-

related costs if you are just vacationing.

Suppose you intend to write a book about vacationing in RVs. Then your travel costs could be deductible, provided they are necessary for your writing business. Your book need not even sell enough copies to recoup your RVing costs. As long as you intend for your book to be profitable and take ordinary and reasonable steps to try to turn a profit, you’re in business and your busi-ness expenses could potentially be fully deductible.

There are many ways to turn vacations into fully deductible business activities. Think creatively. But do consult a tax lawyer or accountant to be sure your business plan will pass muster with the tax goons.

A Camper on Wheels continued from previous page

Science Proves the Pen Is Mightier Than the KeypadEver more people, especially young people, rely primarily on computers, tablets, smartphones, and other electronic devices for communications. Are these device addicts failing to develop basic real-world social skills? More fundamentally, are they failing to develop basic cognitive skills?

New research suggests that in some ways they are. Earlier this year, psychologists Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer published a study comparing college students who take notes on paper versus those who do so on laptop computers.

Their findings? Not only can laptops easily distract students away from course material; even when students use them just to take notes, they retain less conceptual information than students who take notes using pen and paper.

Web-Only Learning Contributes to the Rise of Very Short Attention Spans

Other research shows that students who bring laptops to classes get less out of their classes and report being less interested in course material and less happy with their professors. Humans, it seems, weren’t made to learn or to experience life through backlit screens. Yes, our devices have their place as tools. No one can deny that an Internet-connected

laptop computer can do more than a spiral notebook.

But sometimes less is more in terms of your mental focus. When you really want to focus on informational content, you need to power down your devices and eliminate distractions. Independent Living bucked the trend of all-digital publishing. We continue to actually print a flagship monthly newsletter on paper that you can read even in places where there is no Wi-Fi or cell signal available.

Mental Water-Bugs Are Not Up to Today’s Challenges and Opportunities

In the digital world, attention spans are extremely short. We’re all vulnerable to being distracted online (advertisers cash in on it by seeding web sites with “click bait”). Few of us are going to sit down and read an entire article, let alone an entire newsletter, on a computer screen. If we do, we’ll likely retain less information than we would if we had read the print version.

So whenever you hear demands from politicians or teachers unions for taxpayers to fund more laptops or tablets for classrooms, you’ll know better. More exposure to electronic devices is the last thing most kids need.



Independent LIvIng is designed to provide the opinions and findings of its contributing writers. these findings are based on research, experience, and analysis of the subject matter covered. sources for information are believed reliable, but absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. this information is not provided for purposes of rendering financial, legal, accounting, or other professional advice. it is intended purely for educational purposes. the authors and publisher disclaim any responsibility for a liability or loss incurred as a consequence of the use and application, either directly or indirectly, of any information presented herein. because the united states currently functions under an evolutionary system, the reader bears the burden of ensuring that the principle or law stated in this work is current and binding at the time of an intended use or application. caution: the law in this country is subject to change arbitrarily and without prior notice.

Don’t Let Your Own Insurance Company Give You the Shaft – Many Will If They Can

You think you’re doing the responsible thing by taking out insurance on your home, vehicle, and other valuables. You assume that if damages occur, your insurer will unhesitatingly cover your losses. But what do you do when the insurance company tries to give you the shaft?

One thing you can do is hire your own insurance claims adjuster. Insurance companies have claims adjusters who work for them. They are skilled at finding reasons to deny your claims.

“Hiring a public claims adjuster can put you on an even playing field with your insurance company,” according to insurance expert Amy Danise.

Don’t Sign Away Your Rights When Making a Claim

Public claims adjusters typically charge a percentage of the claim amount you end up getting – anywhere from 10% to 25% depending on the size of the claim and other factors. It’s best to seek out an adjuster early in the process. He or she can advise you on whether you should accept what (if anything) the insurance company is offering you and make sure you retain all your rights and negotiating leverage.

Your insurer may try to get you to sign a release waiving your right to seek additional payments on your claim. Your claim money may also come stating “full and final settlement.” If you sign a document or check with language to that effect, you may surrender the ability to dispute your claim.

If you mistakenly bought a policy that didn’t provide the coverage you thought you were getting, you may be out of luck. The best time to ask the tough questions of your insurance agent is before you agree to buy a policy.

Asking the Right Questions Can Nab You the Best Deals

Insurance is supposed to be there to protect you and your assets in the event of an accident, theft, or other

calamity. But if you buy the wrong type of insurance, you may end up paying a lot of money for redundant or superfluous coverage. Worse, if your coverage is inadequate

or full of holes, it might not even protect you when you’re counting on it most.

Policies typically contain language that excludes coverage in special situations. Will your insurance agent tell you about all of these “exceptions”? Probably not.

When you shop for insurance, you want to get the most insurance for the least amount of money. And an insurance agent helps you get the best deal, right? Often not.

The insurance company wants to maximize its premiums and minimize the benefits it might have to pay. Insurance agents want to maximize the commis-sions and bonuses they receive. That typically means selling you the insurance products that pay them the most. When shopping for insurance, an independent agent who isn’t tied to a particular insurer’s products is best positioned to give you an honest opinion.

You may surrender the ability to dispute your claim.



Governments’ SECRET WAR Against Cash Exposed!

If Americans wish to withdraw cash, why would the banks not just let them take their dollars and go? Because doing so might unravel today’s economic grand illusion and bring the whole system down, according to THE SECRET WAR, a new White Paper by Craig R. Smith and Lowell Ponte.

