PROOF #2 Independent Living - Amazon S3 · betting big on gold. PROOF #2 uly L 3 ... Here are a few worth considering: ... currencies, commodities, gold, REITs, and certain other

PROOF #2

Hillary’s Nuclear Option Against Donald Trump

By Lee Bellinger

4The left’s secret plan to ensure a Democrat win no matter what.

4Get ready in case radical and vindictive leftists take power.

You can almost smell it in the air – any real attempt to fix America’s ills guaran-tees massive violence, social mayhem and severe financial turbulence. You don’t have to live in a bunker or anything, but you do need to be aware on a level that most can’t or won’t attempt.

Realists are history’s survivors, the individualists who prevail as most falter.

Before I get to my Donald Trump prediction, I know it is not my place to tell you who to support for president. Recently at a big Heritage Foundation event in Philadelphia, I met a high-profile acquaintance who contributed to the infamous National Review issue devoted solely to bashing Trump.

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

Volume 11, Issue 7 July 2016

Fed Balks as Economic Reality Talks

By Seth Van Brocklin

4What it means when persistently low interest rates turn negative in real terms.

4Stocks, bonds, gold, alternative assets…which are underpriced and which are overpriced?

The Federal Reserve opted to not raise interest rates at its June meeting. Fed chair Janet Yellen admitted that the latest economic and employment spring had failed to meet the expectations and hopes of policymakers. In other words, the Fed overestimated the economy’s strength.

“The pace of improvement in the labor market has slowed,” the Fed noted in its statement. That’s putting it mildly. The May jobs report came in dismal – well below consensus forecast.

What does this mean for investors?

It means they should be cautious about holding economically sensitive assets such as growth stocks. The recent slowdown in hiring could be the start of a recession that brings a much bigger slowdown in the months ahead. In such a case, the U.S. stock market and the U.S. dollar could be pulled down by the gravitational forces of a falling economy.

For now, markets expect a low growth, low inflation, low interest rate environment to persist – at least over the next couple years.

See Fed Balks as Economic Reality Talks, next pageSee Hillary’s Nuclear Option, page 17

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More on What You Won’t Find Anywhere Else INSIDEIt’s Not Just Flint: Health Hazards Abound in America’s Corroded Underground Water Pipes – Page 4

Anti-Trump Militants Plan More Violence and Mayhem – Page 6Inspiration to Increase Your Mental Toughness – Page 7

Ask Lee Now: Answering Readers’ Questions – Page 8Better Ways to Invest in Energy Alternatives – Page 13

Your IRS Problems Solved with Dan Pilla – Page 15Blowing the Lid Off the Medical System’s Death Rate Cover Up – Page 16

Lower Your Air Conditioning Bills – Page 17

PROOF #2Independent Living2 July 2016

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

You Face This Downside with Continued Low Rates

Ultra-low interest rates are widely thought to be a boon to the financial system. They certainly help stimulate “carry trade” speculators. They help fuel corporate share buybacks. They might help drive consumers to finance more expensive cars and homes.

But banks would actually like to see rates rise so that they can sell more CDs and charge more on loans. Persistent near-zero interest rates are a growing danger to pension plans, annuities, and life insurance policies. Trillions of dollars are sitting in such vehicles without earning an adequate rate of return.

Paradoxically, the only thing that is saving bondholders from the dead end of low yields is… the prospect of even lower yields! As long as bond yields keep falling, bondholders can continue to enjoy capital appreciation on bonds that were bought with higher yields attached.

On the day of the Fed’s decision, June 15th, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.6%. That’s the lowest handle on the 10-year since 2012, and not far from all-time record lows.

Official Inflation Targets vs. Inflation Realities Your Family Faces

The bond market seems to be projecting that inflation will average below 2% over the next decade. If infla-tion rates exceed the yields on Treasuries, then they will carry negative real yields. Holders of T-notes will lose money in real terms.

People usually don’t buy bonds with the objective of losing money. But they can buy into the delusion that

bonds are always safe. They aren’t – especially when they yield less than 2%.

Yet Fed head Yellen projects that inflation will hit the central bank’s 2% target. Unofficially, inflation has been running well above 2% in 2016 – with gasoline costs surging, housing costs outpacing wage growth, and healthcare costs continuing their relentless march higher (major health insurers are now threatening double digit premium increases – in terms of percent-ages, not dollars).

Real world inflation is a serious, growing, though officially unacknowledged, problem. If the second half

of 2016 sees similar paces of price rises as the first half, even the jerry-rigged Consumer Price Index will start heading up in a significant way. And that may finally rattle the bond market and its trillions of dollars in negative real yields.

Bond yields are ultimately tied to inflation expecta-tions. The Fed can try to manage expectations, but that all depends on its credibility. The Fed loses credibility every time it backs down on rate hikes and comes up with an excuse as to why its economic models failed.

Navigating Negative Real Rates is Fast Becoming a Must-Know Skill

Rising inflation plus artificially low interest rates equals disaster for people who are stuck in fixed low-yielding assets.

It may be tempting to jump into dividend stocks and other dynamic income producing assets that now yield substantially more than government bonds. And if you have a very long-term perspective and don’t mind riding out a potential bear market, you will probably do a lot better 10+ years from now in dividend stocks than in Treasury notes that pay 1.6%.

Unfortunately, most sectors of the stock market are

Fed Balks as Economic Reality Talks 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 2016 by American Lantern Press, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Continued on next page

Prominent billionaire investors including George Soros are betting big on gold.

PROOF #2Independent LivingJuly 2016 3


vulnerable in the near term due to lofty valuations and the risk of an economic downturn. Even the relatively safe and steady utilities sector carries more risk than usual. Utility stocks are now trading at nearly double their historical valuations.

The most attractive asset class during periods when rates remain low while inflation is picking up tends to be precious metals. After suffering a setback in May, gold and silver markets bounced back in June ahead of the Fed decision. Prominent billionaire investors including George Soros are betting big on gold.

Yet precious metals remain under-owned by most inves-tors. Even among gold and silver bugs, the other precious metals, platinum and palladium, remain virtually un-owned. Each of the four major precious metals deserves a spot in a well-diversified portfolio – with platinum and palladium being the most historically cheap and therefore potentially representing the greatest opportunity.

Multi-Asset Income Generation May Be Your Best Path Forward Now

As for investments that generate income, it’s hard to justify owning Treasuries with yields so suppressed. As mentioned earlier, you can find dividend stocks that beat Treasury bonds. Despite elevated valuations for equities, they still deserve at least some place in your portfolio. Consider overweighting foreign markets, most of which now sport higher yields than the U.S.

