12/27/2011
Joe Rogan Experience #170 – Michael Ruppert: Topics and Summary
This episode of the Joe Rogan Experience features a fascinating conversation with Michael Ruppert, a former LAPD officer who became a renowned investigative journalist and author. Ruppert’s work delves into controversial and often provocative topics, including the CIA’s involvement in drug trafficking, the 9/11 attacks, peak oil, and the collapse of human industrial civilization. The podcast reveals Ruppert’s unique perspective on these issues, often challenging conventional narratives and highlighting deeper underlying themes of systemic corruption, the nature of consciousness, and the potential for societal transformation.
Major Topics and 4-Point Summaries:
- CIA Drug Trafficking:
- Ruppert claims to have witnessed the CIA directly involved in bringing heroin into the US illegally during his time with the LAPD in the late 1970s.
- He alleges that the CIA used police officers with security clearances to protect these drug shipments and launder the profits.
- Ruppert argues that this illicit activity was a systematic operation, likely known at the White House level, due to the sheer scale and involvement of law enforcement.
- He suggests that the CIA’s involvement in the drug trade is a consequence of a corrupt economic paradigm driven by the desire for profits and a willingness to exploit loopholes in the system.
- Ruppert’s Personal Background and Motivation:
- Ruppert’s family history, with his mother as a senior crypt analyst and his father as a decorated air force veteran, provided him with early exposure to government agencies and security clearance.
- He attributes his unwavering commitment to exposing corruption to his strong sense of honor and his refusal to participate in activities he deemed morally wrong.
- Ruppert believes that many people in law enforcement and other institutions are aware of wrongdoing but choose to turn a blind eye or remain silent due to fear or lack of support.
- He emphasizes the importance of transparency and whistleblowing as crucial for holding those in power accountable.
- The Collapse of Human Industrial Civilization:
- Ruppert argues that human industrial civilization is in a state of collapse, fueled by an unsustainable infinite growth paradigm.
- He highlights the environmental destruction, resource depletion, and economic instability as evidence of this collapse, which he believes is irreversible.
- Ruppert proposes that a new consciousness, separate from the “petroleum man” paradigm, is emerging, characterized by a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all life and a commitment to sustainability.
- He believes that individuals need to awaken to this new consciousness and take action to create sustainable communities and systems that honor the earth.
- The 9/11 Attacks and Dick Cheney:
- Ruppert presents a compelling case, supported by extensive research and documentation, that Dick Cheney, as Vice President, orchestrated the 9/11 attacks.
- He argues that Cheney was aware of the impending collapse of the US economy due to peak oil and that the attacks were a means to justify the invasion of Iraq, a country with vast oil reserves.
- Ruppert claims that Cheney manipulated war game exercises on 9/11, disabling air defenses and enabling the hijacked planes to reach their targets.
- He further asserts that the planes were remotely controlled, with the hijackers acting as unwitting participants in a complex operation.
- The Role of Money and the Power Elite:
- Ruppert identifies the owners of the Federal Reserve, the Bank of International Settlements, and the City of London as the ultimate power brokers controlling the global economic system.
- He argues that these institutions have intentionally engineered the current collapse, profiting from the destruction and chaos, and ultimately seeking to control the remnants of the world’s resources.
- Ruppert emphasizes the importance of understanding how money and power are intertwined, and how the current system is designed to benefit a select few at the expense of the majority.
- He suggests that dismantling the current economic paradigm and shifting to a resource-based society is crucial for creating a more just and equitable future.
- The Importance of Community and Local Action:
- Ruppert emphasizes the importance of forming communities based on shared values and a commitment to sustainability.
- He encourages individuals to take action at the local level, growing their own food, building strong communities, and disengaging from the corrupt systems that are driving the collapse.
- He believes that these communities will serve as the seeds of a new, post-industrial civilization.
- Ruppert stresses that while the collapse is inevitable, it also presents an opportunity for positive change and the creation of a more sustainable and equitable future.
- The Occupy Movement and the Power of Honor:
- Ruppert sees the Occupy movement as a vital expression of the emerging consciousness, challenging the corrupt and exploitative systems that have dominated society.
- He highlights the importance of honor and integrity, particularly among veterans who are speaking out against the injustices of war and the corruption they have witnessed.
- Ruppert believes that the Occupy movement has awakened a new wave of activism and is creating a powerful force for positive change.
- He emphasizes the role of individuals in standing up for their beliefs and refusing to be silenced by those in power.
- The NDAA and the Erosion of American Freedoms:
- Ruppert condemns the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which he believes is a dangerous erosion of civil liberties and a threat to the very foundation of American democracy.
- He argues that the NDAA’s indefinite detention provisions, which allow for the arrest of individuals without warrant or trial, are a violation of the Constitution and a step towards authoritarianism.
- Ruppert emphasizes the importance of vigilance and resistance in the face of these threats, and calls for individuals to stand up for their rights and freedoms.
- He believes that the NDAA is a reflection of the increasing desperation and willingness of those in power to control and suppress dissent in the face of growing unrest and the looming collapse of the current system.
- The Role of Media and Disinformation:
- Ruppert highlights the role of mainstream media in perpetuating disinformation and serving as a tool of the power elite.
- He argues that the media is complicit in covering up corruption and promoting false narratives, particularly in regard to the 9/11 attacks and the current economic crisis.
- Ruppert emphasizes the importance of independent media and alternative sources of information for exposing the truth and challenging dominant narratives.
- He believes that the Internet, despite efforts to censor and control it, offers a crucial platform for disseminating truth and facilitating the emergence of a new consciousness.
- The Future and the Need for Change:
- Ruppert expresses a cautious optimism about the future, recognizing the challenges but also the potential for transformation.
- He believes that the collapse of the current system is inevitable and that a new, more sustainable and equitable way of living is emerging.
- Ruppert encourages individuals to take responsibility for their own lives and communities, building local systems of resilience and independence.
- He emphasizes the importance of embracing a new consciousness, one that honors the earth, prioritizes community, and rejects the false promises of infinite growth.
5 Memorable Quotes:
- “Those who win in a rigged game get stupid.” – Ruppert highlights the tendency for those in power to become complacent and reckless when they believe they are invincible.
- “We live in a world that’s full of sellouts. We’re surrounded by sellouts.” – Ruppert acknowledges the prevalence of corruption and the willingness of many individuals to compromise their principles for personal gain.
- “Mankind’s choice now is evolve or perish. Grow the fuck up or die.” – Ruppert underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for radical change to avoid catastrophic consequences.
- “We’ve been separated from it. We were taught that we and and I don’t believe that that’s true. And I believe that if there’s any one lie that’s enabled all this corruption. A lot of it to be hidden under the guise of religion, that’s that’s the big one.” – Ruppert challenges the notion of human dominion over the earth, arguing that a deeper understanding of the planet as a living organism is crucial for fostering sustainable practices.
- “The people that do this, the people that run the infinite growth monetary paradigm system… they’ve known that this outcome was coming for a long time. And they’re they’re engineering and they are making money from this now. the sick bastards are deliberately letting things crash.” – Ruppert exposes the deliberate actions of the power elite, who are profiting from the collapse of the current system.