Did you know the total currency in the U.S. financial system is about $1.36 Trillion? That’s less than 1% of the total “money” in the financial system.

Yes, the “War Against Cash” is happening because cash has become intolerably dangerous to the giant illusion built on debt.

So, who is behind the “War on Cash?” The U.S. Government and Federal Reserve are fighting against cash on many fronts. Banks must now report cash withdrawals or deposits of $10,000 or more.

Banks must report to the government any financial behavior on your part it deems “suspicious” or “unusual.”

A larger, logical government motive in going after cash is tax evasion. An estimated 18% of total reportable income in the United States is effectively off the books.

In this free White Paper, THE SECRET WAR, discover why... * Under threat of regulatory punishment, banks must now spy on you for the government. * Our government has made it risky to carry cash due to tougher asset forfeiture laws. * “Operation Choke Point” targets 30 types of businesses labeled as “high-risk”. * In a cashless future it will become much easier for the government to rob you. * Cash could also be killed fighting global “currency wars” launched by China.

Get a FREE copy of THE SECRET WAR today by calling 800-289-2646

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Should I Join the Unbanking Movement?Esther E. writes: In one of your articles you spoke about a bank that the IRS does not regulate and good to put money in. Could you please send me that information? I live in Colorado at the moment as I married a Snow Bird.

All banks are now required to collect taxpayer identification (Social Security numbers), report interest paid to the IRS, and report any “suspicious activities.” If you want to hide from the IRS, then you need to stay out of the banking system entirely. That’s not easy to do if you have a job, pay bills, etc. But millions of people manage to go unbanked by relying on pre-paid debit cards, money orders, cash, barter instruments, or alternative electronic payment mechanisms such as Bitcoin.

Does Power Backup Make Sense for Apartment Dwellers?Thom S. writes: I have been reading your very interesting paper and online newsletters for almost two years now. As a subscriber, I have also received information in the mail about your Power Whisperer which I understand can serve as a reliable power source if there is ever a prolonged blackout.

For over thirty years of my adulthood (and likely for many years ahead), I have always been a renter living in apartments in an urban setting where my power is at the mercy of the management of whatever apartment complex I’ve lived in. Even in my current more upscale rental property, the management told me that there is not a back up generator for our complex….

So here are my two questions to you: Is it true that your Power Whisperer is only effective for houses or town homes on lots? How could this work for the millions of us Americans renting in apartment buildings where we cannot control our power as easily as in lots or individual homes on lots?

Lee responds: Yes, there are fewer places in a city where you can secretly hide your solar recharge panels. However, since my solar panels can be “rolled out,” you can drape them out of a window or balcony to get them into the sunlight without too many people noticing. Remember too that a PowerWhisperer has an advanced built-in trickle charger so it will be fully “topped off” with reserve power if the electricity were to suddenly go out. That makes you ready to weather any short term power outages affecting an apartment complex.

So even if you can’t recharge the unit in the sun, your food can stay cold for another 2-3 days depending on how you manage your power use. The other good news is that PowerWhisperer is compact and silent, and is therefore undetectable to your neighbors as compared to a gas powered generator.

How Will My Prius Fare in an Electromagnetic Pulse?Vince O. writes: In the event of an EMP how would I re-start my Prius with 5 batteries?

Lee responds: Any vehicles with electronic controls (virtually all vehicles less than 30 years old) would potentially be vulnerable to an electromagnetic pulse. Electric and hybrid cars such as the

Ask Lee Now: Answering Readers’ QuestionsWe love to hear from readers! Please email your question or comment to Independent Living editor Lee

Bellinger ([email protected]). Please include your name and home state. You may also reach us via postal mail (P.O. Box 1240; Clover, SC 29710-4240).




Prius would have additional vulnerabilities. Replacing the battery pack on a Prius could cost up to $4,000. Ideally, you’ll park your car in a garage that has EMP shielding to reduce the risk of it being damaged.

Readers Sound Off on Fluoride ControversyMichael M. writes: As a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist for over 32 years, I can say, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve also worked in Public Health in New Mexico where certain parts of the state had very high ‘natural’ occurring fluoride levels. Yes, the children had discolored teeth but I would hardly call it TOXIC.

You shouldn’t try to alarm people with your alarmist views. What’s the alternative? Eliminate fluoride, and have a dramatic increase in cavities along with the increase in dental care costs, pain, infections and suffering. Does that warrant excessive worry over a little excess fluoride?

Natan D. writes: The “Fluoride Deception” chronicles the link to the Manhattan project, fluoride use in processing uranium and aluminum and a dangerous smoke stack byproduct. They dilute in the water supply to get rid of it while saying it is healthy so they avoid legal responsibility. Prozac is largely fluoride, and the dumbing down of the population fits their sinister agenda.

Thanks for the expose.

Richard T. writes: It seems that all we need to do is follow the money trail….who is profiting from Fluoridation?

Charles E. Scholler, D.D.S. writes: You have no idea what you are talking about. You dig up some pseudo science “facts” and assume fluoride is a toxin in drinking water. We need fluoridated drinking water now more than ever. There is a sharp rise in tooth decay in recent years particularly with young people. This increase is caused in part, from youths consuming energy drinks, sodas, fruit juices, Gatorade, and bottled water where most do not have fluoride.

G.H. writes: There is something missing in your fluoride story: Fluorides affect the production of thyroid hormone, making people tired and dull.

Lee responds: Wow, lots of feedback on last month’s fluoride article (“’Shocking’ New Study Blows Government’s Fluoride Guidelines Out of the Water”)! Most of it positive, but some critical.