Stocks, convertibles, real estate investment trusts, floating rate bonds, and various other income produc-ing assets can be bought packaged into a multi-asset income fund. You can expect to get a 3% - 6% yield out of one of these multi-asset income funds. Here are a few worth considering:

• First Trust NASDAQ Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund (MDIV)

• iShares Morningstar Multi-Asset Income Index ETF (IYLD)

• Arrow Dow Jones Global Yield ETF (GYLD)• PIMCO Global Multi-Asset D (PGMDX)• PIMCO Inflation Response Multi-Asset D

(PDRMX)PIMCO Inflation Response Multi-Asset (PDRMX) is a mutual fund designed to give investors comprehensive

exposure to inflation-resistant assets, including Trea-sury Inflation Protected Securities, emerging market currencies, commodities, gold, REITs, and certain other debt and equity securities. The fund performed poorly in 2015 but gained 8% in the first half of 2016 as inflation-sensitive assets rallied.

The main drawback to multi-asset funds is expenses. They tend to be higher than with stock market or bond market index funds. Since multi-asset funds often hold other funds as assets, you can get a layering effect when it comes to fund fees.

Fed Balks as Economic Reality Talks continued from previous page Tip: You can check a closed-end

fund’s discount/premium to net assets on the web site CEFConnect.com.

CEF Income Portfolio: Top Ten Holdings for You To Look At

Fund Ticker Weighting

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Equity Income

EXG 3.8%

DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund DSL 2.7%

Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund EVV 2.5%

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust BDJ 2.5%

Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income FAX 2.4%

BlackRock Credit Allocation Income BTZ 2.1%

AllianzGI NFJ Dividend Interest & Premium Strategy

NFJ 2.1%

Nuveen Preferred Securities Income JPS 2.0%

BlackRock Corporate High Yield HYT 1.9%

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income JQC 1.8%

See Fed Balks as Economic Reality Talks, page 20




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It’s Not Just Flint: Health Hazards Abound in America’s Corroded Underground Water Pipes

By Bonner R. Cohen

Few recent events have been more disheartening than the sight of Flint, Mich. – once a bastion of blue-collar pride – being reduced to a veritable beggar, unable even to provide its dwindling number of residents with drinkable water.

It would be tempting to write off the presence of lead, a potent neurotoxin, in the beleaguered city’s water system as just another Rust Belt horror story. But the problems plaguing Flint’s decaying underground iron and lead water pipes can be found throughout the U.S. Indeed, the decrepit condition of many of our nation’s underground water networks is an open invitation to contamination and water-borne disease.

A recent investigation by The Guardian found that water departments in at least 33 cities in 17 states used testing methods over the past decade that could underestimate the presence of lead in drinking water. On the list are cities with a well-documented history of underground iron pipe failures, including Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, and Milwaukee.

Local Governments Cover Up Dangerous Threats to Your Drinking Water

At the heart of the problem are thousands of miles of corroded iron pipes that lie beneath hundreds of U.S. cities. Cash-strapped municipal water utilities are forced to use their limited resources in an increasingly futile effort to combat corrosion at a price that will keep water safe and affordable for ratepayers. Timothy Ford, a microbiologist and water researcher at Montana State University, points out that, as pipes corrode and break, not only does water escape, but diseases enter the system.

Calling the situation in Flint “the worst lead in water I’d seen in 25 years,” Prof. Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech’s Environmental and Water Resources Research program attributes the city’s disaster to “out of control corrosion of its water distribution system.”

Edwards describes corrosion control as “the most expensive environmental engineering problem in the country.”

Dealing with corrosion is expensive, because leaking

iron pipes need to be treated with chemicals that build up a protective coating inside the pipes to keep water safe enough to drink. But funds utilities spend on anti-corrosion chemicals come at the expense of the more important task of replacing worn-out, leaking pipes.

What’s more, anti-corrosion chemicals create their own environmental and health hazards. Utility operators typically add orthophosphates, a corrosion-control agent, to chlorinated water. However, as the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse points out, phosphate-laden drinking water can lead to conflicts with phosphorous discharge limits at wastewater treatment plants and with allowable phosphorous runoff levels into nearby lakes and streams.

Elevated levels of phosphorous in waterways contrib-ute to excessive growth of algae. In addition to making lakes and streams deficient in oxygen, algae can form near drinking water intakes. Blue-green algal blooms are common in the Great Lakes and can produce a wide array of neurotoxins, liver toxins, and skin irritants.

Ancient Pipes Kill With Brain-Eating AmoebasEven more troubling are other health risks uncovered in decaying iron pipes around the country. In 2013, officials in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana (near New Orleans), targeted 31 old cast-iron pipe segments, iden-tified as having “a history of failures,” for replacement in an effort to rid the local water system of a deadly, brain-eating amoeba. Action became urgent after a four-year-old child died of encephalitis, swelling of the brain, after contracting the amoeba in St. Bernard Parish water.

A May 2016 report by the Chicago Tribune found that 200 public water systems in Illinois – serving 800,000 people – exceeded federal lead standards during at least one year since 2004. Hoping to avoid the disaster that befell Flint, state and local officials in Illinois are scrambling to rehabilitate their deteriorating, predominantly iron pipes. They have reason to do so. Once lead is exposed to the nervous system, it cannot be removed. The impact of lead poisoning on the neurological system is permanent.



FULL OPTIONS LOADED PowerWhisperer Now Available!Great news for PowerWhisperer M-Model owners. We have gotten lots of calls asking about auxiliary power cells and added solar panels and when they would be available. Well, that time has come. We can now ship you an extra battery pack and solar panel that’s made for your PowerWhisperer.

This fully loaded M-Type literally doubles the amount of time you can run a freezer and cuts your recharge time in half. If you currently own the all-metal M-Model, it is already set up to accept the extra power cell and solar panel as soon as they arrive.

To find out more, contact us (preferably during business hours), and ask for Mike Gallick or Luis. Call toll free at 1-877-371-1807.

LIMITED SUPPLY

Total Media Silence on Water All Over America That Makes You Sick

Another threat that surfaced in Flint is of growing concern to water system operators around the country: Legionnaires’ disease. Public health officials are still trying to figure out whether Flint’s tainted water supply provided a home for the deadly legionella bacteria. Was it a mere coincidence that the outbreak of Legion-naires’ disease in the city, which led to 91 illnesses and 12 deaths, occurred at the same time that Flint was confronted with its corrosion-driven water crisis?

Virginia Tech’s Edwards notes that iron causes the leaching of lead into water. High levels of iron in water also can remove disinfectants like chlorine, allowing harmful bacteria to grow. This, Edwards believes, may have included the legionella bacteria in Flint.

Don’t Trust Local Authorities to Manage Your Water Safely

There is also growing concern about high levels of iron and manganese in water carried by iron pipe systems. A test sample recently taken in St. Joseph, La. found more than 230 times EPA’s recommended level for iron in drinking water.

The nation’s corroded iron piping systems have become too risky to operate safely. They are a breeding ground

for pathogens. Water systems are capital-intensive operations, where every dollar spent on plugging leaks and fighting a losing war against corrosion is a dollar not invested in upgrading life-sustaining water networks. One way municipalities can lessen the financial burdens facing them is to remove the barriers many of them, including Flint, have that keep providers of cost-effective, innovative technologies and products from participating in the competitive bidding process for pipe replacement.

Water system operators want to avoid the road to Flint. The urgency of the crisis beneath our feet makes it imperative that they have what they need to provide clean water and protect public health.

