Topic: Public Interest

Steven Druker argues that the purported scientific consensus regarding the safety of genetically engineered foods is a foundational falsehood. He asserts that if public opinion were aligned with actual scientific knowledge, the GMO industry would collapse. The discussion highlights how proponents in academia and industry suppress key facts to keep the public misinformed.

Nestle encourages listeners to run for local office or join school boards to improve food quality in their communities. She suggests supporting organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest and engaging in simple activities like gardening. Her blog, foodpolitics.com, serves as a resource for tracking daily developments in the intersection of food, science, and policy.

Ellen Brown, founder of the Public Banking Institute, discusses the lack of accountability for major banks following the 2008 financial crisis. She highlights the LIBOR scandal, where international banks colluded to manipulate interest rates affecting $400 trillion in contracts. Brown notes that while the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s resulted in a thousand prison sentences, modern banking executives remain immune to criminal prosecution, with fines being paid by shareholders rather than perpetrators.

The discussion explores the feasibility of establishing New Earth communities within the United States, citing legal precedents and the work of Rod Class. Class reportedly challenged the jurisdiction of the state by arguing that citizens are often prosecuted under the War Powers Act. Greg Paul claims there is a high success rate for individuals who understand their sovereign status, though these victories are often settled privately to avoid setting public precedents.

John Perkins explains that for the first 100 years of U.S. history, corporations were required to prove they served the public interest to maintain their charters. This changed in the late 1800s when John D. Rockefeller and others influenced the Supreme Court to grant corporations rights without responsibilities. Perkins argues for a return to the model where corporate existence is a privilege contingent on serving the 99 percent.