None of the critics pointed me to any studies that refute the studies we cited. Let me stress that it’s not my opinion as a non-expert in this area that matters. What matters is the findings of credible, independent academic researchers. They have found that fluoridated drinking water lowers IQ in children and contributes little to nothing to reducing tooth decay.

That’s not to say that fluoride, when added to toothpaste and mouth rinses, doesn’t improve tooth resistance against cavities. But centrally pumping it into the drinking water seems to be far less beneficial while posing far more of a health hazard. The burden of proof should be on the forced fluoridation proponents to show not just that fluoridated water can have some benefits, but that it is both safe and necessary from a public health standpoint. I don’t believe they have met that burden.

What You Need to Know About the USA “Exit Tax”Charles U. writes: I have a question unrelated to Fluoride (a toxic substance that doesn’t belong in our drinking water), namely a new wrinkle I suspect the State Dept. has invented called the “EXIT TAX”. My limited understanding of this usury, is that it is applied to U.S. Passport holders

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leaving the U.S. permanently. How would this affect one boarding an international flight with a one-way ticket?

Any information you are kind enough to provide to enlighten me on this, no doubt, “Obamatax”, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your contribution to my “Independent Living”.

Lee responds: The “Exit Tax” was devised by Congress in 2008 to prevent millionaires from leaving the country and taking their wealth with them. The IRS calls it the “Expatriation Tax.” Democrat Senator Charles Schumer and top Obama administration officials want to further clamp down on expats with new taxes and restrictions.

For now, the IRS gets to impose an Exit Tax on you if you are a “covered expatriate.” The IRS will consider you to be a “covered” expat if just one of the following applies:

• Your net worth is $2 million or more on the date of your expatriation or termination of residency.

• Your average annual net income tax for the 5 years ending before the date of expatriation or termination of residency is more than a specified amount that is adjusted for inflation ($157,000 for 2014).

• You fail to certify on Form 8854 that you have complied with all U.S. federal tax obligations for the 5 years preceding the date of your expatriation or termination of residency.

What to Do About Maturing BondsMaria D. writes: I have bonds due to mature the latter part of 2016. With the uncertainty in the financial market, should I redeem them now and take the interest loss--or wait?

Lee responds: There will always be uncertainty in financial markets, so you need to be ready for anything. No one knows what will happen to stocks, precious metals, bonds, or interest rates over the course of the next year.

The way to safely navigate an uncertain investing environment is to be well-diversified. If you don’t own any gold, then now might be a good time to dump your bonds and buy some Krugerrands. If you already have sufficient exposure to precious metals, then maybe you just sit tight with your bonds and wait for them to mature. Then you can consider rolling the proceeds into new bonds or potentially higher-yielding assets that may be available in late 2016.

Wedding Proposal Takes the Edge Off Brewing Global WarJim N. writes: Well, Lee, after reading all those pages about China and the potential conflagration with the U.S., all of which I believe unfortunately are about to pass in the very near future, I was happy to see the piece about your wedding proposal at the movies.

Of course I had to watch it. That was indeed very cool, and made me feel good for a while after watching it. Nicely done, man! Congratulations and best wishes for a long, happy married life together!

Lee responds: Thank you!

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“Ask Lee Now” is presented for general educational purposes only. Because we don’t know enough about readers’ personal situations, the opinions expressed here should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument at any time. We will not be responsible for financial decisions that readers make, and they should be made in consultation with their own advisers.



Bossy Busybodies Move to Mandate Dirtier Dishes

If you’ve had experience with different kinds of dishwashers, you know that some clean better than others. Newer isn’t necessarily better. Stainless steel finishes,

electronic controls, and ultra-quiet modes don’t have much to do with getting plates and silverware to come out spotless.

What matters is whether the dishwasher sprays enough water in the right places at high enough pressure to dislodge all the food particles from a fully loaded rack. The best dishwashing detergents won’t compensate for a poorly designed or underpowered dishwashing machine. (Though later in this story you’ll learn how you can supercharge your dishwasher powder/gel.)

Thanks to new proposed regulations from the Depart-ment of Energy bureaucrats, dishwasher manufacturers could soon be forced to make dishwashers that can’t wash dishes as well as the models you used decades ago.

Government Dishes Out Petty New Dishwasher Restrictions

According to the political insider rag The Hill, “The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers is accusing the Department of Energy (DOE) of a politi-cally motivated drive to increase dishwasher efficiency standards, which are so bad that they would cause consumers to re-wash dishes, erasing any efficiency gains. Rob McAver, the group’s head lobbyist, said regulators are going too far and the new rules will allow only 3.1 gallons [of water] to be used to wash each load of dishes. … They then ran standard tests with food stuck to dishes. ‘They found some stuff that was pretty disgusting,’ McAver said.”

Dishwashers that don’t wash; toilets that don’t flush; showerheads that don’t give your hair a good rinse…all in the name of “efficiency.” At least with regard to low-flow showerheads, it is possible to “hack” them and remove the government-mandated water-flow restrictor. It would be virtually impossible, however, to modify a low-flow dishwasher without completely reengineering it.

Therefore, if you have a dishwasher you know is going to need to be replaced in the near future, you might want to replace it now. At some point, when only 3.1-gallon

dishwashers are available, you might have to go back to hand washing your dishes in order to get them clean.

For now, you can still obtain dishwashers that produce clean dishes. Opt for a heavy duty model from a reliable brand. As with any appliance, the cheapest dishwashers will tend to be the least reliable and produce the worst results. But the priciest dishwashers with the fanciest looks and features aren’t necessarily the best. High-end models that are less popular may have more things that can go wrong down the road. Sometimes a mid-level model from a top brand is your best bet. Check Consumer Reports for their latest ratings.