America’s Corroded Water Pipes continued from previous page

Editor’s note: Bonner R. Cohen, Ph. D., is author of “Fixing America’s Crumbling Underground Infrastructure,” published by the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Announcement from Lee: Soon I will show you how to build a water puri-fier that can even remove lead from 120 gallons of water per hour. If you want to be informed when the video is ready, send an email with “WATER DEVICE” in the subject line to [email protected] or drop us a note, 377 Rubin Center Drive, Suite 203, Fort Mill SC 29732.



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.

Anti-Trump Militants Plan More Violence and Mayhem

Political violence is heating up this summer as anti-Trump activists resort to physical attacks and threats. It’s part of a larger trend of thuggery

being used as a tactic by university radicals, by Black Lives Matter, by illegal immigrant protestors, and by others on the left with demands they want met.

This larger trend – one that will persist long after the election – should concern liberty-minded folks. It’s crucial that you are able to defend yourself and your family in the event that you are targeted for having the wrong opinions, having the wrong skin, or having too much wealth.

Violent attacks on Donald Trump supporters are now becoming the norm. Death threats against Donald Trump himself now litter online social media on a daily basis. (Imagine if there were a similar outpouring of threats to assassinate Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.)

In the aftermath of the recent Orlando nightclub shooting, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and other social media platforms immediately started cracking down on anti-Muslim speech. Pamela Gellar’s Facebook group, Stop Islamization of America, had over 50,000 members. It had been active since 2010. But just a few hours after ISIS-inspired jihadi Omar Mateen shot up a nightclub, Facebook banned her group.

The propagators of political violence, be they radical Muslims or radical leftists, seem to be getting exactly what they want. More concessions and more crack-downs on their critics. So expect them to keep it up.

Far Left Flunkies Openly Agitate for Race WarThe “intellectual” left is egging on its violent extrem-

ists. Jesse Benn of the Huffington Post recently penned an article titled, “Sorry Liberals, a Violent Response to Trump Is As Logical as Any.”

It sounds like the kick off to a satirical piece. But Jesse Benn is deadly serious. “Violent resistance matters. Riots can lead to major change,” he writes.

He goes on to critique the “problematic nature of people with privilege condemning violent resistance to Trump.”

Previously he wrote a screed titled, “Towards a Concept

of White Wounding” – a call for non-whites to inflict pain and suffering upon white people. For the radical left, this election is a race war.

The good news is that violent crime rates overall are still down from where they were when Bill Clinton took office. The bad news is that violent crime rates have jumped in some major cities such Baltimore and Chicago by as much as 50% over the past year. Homicides increased 17% in the 56 biggest U.S. cities in 2015 and rose by another 9% in the first quarter of 2016.

It’s been called the “Ferguson Effect.” And it’s real. So are “Sanctuary Cities” where local officials shelter illegal aliens, sometimes with violent criminal records, from deportation.

Meanwhile, gun and ammunition sales continue their surge under President Obama’s second term.

Get Comfortable with Your Defensive Weapon of Choice

One mistake many people make is thinking the biggest or most expensive gun out there will instantly make them into some kind of macho action hero. The best

Social Chaos


It’s been called the “Ferguson Effect.” And it’s real.



weapon, combat experts will tell you, is not the fancy assault rifle, Dirty Harry pistol, or newest thing on the market. The best weapon is the one you’re most familiar and comfortable with.

For most people, that means a small, portable, reliable, and easy to handle weapon such as a revolver. A .357 Magnum is a good choice if you’re strong, steady, and serious about self-defense. Practice firing your weapon at the shooting range until you get comfortable handling it. An emergency is not the time to first get acquainted with your firearm.

The best all-around self-defense weapon is one that is easy to grab, easy to handle while on the move, and won’t jam on you. A .38 Special revolver is reliable and powerful enough without delivering a huge recoil.

Pistols are convenient, small, easy to carry on your person, and can be concealed in public. Semi-automatic pistols tend to be easier to shoot than revolvers, but they can be more complicated for some users. If your semi-automatic pistol malfunctions or misfires, it must be cleared manually. Revolvers have fewer moving parts, greatly reducing the chance of a malfunction in the field, but they generally hold fewer rounds.

Another factor to consider is how fast rounds can be fired out of the gun. For example, a .38 caliber revolver

has a slow rate of fire due to long double-action trigger pulls. The hammer is cocked and released with each pull of the trigger.

How Not to Get Prosecuted for Defending Your Life

If you are new to gun ownership, or just feel that you should know more about your gun, or want to brush up on your skills, sign up for a training class. Many organiza-tions offer these, including the National Rifle Association.

If you’re in the market for a new firearm, consider renting several different firearms at your local range to try out before you make your final buying decision. And once you purchase a firearm, practice with it regularly. In a crisis, you will automatically fall back on that training.

You may wish to add stun guns, tasers, pepper spray, and other devices to your personal defense arsenal. However, they are no substitute for a loaded gun. Sprays and stun-type devices only work when someone is already close enough to attack. If you feel your life or the life of a family member is in immediate danger, don’t hesitate to respond with lethal force.

Once you pick up a firearm in self-defense, you must be ready to use it. It’s legal to use lethal force in defense of your life or another’s. Although prosecu-tors sometimes go after citizens who fire on criminal attackers, it’s better to have your day in court than to be dead.

Anti-Trump Militants Plan More Violence continued from previous page

Inspiration to Increase Your Mental ToughnessBy Lee Bellinger

Whenever you’re doing something tough or scary and you think you’re at your limit, take a note from Navy SEALs. You’re not at your limit. Not even close.

When you think you’re done, you’re really only 40 percent done. Your body still has so much more to give. But your mind resists because of discomfort and fear. Knowing that this is happening is the first step to tapping into depths of mental toughness you didn’t know you had.

Take Jess Itzler. He’s the founder of Marquis Jet. He paid a Navy SEAL to live with him for a month so he could learn more about mental toughness.

In one exercise, the SEAL had him do as many pull

ups as he could. He did eight.

The SEAL had him wait 30 seconds and try again. He did six more.

Repeat and he did three more. And he thought he was done. But he managed to do 100 more pull ups before he was really done. It took time, and a lot of breaks. But he discovered he was capable of so much more than he realized.

This kind of mental toughness can be invaluable in a disaster or survival situation. I hope you get inspired to start discovering your own potential as you tap into a mental toughness you didn’t realize you had.



What Happens When Digital Money Crashes?Vincent S. writes: I read about countries going all digital with their currency. No cash. All electronic. You speak often of the USA planning to stop the printing of money and going all digital. In every disaster area, where the power and Internet is down, the signs in the shop windows read “Credit card machines are down, CASH ONLY.”

Now, I’m a firm believer in the natural stupidity of governments. But, an all digital society is mind boggling stupid. What do you think?

Lee responds: I think you bring up a good point. The government can’t even keep its electronic EBT food stamp card system up and running on a consistent basis.

In an all-electronic economy, economic activity grinds to a halt when the power goes down. We’re used to temporary power outages being caused by weather events in particular geographic areas. In some cases, though, “temporary” can mean several days without power.

That’s bad enough when it’s your region suffering through a protracted weather-related outage. What’s worse is if everyone else is, too. What if a coordinated terrorist attack knocks out grid systems to several major cities? Or an electro-magnetic pulse event turns the entire country dark? I wouldn’t want to be totally dependent on potentially inaccessible digital currency units, that’s for sure.

The experiment in all-digital money will be tried out in places like Denmark and Sweden first. I suspect those governments will fail in their efforts to completely abolish the use of physical currency. Alternative black market currencies and barter instruments will be used in the underground economy. And in the event of a massive power outage, a cyber attack, or some other event that threatens the digital economy, those who are prepared will survive. Those who have gold and silver coins and other barter instruments will be able to trade directly with suppliers of food and other essentials.

A Cheap Imitator of Your Work Ripped Me OffSusan Writes: Lee, a couple of years ago, we ordered what we thought was a Power Whisperer [from another company, name redacted here]. Due to major illness about that time, I didn’t even open the box until after the initial time to return the product without penalty. When I did get well enough to even care what was in the box, I was shocked to see that a different product had been sent… [name of inferior PowerWhisperer imitator redacted here].

Not at all the same. Worse yet, it doesn’t work. The power button goes in and out ok but nothing happens. The reset button is loose and does nothing. Cannot tell you how crushed I am. I splurged to buy this as I knew with my health I really need back up power available to me. Since then, our daughter has had premature twins and they have moved in with me. They don’t need to be without power either. I tried to email [name of inferior PowerWhisperer imitator redacted here] at the email address that came via email with a receipt but it is no longer working and my email bounced back.

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).




Being out the money and having no back up power source is horrible. This was my investment in staying alive when our grid goes down. Having lost that hope of power and being able to function in such a situation is the worst of all.

Can you refer me to someone who might be able to guide me as to how I can try to repair this unanticipated problem? I cannot afford to buy another one and even the shipping would likely be prohibitive. It supposedly came through you but it appears to have been filled by a company I had never even heard of at the time I placed my order based on your articles and ad. Please help. Susan

Lee Responds: Hello Susan, thank you so much for your note. There is a well-known company out there that’s done far more than “borrow” language I use to describe the PowerWhisperer. They use a very slick color brochure that lifts my language and terminology that can easily mislead potential buyers into thinking it is me selling the product. Frankly they are not the first in the self-reliance space to take what I create for my customers and call it their own. It’s then sold by faceless individuals who don’t stand by what they make. I know their product well and it’s just another get-rich-quick imitator to the PowerWhisperer that’s been thrown together on a cookie-cutter assembly line in China. As such, it lacks the many upgrades and quality control strengths of the PowerWhisperer.

With PowerWhisperer, you don’t have to call Shanghai to get answers – you can call in and talk with the technicians who actually build our units. Most of the fabrication work is done here in the Carolinas, so that I can constantly improve the design and make sure each unit is in tip-top condition when they are shipped. Forgive me for bragging, but I am very proud of my PowerWhisperer team and their advanced technical proficiency and professionalism.

I am very sorry for your experience, Susan. You have been a great customer and we are very grateful for your trust and your honesty in bringing your situation to my attention. We have a Classic model PowerWhisperer that was left in stock we’re going to send you free of charge. It does not have the EMP-resistant feature of the newer PowerWhisperer models, but it is very good basic stuff that you can use. We are going to ship your power cell separately from the unit itself, so you need a friend to install that part of your PowerWhisperer. Good luck, Susan, from the entire PowerWhisperer team.

Republicans for Hillary vs. Women for TrumpLucy M. writes: You have not fully checked the demographics of women supporting Trump. And I don’t mean polls. As a woman who supports Trump, I can say that he speaks to true women patriots. There are more of us than you realize. And we are hooking up online with one another for support. We increase our numbers every day.

Of course he doesn’t speak to liberal morons. They are in love with an ideal, not with the facts. They are what brought us the past seven and a half years of nightmare. I think many women did not like Mitt Romney and stayed home last election. We are going to see that doesn’t happen with Trump. We are reaching out to those who are unsure. Social media has been a Godsend. It affords us the opportunity to reach millions, given our ever-expanding network.

Lee responds: Donald Trump will undoubtedly energize large numbers of female Republicans who were unmoved in 2012 by Mitt Romney’s pre-scripted milquetoast conservatism. Trump will also bring in an unknowable number of independents who might not normally even vote.

But the reality remains that Hillary Clinton has the upper hand overall with women voters – not so much because she’s a woman, but because she’s a Democrat. Donald Trump doesn’t need to “win” the female vote or the black or Latino vote in order to win the election. He could merely match Mitt

Continued from previous page




Romney’s performance with those respective groups and still defeat Hillary by driving up white turnout and expanding the electorate to include millions of politically disaffected folks who sat on the sidelines in 2012.

Trump still has work to do in unifying the party. Most establishment Republicans are only reluctantly agreeing to support him. Some are refusing. Mitt Romney and the Bush family seem intent on boycotting Trump and sabotaging his chances against Hillary. Delusional Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol tried to recruit a “Never Trump” Republican to bolt the party and run as an independent. Of course, the only practical purpose of such an effort would be to help Hillary win.

Stocking Up on Key MedicinesEddie M. writes: My wife had her thyroid removed some years ago and must take thyroid hormones every day. How do we stock up a supply? She would get very sick and likely die without them.

Lee responds: One way to accumulate a reserve supply of any prescribed product is to take slightly less than the prescribed dosage over a period of days. It’s one method, but not a recommended method in the case of hormones, which need to be maintained at certain levels.

A better way is for your wife to simply come up with a reason why she needs a replacement supply and ask her doctor to prescribe an extra refill. Prescriptions occasionally do get lost, destroyed, thrown away, taken by dogs, etc. You can provide the reason why she needs an extra supply of thyroid hormones by “stealing” her existing supply (and saving it for her to establish an emergency backup reserve).

A third and final option is to stock up on over the counter thyroid hormone boosters that you can get from a nutritional supplement store. Your wife should ask her doctor which (if any) non-prescription supplements would be suitable to take in case she lost access to her prescription. Chances are, though, there won’t be an adequate non-prescription substitute.

Rights vs. Wrong!Marilyn M. writes: Re: your “Wacky Gender Politics” article. As an older person happy in my own skin, I have never had to deal with these “new” issues of gender, but I do know that they are not really “new.” As a young girl, I overheard the gossip about some members of our community--men who wore dresses privately in their own homes, and I kept medical records for doctors who cared for women who chose their own sex as lifetime partners, and I can’t help but believe that these people would have been able to lead happier lives in today’s environment.

While I am not comfortable with a lifetime prospect of chemical dependence to maintain one’s choice of gender, I also understand the suffering and shame young people went through in times past, and as a worker in a college I met those whose lives had been made miserable by their inability to live openly in the gender they chose.

You write a lot about personal rights and this article does not reflect that attitude.