The Renegade Way to Get Your Dishes Really Clean

(And You Don’t Have to Risk Prison to Do It)Over time, a dishwasher’s effectiveness will decline. Cracks and crevices inside your dishwasher can be breeding grounds for odorous gunk. Also mineral deposits from tap water, residue from detergent, and undissolved food debris can all hinder your dishwasher’s performance over time. All that buildup can restrict water flow. Worse, some of it can get re-deposited on your dishes during wash/rinse cycles.

Running an empty wash cycle with two cups of vinegar can help clean your dishwasher. But if you want to get it really clean and back to peak performance, you’ll first need to physically scrub it out. You’ll be remov-ing the buildup that today’s phosphate-free detergents leave behind.

The makers of Cascade and other dishwasher detergents removed phosphates from their products starting in mid 2010 after several states banned the additive. Environmentalists claim phosphates threaten fragile ecosystems in lakes, rivers, and streams. But household dishwashers accounted for less than 2% of phosphate pollution. They had no noticeable effect on the environment.

Nevertheless, phosphates disappeared from dishwasher soaps. And the result was dirtier dishes. Phosphate acts like a rinsing agent, preventing food particles and detergent residue from reattaching to dishes. There’s really no substitute for it.

Lifestyle Tyrants

See Dirtier Dishes Mandate, next page



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In the June 2014 Independent Living, an article (“The Renegade Way to Get Your Clothes Really Clean”) suggested adding tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) to your laundry to make your phosphate-free laundry detergent work like it should. You can do likewise for your dishes. Add no more than a tablespoon of TSP to your main dispenser along with the conventional automatic dish detergent you normally use.

You should notice a differ-ence – cleaner dishes and no more film left behind on glasses or the walls of your dishwasher. Your dishwasher itself will remain cleaner when you use TSP, because the phosphate breaks up residues left by detergents and prevents them from clinging to surfaces.

“Bandit” Dishwasher Detergent Defies Phosphate Ban

Alternatively, you can still find dishwasher detergents (not on your grocery store’s shelf) that contain phosphate. For example, some commercial-grade detergents used by restaurants and hotels still contain

the “banned” substance.

Actually, there’s no formal federal ban on phosphates in consumer dishwashing soaps. But a patchwork of state and local bans, pressure from environmentalists, and the threat of a federal crackdown have worked to create an effective nationwide ban. The major brands and chain stores are all enforcing it.

You can get around it by buying your dishwasher deter-gent directly from a renegade brand. One is called Bubble Bandit (727-242-2145; www.bubblebandit.com). Bubble Bandit dishwasher detergent proudly includes phosphates!

According to the company, “Phosphates help remove any hardness ions present in the water (such as calcium, magnesium, or iron), which allows other components in the cleaning process to work more effectively. And, phosphates help remove dirt particles from the surface being cleaned, through the suspension of fine particles for efficient removal in the rinse.”

Reacquaint your dishwasher with phosphates and discover what sparkling clean dishes really look like.

Dirtier Dishes Mandate continued from previous page

Get around it by buying your dishwasher detergent directly from a renegade brand.



Beat the Coming Politically Engineered Home Electrical Cost Surges

By Seth Van Brocklin

President Obama is following through on a vow he made back in 2008. Yes, politicians occasionally keep their promises! But this is one promise you might prefer he’d break.

“Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket,” Obama said as he rode into power 7 years ago. He has since readjusted his rhetoric. But he hasn’t abandoned his ultimate aim of driving down energy usage by raising costs.

In August, the lame duck President announced radical new restrictions on so-called greenhouse gasses. He wants to require all states to accede to 32% reduc-tions in carbon emissions by 2030. “In finalizing the unprecedented pollution controls, Obama was installing the core of his ambitious and controversial plan to drastically reduce overall U.S. emissions,” reports Reuters.

Congressional Republicans are mostly opposed to the new rules. But they have little hope of stopping them over Obama’s veto pen. Or rolling them back if the Clintons re-take the White House in 2016 (Hillary has voiced support for the regulations).

Billions in Mandatory New Environmental Costs Will Be Passed on to YOU

The Obama administration estimates its new emissions caps will cost $8.4 billion annually. You can bet that will turn out to be a low-ball estimate. The massive new “clean energy” compliance costs borne by power plants will, of course, ultimately be passed on to consumers. In the form of higher utility bills.

The government is moving to counteract the falling costs of coal, oil, gas, and other raw energy commodi-ties. The aim is to deny Americans the full benefits of cheap energy provided by the market so that we will use less energy.

It’s definitely time to consider becoming more energy independent. That doesn’t necessarily entail going off the grid. But you should at least have supplemental backup sources of electricity generation in case the grid goes down or gets too expensive. I am currently

pursuing avenues for a more energy-independent lifestyle myself.

Unplugging from the Grid Doesn’t Mean Living Like “Dugout Dick”

I spent much of the month of August in Montana searching for an idyllic log cabin in the woods. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go off grid. I’m willing to “rough it” to some extent. But I’m not willing to do without electricity, running water, cell phone and Internet access, and other modern conveniences.