Lee responds: Perhaps J. Edgar Hoover would be considered the first “transgendered” FBI Director if he held the position today!

Social attitudes and norms change, sometimes for the better. But we must always be on guard against “change” agents whose real aim is not freedom from social repression, but the power to impose an authoritarian ideology piece by piece. Whether it’s state decrees on gay wedding cakes





or federal mandates on who gets to use ladies rooms in North Carolina, these “wacky” issues are, at best, a distraction from more important ones.

Where Are We on the Oil Glut?Garrett W. writes: The gold mining stocks took off before I had a chance to get in. What about oil stocks? Buy, sell, or hold?

Seth Van Brocklin responds: Buy if you want diversification into the natural resources sector and have a long-term perspective. Oil stocks are trading at cheap valuations, largely because there remains a great deal of pessimism toward oil prices. By next year, though, the current supply glut is forecast by the International Energy Agency to turn into a supply deficit.

Sell if you’re overly concentrated in a high-risk area such as fracking or oil sands. Some of these marginal producers will go bust if oil prices weaken into 2017.

Hold if you own a basket of blue-chip dividend payers such as Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Conoco Phillips (COP). Even though Exxon has been in an earnings slump that saw its coveted AAA credit rating downgraded, it announced another dividend increase this year. Integrated oil majors are less volatile than gold miners. They are therefore more suitable for buy-and-hold investing.

Edible PlantsElaine P. writes: If it becomes necessary to live off the land, you never mentioned “lambs quarter” which is one of the finest edible greens. Better than chard, spinach, turnip tops, poke or others. Also, wild plums and raspberries can be plentiful.

Lee responds: Thanks for the suggestion! I don’t think we have ever mentioned lambs quarter. It’s a commonly found edible weed that’s packed with nutrients.

Most other wild plants range from being of poor nutritional value to not being edible. Some are even poisonous. Our Social Chaos Survival Guide advises not eating unknown plants with any of the following characteristics:

• Milky or discolored sap.• Beans, bulbs, or seeds inside pods.• Bitter or soapy taste.• Spines, fine hairs, or thorns.• Dill, carrot, parsnip, or parsley-like foliage.• An almond scent in woody parts and leaves.• Grain heads with pink, purplish, or black spurs.• Three-leaved growth pattern.



Crude Oil Supply and Demand (Millions of Barrels Per Day)

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Source: International Energy Agency, U.S. Global Investors

Forecast

World DemandTotal World Supply

This analysis suggests that the oil glut is coming to an end.



Credit Unions vs. BanksJim K. writes: I read your newsletter with great interest every month. You talk much about the problems with American banks. I know if we make a deposit in the bank the money becomes the bank’s money. If the bank fails you become an unsecured creditor.

How does that work if you have a credit union account? If the CU goes broke can the CU take your deposits? Can the government freeze your accounts like they can do at the bank? No one at my CU was able to tell me. They say, “Oh you are protected by our NCUA insurance.” If NCUA insurance is like FDIC insurance we are in big trouble.

What is your comment on this situation?

Lee responds: Credit unions aren’t impervious to systemic failures that could take their members for losses. But the risks with credit unions are lower than with banks, generally speaking. Credit unions tend to shun high-risk practices such as derivatives trading and extreme balance sheet leverage.

All credit unions are covered through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insurance fund. NCUA insures individual accounts up to $250,000 per account. Bank accounts also come with $250,000 in deposit insurance through the FDIC. Even though it’s essentially the same coverage, the FDIC has far more exposure to systemic risk and is far less capitalized relative to that risk. A government bailout of the FDIC or the banks would likely come at the expense of bank depositors (i.e., “bail ins”).

Credit unions aren’t banks, and that’s their biggest advantage.

Are Bunkers a Waste of Money?David H. writes: I’m a new member & really enjoying your newsletter. I have a comment on your last letter of May, 2016.

In the article on “Prepping in the Real World,” you talk about underground shelters. Here in the Texas Panhandle, we have underground shelters for protection against tornados, which is fine. If you are coping with a TEOTWAWKI, or riots, etc., the LAST place I want to be is in an underground vault of any kind. If you will remember the old movie THE DIRTY DOZEN, at the end, the Germans evacuated to the underground bomb shelters. The American raiders poured gasoline down the vent shafts, then ignited it all, blowing up the bunker & all inside.

Lee responds: Of course, a bunker can’t be completely sealed off from the outside world because the people inside will require fresh air to breathe. A bunker’s ventilation system can be modified and fortified to resist attacks, but it will always remain a point of vulnerability.

No building or bunker will provide absolute protection from outside airborne chemical or biological contaminants. That’s why it’s important to also have gas masks for every occupant of your bunker/shelter/home. It’s unlikely you’d ever need them, but they are sensible, relatively low-cost gear for emergency preparedness. Get them before you spend your life savings trying to build the ultimate bunker.


“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.



Better Ways to Invest in Energy AlternativesBuffett Bets Big on Solar

Warren Buffett is known for conservative investments in companies with straightfor-ward business models and reliable revenue streams.

Occasionally, however, he dips his toes into more high-risk propositions. Recently, Berkshire, through its subsidiaries, invested $16 billion in solar and other alternative energy ventures. Berkshire Hathaway Energy owns 6% of America’s solar energy capacity and lays claim to 7% of its wind power.

Warren Buffett holds a 10% stake in BYD Auto, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric buses and the largest producer of electric cars in China. BYD’s profits are outpacing those of better-known electric car maker Tesla motors.

Warren Buffett is now one of the biggest players in the renewable energy industry. It’s an industry that is expected to grow rapidly in the months and years ahead. The Solar Energy Industries Association projects that 11.8 giga-watts of solar photovoltaic installations will go online this year (up from 7.3 gigawatts added last year). Solar is the fastest growing segment of energy production.

The solar industry has been fast growing for years, but profits for investors have largely been elusive. The Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN), which holds 24 of the leading solar energy stocks, crashed from 2008-2012.

Most solar stocks are still in the dumps. But Buffett sees value and opportunity in the space.

As he noted in his latest letter to shareholders, the gov-ernment is backing wind and solar’s growth: “Today, society has decided that federally-subsidized wind and solar generation is in our country’s long-term interest. Federal tax credits are used to implement this policy, support that makes renewables price-competitive in certain geographies.”

Government-Sponsored Industries May Be Fundamentally Unsound

Investing in a market that is being artificially propped up by the government is risky insofar as it’s not necessarily rooted in sound economic fundamentals.

However, all markets today are subject to government manipulation to some degree. There is no purely free market out there.

If the government wants to ruin an industry (such as domestic coal), it can and

will. Government can also create entire industries that otherwise wouldn’t exist, such as tax preparation. (Buy shares in H&R Block [HRB] if you’re especially bullish on tax code proliferation.)

You don’t have to invest directly in government-subsidized alternative energies in order to benefit from their growth. Things like solar panels and batteries used in electric cars require rare earth metals, lithium, and silver. Consider investing in these spaces.

Lithium: The Metal that Powers Tesla CarsLithium is crucial in energy technology applications, especially batteries. At present, 27% of lithium demand is attributable to batteries – including both the small ones you put in your laptop computer and the large ones that power electric and hybrid vehicles.

The push for more electric vehicles to hit the roads in the years ahead represents the single biggest contribu-tor to expected growth in lithium demand. By the early 2020s, as much as 20% of the entire new automotive

Smart Money Dsipatch

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Many experts see this chart bullishly. See Ways to Invest In Energy Alternatives, next page

The solar industry has been fast growing for years, but profits for investors have largely been elusive.



fleet could be powered by lithium batteries.

Why is lithium so crucial to battery technology? Before lithium, car batteries were too bulky, too heavy, and delivered insufficient power for the types of commutes people need to take. The heavy, inefficient lead-acid batteries resulted in limited performance capabilities not much above golf carts.

Today, high-performance Tesla electric vehicles are competitive with gasoline cars in every aspect. They are fueled by charged lithium, and lithium supplies are scarce.

“In order to produce half a million cars a year,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in March, “we would basically need to absorb the entire world’s lithium-ion production.”

Even though lithium is crucial in batteries and other electronic applications, it typically represents a rela-tively small percentage of the total cost of a product. For example, lithium represents just 5% of the cost of a typical lithium battery. The price of lithium could double or triple and not do much to dampen demand.

From an investment perspective, lithium is relatively obscure. Lithium isn’t traded on a major futures exchange. There are few primary lithium mines. There is a $100 million lithium ETF, however, which holds stocks related to lithium production: Global X Lithium (LIT).

Lithium is underneath the radar of most investors right now. Ahead-of-the-curve investors in this micro-sector can potentially make big money in lithium mining and other components of alternative energy generation and storage.

Rare Earth Elements: High-Tech Metals for Futuristic Devices

From green energy applications to basic industrial use, rare earth metals are vital in the modern high-tech economy. Rare earths are in especially tight supply outside of China – and that makes them an especially

attractive area for invest-ment opportunities. They are on the speculative side, though.

Rare earths are important in a variety of high-tech applications. In small quantities rare earths help power such technologies

as fiber-optic cables, cell phones, flat-panel televisions, and batteries for hybrid vehicles.

For example, dysprosium is used in magnets for hybrid cars, which helps vehicle power systems endure high temperatures. Only 100 grams, or about $25, worth of dysprosium is needed per car. Yet without it, hybrid cars in their current form wouldn’t run. The price of dysprosium could easily quintuple before costs become a serious issue in a $30,000 car. Dysprosium is also used in relatively small amounts in nuclear reactors.

China Controls Most of These Important Technology-Driving Metals

Demand for rare earths is largely inelastic, meaning that it will not abate substantially with higher prices. There are no substitutes.

A single country, China, now controls 96% of the worldwide production of rare earths. China’s strangle-hold on the market makes the high-tech industries and economies that require rare earth metals vulnerable to potential supply cut-offs. China is believed to have only about 15 years of reserves left.

Since it takes 10 years from the time a rare earth discovery is made to actually get a mine into produc-tion, there is little chance of major new supply sources or a viable alternative to China’s monopoly control emerging anytime soon.

Ways to Invest In Energy Alternatives continued from previous page


Solar panels and batteries used in electric cars require rare earth metals, lithium, and silver. Consider investing in these spaces.

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Last 25.11 Chg +0.45 (+1.83%)

Lithium is an exciting tech metal.



But there are ample opportunities for investors. A handful of serious companies engage in the discovery, mining, and processing of rare earth elements. Although almost all processing goes through China, rare earth deposits exist throughout the world.

You Can Invest in Rare Earth Metals – Advanced Technology Depends on Them

The problem with rare earths isn’t their absolute rarity in the earth’s crust (some rare earths are actually more abundant than copper). The problem is that rare earths rarely exist in any kind of concentrated state that can be economically extracted. Among the few sources of rare earth ore outside of China are deposits located in Australia, Canada, and the United States (California’s Mountain Pass deposit represents 7% of the world rare earth market).

Rare earth stocks have been a roller coaster ride, mostly to the downside since 2010. It’s a speculative sector, but one that has some strong fundamental underpinnings. Averaging in over time is the prudent way to build a position in rare earth stocks and other areas of the market that tend to be small-capitalized and prone to fast-money gyrations.

One easy way to acquire a position in the rare earth market is through the Market Vectors Rare Earth/Stra-tegic Metals ETF (REMX). It debuted on October 28, 2010 and contains a globally diversified portfolio of companies involved in the production of strategic metals (so-called strategic metals include the rare earths, along with manganese, titanium, tungsten, and a couple dozen others).

Ways to Invest In Energy Alternatives continued from previous page

Your IRS Problems Solved with Dan PillaPatti filed a request for audit reconsideration over a year ago. The IRS made an assessment of over $220,000 in taxes alone as a result of disallowing all the deductions for her husband’s trucking business. The fuel costs alone for the business were over $250,000 and the highway use taxes were also substantial. The IRS simply ignored all those expenses.

Patti writes this letter to report the results of the audit reconsideration. The adjustment is remarkable:

Dan: We got this notice CP22 [adjustment notice] in the mail last week. IRS finally got back to us after almost year and half on the 7.5 pounds of documen-tation I sent them concerning the 2005 tax bill. I wanted me to give you this praise report!!! Over $220K down to $351.30, imagine that! Patti

That is tremendous. With those results, you can have a whole new outlook on life.

Ed writes with a comment about the webinar I did earlier this month with Ron Mueller of Home Busi-ness Tax Savings, Inc. The topic was tax amnesty, with the focus on my newly re-written book, How to

Get Tax Amnesty.

After years of floundering and getting absolutely nowhere using some of those high-priced, non-communicative “lawyers,” I finally have a very clear understanding of what I need to do. THANK YOU for sponsoring this Webinar. The information presented is invaluable for me!!! Ed.

Ed, I am very pleased that you got the information you need. I know it will help you get the IRS monkey off your back.

Editor’s note: Daniel J. Pilla is a Feature Writer for Independent Living and is nationally regarded as an expert in IRS procedures. Through his more than 4,000 media appearances and the sale of his many books, including How to Get Tax Amnesty, more than 3 million people have found relief from a tax debt they were unable to pay or received sound solutions to tax-related difficulties. Dan is an official tax consultant to the National Commission on Restructuring the IRS and the National Taxpayers Union. Send comment to [email protected]



Blowing the Lid Off the Medical System’s Death Rate Cover UpThe third leading cause of death isn’t even officially recognized on death certificates or in most rankings of health hazards. The top two causes of death – heart disease and cancer

– receive constant attention and billions in research funding. We are all aware of the risks associated with heart disease and cancer. Your doctor will eagerly tell you about recommended screenings and prevention strategies.

But as for the number three cause of death and how to reduce your likelihood of succumbing to it, your doctor likely won’t ever even mention its name.