On my drive toward Montana through Idaho on Highway 93, I stopped by a roadside historical marker, “Idaho Hermits.” It honors local characters who lived independently, detached from society: “Living for more than 60 years in hand-built ‘dugouts’ across the Salmon river from this site, Richard ‘Dugout Dick’ Zimmerman (1916-2010) came to symbolize the Idaho hermit. With colorful names like Buckskin Bill and Hank the Hermit, these men (and a few women) eked out lonely existences…”

As much as I admire self-reliant frontiersmen who build their own cabins, gather and hunt their own food, collect their own firewood, and shun most modern conveniences, that’s not me. I don’t want to be in survival mode on a permanent basis. Of course, I do want to have survival plans and backup reserves in place in the event of an emergency. I just hope I don’t need to actually employ them!

While I was hesitant to look at off-the-grid properties, what I found when I did is that they don’t entail living a primitive lifestyle. In fact, many large, fully equipped homes in rural areas are off grid. And by fully equipped, I mean full, modern kitchens, washer/dryer, and light switches and power outlets that work just like they do in any home.

Contrary to misperceptions some have, off grid does not mean powered down. A complement of solar panels, gas generators, and battery packs can power a home just as well as a grid connection. Off grid means independence from utility companies, their data-gathering Smart meters, and their ever-increasing rates.

Grid Watch

See Beat the Electrical Cost Surges, next page



Solar Electricity Becomes More Economic Even as the government is making utility bills artifi-cially high (and higher), it is making the costs of solar panels artificially low. Tax credits, falling production costs, and increasing efficiency for solar panels now make it possible for many homeowners to generate solar power for their homes economically.

Most homeowners that install solar systems remain hooked up to the grid. They draw from the power lines at night and become energy self-sufficient during the day. How much value you can derive from a solar power system depends on how much sunlight hits your solar cells. Not all locations are well-suited for solar installations.

But more and more places are becoming viable as system costs drop. If you checked into solar systems in the past and were put off by the high costs, you might be surprised at how affordable they are now. Prices of solar modules are down 75% just since 2007.

A supplementary solar system can pay for itself in 10 years or less and serve as a long-term hedge against rising utility bills.

As I was perusing Distinctly Montana magazine (Summer 2015), I came across a feature story on how solar power is becoming more attractive in the face of rising conventional electricity costs. It noted that “the EPA’s new Climate Action Plan could accelerate the pricing trend upward” on metered power bills.

Solar Tax Rebates Can Be Lucrative… While They Last

Meanwhile, the government is heavily subsidizing renewable energy upgrades such as solar power panels and solar water heaters. Through 2016, you can receive a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of installing a home solar system. That’s a direct reduction in your tax burden for the year of your installation. Claim your credit on IRS Form 5695.

Not sure if you’re eligible? Here are the criteria, as described by the U.S. Department of Energy:

“A taxpayer may claim a credit of 30% of qualified expenditures for a system that serves a dwelling unit

located in the United States that is owned and used as a residence by the taxpayer. Expenditures with respect to the equipment are treated as made when the instal-lation is completed. If the installation is at a new home,

the “placed in service” date is the date of occupancy by the homeowner. Expenditures include labor costs for on-site preparation, assembly or original system installation, and for piping or wiring to interconnect a system to the home. If the federal tax credit exceeds tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward to the succeeding taxable year.”

Since the credit is due to expire after 2016, it’s not clear whether carry forwards will be allowable into 2017. Not even the Energy Department can figure out how to interpret the law! It says, “The excess credit may be carried forward until 2016, but it is unclear whether the unused tax credit can be carried forward after then.”

In any case, it’s a good idea to check with a tax specialist before attempting to claim the credit. He or she can help make sure you get every dollar back you’re allowed while surviving IRS scrutiny.

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Generation SystemYou can build your very own EMP-resistant home power backup system! Independent Living’s free instructional video shows you step-by-step how to do it, using local vendors.

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Beat the Electrical Cost Surges continued from previous page

Through 2016, you can receive a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of installing a home solar system.



Avoiding Health Threats from Household PestsBy Martin Overline

Common household pests can be more than just a nuisance. Many of them, including cockroaches, mosquitoes, mice and rats,

can spread diseases. Considering these animals are often attracted to the least sanitary places in your home, it is hardly surprising that they can be dirty and pose significant dangers to your family.

In the case of an infestation, pests can spread extremely dangerous diseases. You do not have to physically come into contact with pests in order to catch diseases from them, as they can contaminate the air, surfaces, and also food.

Common Diseases Spread by WildlifeWild animals can carry a range of diseases which, if passed on to humans, can cause serious symptoms and even death. One of the most severe of diseases it is possible to catch from rats and mice is Leptospirosis, an infection that can be fatal.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis include:• Headache• Fever• Muscle pain

• Bleeding lungs• Meningitis

There are 13 different strains of Leptospirosis, one of which, Weil’s Disease, causes jaundice and kidney failure in patients. Treatment for Leptospirosis can involve strong antibiotics, dialysis, and special treatment for any organs affected, such as the lungs, heart, and liver.

Rats are also infamous for spreading the Bubonic Plague, although cases of this in the western world are extremely rare.

It is not just rats and mice that can spread dangerous diseases. Mosquitoes feed on human blood, and so can transmit infections from one person to another. They often carry malaria. Domestic cockroaches carry around 32 different types of bacteria, which can cause food poison-ing, gangrene, diarrhea, leprosy, typhoid, pneumonia, and many other unpleasant and dangerous conditions.

Many of these diseases can be spread onto domestic pets. This means if your cat or dog was to come into contact with the pest, the bacteria could spread to them.

Seeing as you are likely to spend a lot of time in close contact with your pets, this increases your chance of catching diseases.