The Government Won’t Tell You Just How Deadly Medical Errors Are

The third leading cause of death in the United States, according to a new study published in The BMJ medical journal, is medical error. The article, “Medical error—the third leading cause of death in the US” (May 3, 2016), notes that the official government sources fail to even rank medical error:

“The annual list of the most common causes of death in the United States, compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)… is created using death certificates filled out by physicians, funeral directors, medical examiners, and coroners. However, a major limitation of the death certificate is that it relies on assigning an International Classification of Disease (ICD) code to the cause of death. As a result, causes of death not associated with an ICD code, such as human and system factors, are not captured.”

Not even captured. How convenient for those who are responsible for making deadly medical errors.

The study’s co-author, Martin Makary, MD, says bluntly, “The medical coding system was designed to maximize billing for physician services, not to collect national health statistics, as it is currently being used.”

Honest Doctor Ditches Dishonest SystemMeet Dr. Dave Janda. He decided to leave clinical

practice because he was fed up with the system’s ever-growing and self-serving layers of administrative bureaucracy. He had finally had enough with the medical establishment’s institutional disregard for the principle of promoting wellness through prevention.

In a recent Peak Prosper-ity interview with Chris Martenson, Dr. Janda said, “If you’re really sincere about cutting healthcare costs, prevent healthcare needs. It’s the single

greatest bang for the buck. Now you’re not going to learn that in medical school. I didn’t. And here is the bottom line – prevention is not stressed in medical school and internship and residency and post residency activities because there is no money in it.”

The system, including Obamacare and Medicare, is all about conditioning people for medical and pharma-ceutical dependence. Wellness through prevention is a strategy you will have to implement by and for yourself.

Medical Self-Reliance Means a Lower Risk of Death

The government-medical complex doesn’t want to take responsibility for its failings. It would rather tout flimsy studies warning consumers against taking natural supplements. But even if all the vitamins, herbs, and compounds sold as dietary supplements were no better than placebos, they’d hardly be a threat to anyone’s health.

Forget supplements. Simply by eating a healthy diet filled with fresh, natural foods and getting regular exer-cise, you can boost your immune system and reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and hospitalization.

This isn’t to suggest that you cut up your health insurance or Medicare card. If you need professional care, get it. The point is to take whatever steps you can to avoid needing dangerous medical treatments in the first place.

You aren’t being paranoid by practicing medical self-reliance. You’re helping to reduce your exposure to the third leading cause of death.

Health Alert

The third leading cause of death in the United States is medical error.



We had some words when I suggested that independent publications should never use their reporting to lecture readers on how to vote or not vote. In my book, their wading into GOP politics cheapened and diminished National Review – a publication I’ve subscribed to since attending Hillsdale College. It was their right, but still.

Many of you do like Trump a lot… and others not. Enough said here I think.

So now for that Trump election outcome prediction… Recently I attended a very elite, high-level seminar put on by one of the sagest observers of society and mass psychology in America. The individual who put it on is best known for his business-building skills – but is less known for his political acumen.

I follow his work and can tell you he has insights that few political analysts enjoy.

The Most Dangerous, EverHe said something striking about Trump University that he is uniquely qualified to underscore. He has a long history of selling high-quality intellectual property and “how to” products all over the nation. So he knows a few things about the potential dangers of the Trump University lawsuit being exploited by politically motivated state regulatory authorities and prosecutors.

I want to share what he told me during a conference break because I think his scenario has a better than 50-50 chance of unfolding before our eyes sometime before November.

You know the old saying, “It’s not how hard you kick the mule, but where.”

Now, Donald Trump has proven that he can survive and even benefit from hard statements. Trump’s stance

Hillary’s Nuclear Option Against Donald Trump continued from page 1

See Hillary’s Nuclear Option, next page

Lower Your Air Conditioning Bills (and Get a Tax Credit to Boot)

The government will kick in a subsidy if you shell out for a high-efficiency air conditioner model. In 2015, Congress renewed the 25C tax credit for Energy Star rated heating and cooling equipment. The credit applies only to equipment you install in an existing home that is your principal residence (rentals or new construction homes are ineligible).

It provides for up to a $300 credit for the purchase of qualifying central air conditioners, heat pumps, and ductless mini-split systems. Only systems rated by the Energy Department as Energy Star “Most Efficient” qualify.

The credit drops to a $150 maximum for qualifying furnaces and boilers.

Energy efficient tax credits are due to expire at the end of the year but could be renewed for 2017 and beyond by Congress. For us mere citizens trying to engage in long-term tax planning, we can only guess as to when and how lawmakers will next tinker with the tax code.

In addition to the federal tax credits, you may be eligible for additional tax credits or rebates in your state or from your utility provider. Some of these incentives apply to purchases of Energy Star appliances including refrigerators, dishwashers, and dryers. Contact your utility company to find out, or search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (www.dsireusa.org).

Thinking of going off the grid or installing backup solar power? Through 2019, you can receive a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of installing a home solar system.

This credit had been due to expire after 2016. But it got renewed through 2019 as part of the budget deal Congress gave to President Obama in December 2015. The new law stipulates that from 2020 through 2022, the value of the renewable energy credit will drop – ultimately down to 10%. Unless lawmakers decide to expand it again.



against political correctness (which has clearly infected the GOP establishment big-time) has insulated him from seemingly unsurvivable politically incorrect comments.

My sage observer thinks that “visual optics,” not Trump’s words, may be the GOP nominee’s true vulnerability. And that there is high potential for TV optics to be orchestrated by the left to take down Donald Trump using an attack based on “what people see when the volume is turned down on their televisions and computer screens.”

And You Won’t Even See It Coming – Unless You Read This

Here’s the scenario he envisions.

Yes, so far Donald Trump appears to be weathering the Trump University controversy with verbal counter-punches about the Clinton Foundation and collected endorsements from satisfied Trump University graduates.

Problem for Trump is, unhappy or politically motivated customers of Trump University can step up their complaints with numerous state attorneys general. They in turn can use their stacked grand jury systems to indict Donald Trump in 5, 10, or 15 states at the same time.

You know the saying that prosecutors could indict a ham sandwich, right? That’s because grand juries don’t hear the target’s side – they only get information from a prosecutor. Grand juries are comprised of private citizens, so their involvement takes some of the political heat off prosecutors, making it a good way to indict a powerful or controversial figure.

A Scheme to Replace Trump as GOP Nominee?Attorneys general can also use their discretionary powers to simply indict.

The “optics” of an indicted Donald Trump being finger printed and photographed in so many legal jurisdic-tions at once would certainly undermine the “crooked Hillary” talk.

Many don’t realize this, but judges and prosecutors are highly evolved political animals. They face relatively few consequences even if they abuse their power. Often they are ambitious and are not above using their huge discretionary powers to prosecute private citizens even if they have dubious proof.

It works pretty well against actual criminals – but is a merciless machine to an innocent person or political target.

You may remember House Majority Leader Tom Delay had to step down because a politically motivated Texas attorney general indicted him on frivolous campaign finance charges that Delay eventually defeated in court. Like Trump, Delay was controversial and unpopular with party elites on both sides of the aisle.

Filthy, Ugly Politics Are Coming Back to Haunt Republicans for Past Sell-Outs

No one in the GOP took a serious stance to defend Delay – so the left know that this tactic works without consequence to them. The left see that no one at the top levels of the GOP is likely to do anything but

drop Trump like a hot rock if multiple indictments happen before November.

Remember, Speaker Paul Ryan recently vowed to sue any “Trump Administration” move to stop Middle East refugees from entering the U.S. That and other sniping has come

after “endorsing” the nominee.

Here’s something else which supports this multiple-state-indictment-of-Trump scenario. You may remember my prediction of a broad political assault to ultimately nationalize U.S. energy companies, especially Exxon Mobil. Private ownership of energy companies in America vastly limits state power. There’s no way a state-owned enterprise would have invented fracking – thus upending the energy scarcity that gives bureaucrats power.

Why Hillary Would Press to Nationalize Private U.S. Energy Companies in Her First TermEven more nightmarish for global leftists is the impact of cheap energy on oppressive regimes funded by state-owned energy companies. Fracking has vastly increased the world’s global energy reserve. Russia,

Hillary’s Nuclear Option continued from previous page


The “optics” of an indicted Donald Trump being finger printed and photographed would certainly undermine the “crooked Hillary” talk.



for example, is having severe funding problems maintaining its foreign adventures. And the oil-funded socialist economy in Venezuela has collapsed.

So the left are determined to nationalize energy at the first opportunity (I see that coming to pass in a Hillary presidency or a third Obama term). Exxon is one of the few corporate giants that is both politically brave and sophisticated in dealing with hostile environmentalists and their obsession to make fossil fuels a thing of the past.

Enter the growing leftist crusade against Exxon. The attorneys general of 17 states have taken coordinated action against the energy giant. They accuse it of defrauding its customers and stockholders by engaging in “climate denial.” Their subpena war is a naked political and free speech attack that Exxon is resisting.

One of the anti-Exxon prosecutors even sent out a memo to the others, condemning Exxon’s “First Amendment opportunism.”

My point is this: There is ample precedent for one or multiple state attorneys to spring frivolous indictments against Donald Trump at some key point before the upcoming election. If enough of them indict Trump at the same time, their identities and agendas become obscured and they emerge as heroes of the left.

Other Landmines Waiting to Go Off Around UsTHE CASH-DESPERATE DEEP STATE: Beware the Treasury Department’s new “MyRA” scheme to “aggressively encourage” employers to take money from low-paid employees and put it in a government-managed retirement fund. Expect these monies to be dumped into government debt futures and used for spending. The annual return on MyRAs will be dismal based on the current low interest rates attached to Treasuries. Over 30 years, the payout money can be expected to only buy about half the goods and services it does today (based on historical trends in the purchas-ing power of the dollar).

Warn your younger family members to avoid MyRA if they can.

SOUTH CHINA SEA EXPLODING: Nearly three years ago Independent Living predicted how the U.S. could get sucked into a direct conflict with China over its abuse of U.S. allies in the South China Sea. This area of the world traffics $5 trillion in trade each year. This is no longer an obscure prediction.

This situation is fast escalating and it is making news in a big way now. I maintain that something major may happen in that region before Barack Obama is scheduled to leave office.

My best guess: A clash between China’s beefed-up Navy and our formal ally Japan, resulting in U.S. war-

ships steaming in. They will face much more advanced ship-killing missile systems.

The Chinese have struck at U.S. forces near their border before. Long before they became a nuclear power, they threw numerous divisions

against U.S. forces fighting in the Korean War. If they don’t like something happening near what they see as their border, their history suggests a bold, sudden action. Their hand for a sudden power grab is strongest between now and the time Obama is scheduled to depart.

Thank you for trusting Independent Living to help guide you through dangerous times. There are many practical “how-to” ideas in this issue and there will be in the future, too. You are not alone.

This is Too Hot to Handle for Most – See Why Below

Our families face millions of new pro-socialist voters, a cash-desperate “deep state,” a hostile, pro-statist, lying media and a huge federal workforce – demanding tribute for destroying the economy and ruling us to the Nth degree.

It’s getting really hard to ignore Mexican flag bearing, in-our-face, highly opinionated illegal alien street thugs. Not everyone from Mexico, but lots. It’s all aimed at making us feel guilty and intimidated – meaning the poor suckers who pay the bills and just want our freedoms and our country back.

All these left-wing shock troops are led by a very dangerous, “lame-duck” chief executive and backed by a not-going-anywhere, abusive federal workforce.


See Hillary’s Nuclear Option, next page

For now print communication remains partially “grandfathered in” under the First Amendment.

PROOF #1 Independent Living20 July 2016

Lee Bellinger is Editor of Independent Living. A 30 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.

And they are all in a foul, vindictive mood.

Just so you know, speaking this way on the Internet, through email or on any major social media site is rapidly becoming impossible. In a future story, I will show you how the World Wide Web has become the greatest threat to free speech in history. It is why Independent Living has to remain a print-only news source, because for now print communication remains partially “grandfathered in” under the First Amendment.

Coming Soon: The Web Conspiracy to Silence

Independent Publishers in AmericaIt’s an important story that most online only publishers can’t or won’t address, for obvious reasons. (By way of disclosure, Independent Living does have a large and sophisticated online presence.) But because I maintain a “print channel” to talk with you, Indepen-dent Living remains as a truly independent source of news and helpful information about how to cope with our nation in distress.

So again, thank you for your support of Independent Living through your renewals and purchases. You make critical, truly independent publishers like me possible.

I work for you, and you alone. Thank you so much for making it all possible.

Lee Bellinger, Founder, Independent Living

P.S. There are some important housekeeping messages enclosed with this issue. Thank you for your continued support of Independent Living and free speech in America.


Fed Balks as Economic Reality Talks continued from page 3

One way to counteract fees is to buy closed-end funds (CEFs) that trade at a discount to their net asset value. That way, you’re getting more income generation for your dollar.

Individual closed-end funds can be risky since they aren’t as transparent as index funds or mutual funds. Many use leverage.

Buying Closed End Funds at a Discount Gives You an Income Boosts

An alternative to trying to pick CEFs is to buy a fund of CEFs. For example, if you are interested in tax-free municipal bonds, you may be able to buy a diversified basket of them at a discount through VanEck Vectors CEF Municipal Income (XMPT). The ETF’s portfolio of closed-end muni funds has traded in a range of a 3% premium to an 11% discount since its inception in 2011.

The fund’s manager “assigns a greater weight to CEFs trading at discounts, potentially enhancing yield and the opportunity for capital apprecia-tion,” according to VanEck.

PowerShares CEF Income Composite Portfolio (PCEF) is a $611 million multi-asset exchange-traded fund that holds closed-end funds – many of which trade at discounts. The underlying assets include global stocks, bonds, options, and various alternative income-producing securities.

Expenses are on the high side at 1.94%. Such costs can be justified during times when the closed-end funds in the portfolio are trading at steep discounts to comparable index funds. The CEF market typically sees large discounts develop during times of severe market sell-offs. That’s when opportunistic, contrarian investors should pounce.

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