Allergic ReactionsInsects and rodents do not only pose health risks due to the illnesses that they can spread. There are other, sometimes chronic, health problems associated with household pests. Three out of five city dwellers with asthma have an allergy to cockroaches, making their symptoms more severe.

Wasps and hornets can also threaten people with allergies. While for many a wasp or hornet sting is simply an unpleasant and unwanted experience, half a million Americans have to attend the emergency room every year thanks to an encounter with a stinging bug. Flea and bed bug bites can be irritating and itchy, and some of these bites can get infected. Some people can have allergic reactions to these kinds of bites, ranging in severity from minor to severe.

Wildlife Disease Transmission MethodsDifferent animals can transmit the diseases they carry in different ways. It’s safe to say that none of them respect our standards of hygiene, so one of the biggest problems can be when they stray into food preparation or storage areas. Cockroaches, ants, mice, rats, and other household pests can all walk on work surfaces, kitchen tables, in cupboards, and other food areas. This spreads the bacteria that they carry, contaminating food and utensils.

Insects and rodents that bite can pass on bacteria through direct contact, especially mosquitoes who regularly break the skin. Rats and mice can bite, especially when they feel threatened or are defending their territory, again transmitting any bacteria they may be carrying.

Rat and mouse feces and urine are another problem, exposure to which can lead to significant health prob-lems, including Hantavirus, which can eventually cause kidney failure. It is a rare condition, but a particularly dangerous one as the patient’s immune system is not prepared to counteract the virus.

Precautions to TakeIf you see signs of an animal infestation, it is important to take extra precautions around the house. All work

Guest Commentary

See Avoiding Health Threats, next page



surfaces should be washed and disinfected, as should any food preparation utensils. Food should be checked for signs of tampering; you may be able to see bite marks or holes in storage containers. Also check cupboards, work surfaces, floors, and behind furniture for signs of animal droppings or nests.

If you find animal droppings, you should handle them carefully. Always wear protective gloves, place drop-pings in a secure bag, and wipe down the surrounding area with disinfectant or bleach. Any body part or item of clothing that came into contact with the droppings should be washed or disinfected immediately to ensure the removal of harmful, disease-causing bacteria.

Most household pests are attracted by food. If possible, keep all foodstuffs in sealed containers to minimize the smell and to prevent easy access. Food scraps should not be left lying around, and garbage bins should be kept closed at all times, and away from the property if possible.

Pests will enter through any crack or hole they can

find, so it is worth inspecting your property, both inside and out, to find these gaps and seal them up with an appropriate filler material. Remember that rats have teeth which can gnaw through concrete, so holes that you suspect are made by rats will need to be more heavily plugged than those used by mice, ants, or cockroaches. Keep any windows and doors shut, or use screens if keeping them open for long periods of time.

Signs of an Infestation: What to DoIf you notice signs of an infestation you will need to call in an exterminator in order to remove the problem before it becomes too serious. With most types of household pests proving a health hazard, you and your family could be at risk if you leave an infestation to get worse. An exterminator will be able to assess the extent of the infestation, and choose the most suitable method of removing or exterminating the pests.

Avoiding Health Threats continued from previous page

Editor’s note: Guest commentator Martin Overline is an Independent Living reader, a former a U.S. Airforce Entomology Engineer, and founder of Aardvark Pest Management in Philadelphia’s Frankford section.

IRS Admits It Lacks Authority to Extract Obamacare Penalty

As many as 6 million people could be liable for the Obamacare penalty this year. That’s the fee under the Affordable Care Act for failing to obtain a government-approved health insurance plan. But far fewer than 6 million people will actually pay the penalty – or as the IRS calls it, the “shared responsibility payment.”

The IRS lacks the personnel resources to collect the “shared responsibility payment” from everyone. It also lacks the legal authority to do so.

The IRS admits this on an obscure web page, “Questions and Answers on the Individual Shared Responsibility Provision.” According to the tax collecting agency, “The law prohibits the IRS from using liens or levies to collect any individual shared responsibility payment. However, if you owe a shared responsibility payment, the IRS may offset that liability against any tax refund that may be due to you.”

So the IRS can subtract your Obamacare penalty from any tax refund that may be due. But it can’t dip into your bank account or lay claim to any of your assets in order to collect it.

Civil disobedience may be the only way left to get rid of Obamacare. The Supreme Court failed to strike it down, and Congress has so far failed to defund it.

Republican leaders John Boehner and Mitch McConnell think they can placate conservatives by holding symbolic votes against Obamacare that they know won’t change anything. But when it comes to actually depriving the program of funding, members of Congress who try to go that route are threatened with punishment by GOP leaders.

Forget the political process. If We the People render Obamacare unworkable by opting out of it en masse, then it will collapse under its own weight.



How a Tiny Minority Soar Above All National Dangers

It’s been an odd journey. But forging breakthrough strategies for dangerous times has come to be my passion, my focus. I did political reporting for two decades and found it wanting. Because being informed is just not good enough – that is only a first step. What motivates and excites me is that a tiny minority always seem to ride above the mayhem and potential destructiveness of government tyrants, criminals, and other scoundrels.

Think about the trend-setters for personal liberty. The keepers of the flame from gen-eration to generation. Always a minority – waiting for the right political environment to flourish. Like right now.

Independent Living’s founding in 2006 came about because conventional “survivalist” thinking falls so far short. Sure, get-rich-quick “water-bugs” (my term) are flitting fast into the self-reliance movement. Of course, that’s anyone’s protected right – but geez! Do they have no identity or life accomplishments of their own?

Let me explain a bit about my introduction to advanced self-reliance skill-making…

What I Saw In D .C . Living on a Yacht for Five Years – All Real!

For five years, I lived on a 52-foot vessel called “Off the Record” at a yacht club in Southwest Washington D.C.. Since 1892, that club has been the official mooring site of all the many mega-yachts that come to the nation’s capital each year. Billionaires from all over the world, including the Forbes Yacht – with its own bagpiper playing early each morning – to Bruce Springsteen’s floating palace.

By comparison, my “Off the Record” was a Chinese Junk!

But nice enough. While top lobbyists spent millions for offices and operations on D.C.’s notorious lobbying mecca, “K Street”, I got access to many elite political types on the much less stuffy D.C. waterfront scene. I often loaned “Off the Record” out for elite

cocktail parties and fundraisers. It was a chance to rub shoulders and learn by observing major political players at close distance, and on a regular basis.

And one of the best and most valued skills I learned in that unique place? Knowing how to act on what’s said in private by big-wigs.

U .S . Government Elites Are Preppers – How That Changed My World, Big-Time

The striking “big lesson” from my D.C. waterfront “life chapter” is how many Homeland Security and other

ilnadb00415

The #1 Skill You Need Now continued from page 1

See The #1 Skill You Need Now, next page

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PowerWhisperer Mobile Power Supply System

Many Homeland Security and other high officials are closet preppers.



high officials are closet preppers. An acquaintance who also lived on his boat at the yacht club installed backup generators for the wealthy and powerful. He often told me of how many of them he was installing in homes in the posh residential area of McLean, Virginia.

Imagine it! At high-end cocktail parties all over Washington, the high and mighty making small talk about their new emergency generators. Comparing notes; their version of being better than the Jones’.

That got my attention. Even top government officials are preppers. Or should I say especially top govern-ment officials? Yet these federal elite want you to look down on average people doing exactly the same thing.

High-Level Officials Are Increasingly Paranoid about Critics of Government

Some bad news about all this. Among the many big government types I’ve gotten to know, very often they have paranoid beliefs about critics of government. Many elites see the liberty movement as a massive, implicit, white power conspiracy.

It’s a ridiculously overblown threat. Yet more than anything it drives the left’s war to nationalize the Internet, attack con-servative activists through the IRS, prosecute moviemakers that criticize them, and force everyone into silence through political correctness. Beware; there are no limits to their tyrannical ends. Like Fidel Castro, they feel righteous in deploying the most extreme tactics against critics.

Many in positions of power and influence really do see white conservatives as a menace. In a national emergency, that could be very dangerous for harmless and needed critics of the state.

Even before notoriety-seeking Dylan Roof shot down 9 defenseless worshipers in a black church in Charleston, left-wing elitists have been pushing to justify oppression against critics of government. Republican, conservative, libertarian, it’s all the same threat in their minds.

Take this “pre-Roof” call to action in The New York Times, calling on law enforcement officials to crack down on critics of government: “As state and local police agen-cies remind us, right-wing, anti-government extremism is

the leading cause of ideological violence in America.”

The biblical saying “don’t cast pearls before swine” is so true. Trying to convince others is usually a waste of your precious energies. Facts just don’t register much with people who have emotional, ideological, or pecuniary biases against what you have to say.

Don’t Waste Your Time Trying to Tell These Facts to Hard-heads – See Why Below

White violence against any race is tiny when viewed in proportion to population. High profile cases of Caucasian hate crime dominate the news, but those are rare if dramatic and are anything but a trend. It’s quite the opposite in fact. Think of airline crashes. They always dominate the news, even though flying is astonishingly safe.

Knowing what happens day to day in the real world is much more instructive. Over 800,000 USA residents are both here illegally and have a felony or significant misdemeanor charge. Yet Dylan Roof is the media star.

When a Muslim (Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez) kills five Marines at a recruiting station in Chattanooga, Tennessee, it is almost a non-event in comparison to Roof’s newfound notoriety.

It took Donald Trump (of all people!) to crack open the deafening silence of the political class. Had it not been for his sudden jump into GOP nomination politics, most of the candidates would have side-stepped the 300+ U.S. “sanctuary cities” issue. This is where local governments refuse to enforce the law – giving illegal aliens (including radicals from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries) protected refuge.

Truly Verboten Statistics Right Here If You Are Ready

Government figures compiled by researcher Jessica Vaughan show that illegals released by sanctuary cities this year included 3,000 felons. About 1,900 of those released felons reoffended within 8 months, in a wave of 7,800 violent crimes, including murders, assaults, rape, and child rape. (Credit to an excellent column by Phyllis Schlafly.)

My point here is that lots of folks in commanding positions of authority are themselves radical extremists. I really do think they see social chaos as a stepping


The #1 Skill You Need Now continued from previous page

The coming debt crisis will feel like it is raining hammers.



stone to greater state power.

Greece-Level Debt Crisis Brings Predators Out to Storm Affluent “Secure” Households

A recent “state of U.S. cities” report by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker predicts a massive debt crisis in major U.S. cities and states. Among the many alarming probabilities this establishment icon warns about is basic social services collapse. You need to get your home ready and my free report (see below) on where to hide stuff in your home is an essential precaution to take now.

In Greece the debt crisis has come with strict capital controls over private citizens. To the average person, this means they must stand in line to be doled out their own money in increments of sixty Euros a week. So one week you stand in line to pay for groceries, the next week for rent, the following week for medicine. People are hiding their money and gold under mattresses on a wide scale.

Here’s why the coming post-Obama debt crisis (which may begin before he leaves office) is so important to your planning: In Greece, organized crime rings have responded with forced-entry raids – against affluent Greek citizens.

Now picture this: Among the 100 million+ who’ve permanently dropped out of the workforce, the coming debt crisis will feel like it is raining hammers. Widespread desperation accompanied by more and more police balking at legitimate law enforcement for fear of prosecution. And as you know, the jails are packed with unemployed souls. As more come back into society, the pressures will increase.

Organized foreign criminality is afoot in major U.S. border areas. So we are looking at the birth of a much nastier and more invasive (in this case Mexican) mafia to feed off the coming mess.

Watch Many Gullible House Republicans Fall into This Ugly Trap

Okay, let’s regroup here. More and police are sitting

on their hands to avoid prosecution. So we have a breakdown of legitimate law enforcement. In turn, crime and the potential for social chaos are on the rise and more voters are noticing. The jails are already packed with unemployed people.

Of course, Mr. Obama is ready with his very own solution. Note that the White House political operation works hand in glove with Al Sharpton to push for

national control of local law enforcement. I fear that a whole lot of dumb House Republicans might just get sucked into this one. As violence escalates, nationalization of local law enforcement is coming at us like a freight train.

My takeaway for you: Going forward, even affluent neighborhoods will see organized assaults.

Proof Mounts That 9-1-1 Emergency Call Services Are Crashing Nationwide

I’ve warned in recent issues that emergency response medical service as we have known it is going away under Obamacare. Recently, the FCC fined T-Mobile (a cellphone service provider) for an incident last August. For three hours, 50 million T-Mobile custom-ers could not get through to 9-1-1.

The Federal Communications Commission estimates that nationwide, there are 27,000 9-1-1 calls made in the USA every hour. And that is during normal times, not during an emergency.

The current 9-1-1 system is a patchwork quilt of dispatch centers and networks and has been since its inception in 1968. Now tens of millions of people who have ditched their landlines rely completely on cell phone systems that interface very poorly with the antique 9-1-1 infrastructure.

Don’t Stress Out: Here Are Four Easy and Free Things You Can Do Right Now

Please don’t stress out about all this because there are four action items below that will make you better off immediately. And they are subscriber-only alternatives that are yours free.


See The #1 Skill You Need Now, next page

Nationalization of local law enforcement is coming at us like a freight train.

For three hours, 50 million T-Mobile customers could not get through to 9-1-1.


Lee Bellinger is Editor of Independent Living. A 28-year veteran to newsletter publishing, Bellinger has made it his life mission to help his subscribers protect their freedoms, assets, privacy, wealth, and health from geometrically increasing threats, especially from the federal government and its corporate cronies and other “stakeholders.” A Capitol Hill insider for 30 years, he is a graduate of Hillsdale College in Michigan, worked as an aide to two congressmen, and led a grassroots advocacy group.

First Action-to-Take: I offer a free DVD on how you and some friends can build your own personal mini-hospital. Don’t risk the failure of 9-1-1. All based on my best research. Send me an email at [email protected] and put MED-E-PACK into the subject line. You can get a free DVD by calling my office during business hours, at 1-877-371-1807.

Second Action-to-Take: This free DVD shows how to build my design specifications for an advanced home evacuation and barter pack. Email for my research findings at [email protected] and put E-PACK in the subject line. Or get a DVD by calling 1-877-371-1807.

Third Action-to-Take: Let me send you my must-read Hide It So They Can’t Find It: 47 Hiding Places in Your Home That Thieves and Looters Will Never Find. Send request to [email protected] or call 1-877-371-1807 to have us mail you a copy.

Fourth Action-to-Take: I offer a one-hour detailed instructional DVD on how to make your own EMP-resistant solar powered home energy backup supply. Some of my best work here. Send request to [email protected] or call my toll free number at 1-877-371-1807.

All four of these actions are included with your subscrip-tion to Independent Living.

Thank you for giving me the chance to serve you. Please make use of all this subscriber-only how-to information. It is all included in your subscription.

Lee Bellinger, Founder, Independent Living

P.S. If you decide that you’d prefer to not build all these home safety devices, that’s not a problem. I do offer pre-built units that are ready to go. You can find them by going to www.survivalproshop.com


same contrasts can be found in China’s govern-ment (capitalistic in many ways, authoritarian in many others), its culture, its economy, and its markets.

Your Long Term BetsI believe that in the long run, China will continue down the path of economic modernization. I see nothing to stop it from ultimately overtaking the United States as the world’s preeminent economy. And I see far greater opportunity in China-region stock markets (including Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, India, Vietnam) than in overvalued U.S. markets. But in the near term there is also greater risk.

It’s best not to concentrate your risk in a single country. You can get broad exposure to emerg-ing Asia through SPDR S&P Emerging Asia Pacific (GMF). It is weighted 36.0% in China; 27.6% in Taiwan; 16.8% in India.

As always, investors must weigh the opportuni-ties against the risks for themselves.

China’s Surprise Currency Gambit continued from page 3

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90SPDr S&P Emerging Asia Pacific (Weekly) 76.83

© StockCharts.com19-Aug-2015GMF SPDR S&P Emg AsiaPac NYSE

Cl 76.83 Vol 690.2K Chg -3.08 (-3.85%)

Hong Kong, Singapore, S. Korea, India, and Vietnam are promising possibilities.

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Independent Living - Amazon S3 · opposed to ETFs or other derivative products that are tied to precious metals prices. The value of your physical bullion in the coin market can rise