[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')mportant Disclaimer
Dale Allen Pfeiffer is no longer associated with Michael C. Ruppert or From the Wilderness publications. He wishes to make it known that he does not agree with the views of Michael Ruppert or his publication

[killJOY]

I can't get over this.

I've invested a lot of time considering Ruppert's version, and while I have no way of evaluating his arguments, I took two weeks to read his book.

But it was Pfeiffer's writings I was originally attracted to.

If Pfeiffer would only tell us why he is disillusioned, it would completely torpedo Ruppert, in my esteem.

[threadbear]

Yes, this is really interesting. I wonder what views of Ruppert's he disagrees with.

[Peakoil_Tarzan]

I don't know whether this has anything to do with it, but if you go over to FTW today, there is a rather bleak and "urgent" appeal from Ruppert.

Staring too long into the abyss...?

[strider3700]

I can understand an appeal to get donations to cover server costs or newletter costs if it's in physical form.

I may even be persuaded on getting donations to help make the DVD's although I'd much rather see it placed online and then help cover bandwidth costs.

But an appeal to help him move out of LA to somewhere else? Perhaps I need to put out a desperate appeal to get some solar panels put in at my place.

[AlCzervik]

Well, everything was cool not too long ago. It appeared that Dale even believed a lot of the 9/11 material, so that couldn't be it.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '*')* FTW ANNOUNCES STAFFING CHANGES **
As of August 31, 2005 FTW’s Science Editor Dale Allen Pfeiffer is no longer with From The Wilderness. Due to his success in bringing Peak Oil and gas issues to the public consciousness and as a successful novelist, FTW can no longer afford to pay Dale what he is worth on the open market and what he can command in other spheres. Dale has also expressed his desire to write in subject areas outside of FTW’s current needs. FTW Publisher/Editor Mike Ruppert expresses his deep personal gratitude to Dale for the groundbreaking and unacknowledged pioneering research and reporting he has done over the last four years at FTW. Said Ruppert, “Dale may have saved more lives than history will ever acknowledge, but we know it, Peak Oil activists know it, and God knows it. We wish him and his family all the best.”

As of August 31, 2005 Jamey Hecht moves from Assistant Managing Editor at FTW to the position of Senior Staff Writer where he will investigate and write critical survival and preparedness-based stories in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the onset of Peak Oil.

[NordicThora]

A few weeks ago, Dale's website (http://www.lulu.com/allenadale) had an entry from April 2005 that explained his version of the story in great detail. There were quite a few quoted portions of e-mails between him, Mike, and Jamey Hecht. Now it appears that entry has been removed.

Perhaps Dale decided that airing the "dirty laundry" on his website was out of line? I don't know, since I'm not associated with any of them in any way.

Anyway, there is still an entry (from 3 October) posted on Dale's site that addresses the subject. You can draw your own conclusions. Here is a quote from that entry:

"I am finally free of Mike Ruppert. For four years, I have gone on writing for him as he took the credit for what I wrote and billed himself as an energy expert. Gone is the image of Mike Ruppert behind a podium before a large audience, standing on my back. As the audience rises in applause, Mike leans down and whispers to me, “They’re giving you another ovation.”

Now I can move ahead with my writing. I will be rid of the stigma attached to me by association with Mike Ruppert. Now I will be able to reach a larger audience than I ever could have reached through FTW. I can broaden my subject matter, and I can move to addressing energy depletion in a more constructive way.

The message should not be, "We are all doomed! Forget about trying to build change. Save yourselves while you still have a chance!" The message should be, "We must work together to save our communities and build a better world."

The doomsayers think this a waste of time. Maybe it is. But there is still a chance, and will be for so long as we can state this positive message. You should never give up, so long as you can continue to draw breath."

[MacG]

Dmitry Orlov compared Ruppert, Savinar and Kunstler with Soviet dissidents producing "Samizdat" litterature. He belived them to be important factors bringing the empire down, but as soon as the empire actually WENT down, the dissidents became completely irrelevant. Me think Dmitry is scoring here.

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MacG', 'D')mitry Orlov compared Ruppert, Savinar and Kunstler with Soviet dissidents producing "Samizdat" litterature. He belived them to be important factors bringing the empire down, but as soon as the empire actually WENT down, the dissidents became completely irrelevant. Me think Dmitry is scoring here.

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MacG', 'D')mitry Orlov compared Ruppert, Savinar and Kunstler with Soviet dissidents producing "Samizdat" litterature. He belived them to be important factors bringing the empire down, but as soon as the empire actually WENT down, the dissidents became completely irrelevant.

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('strider3700', 'I') can understand an appeal to get donations to cover server costs or newletter costs if it's in physical form.

I may even be persuaded on getting donations to help make the DVD's although I'd much rather see it placed online and then help cover bandwidth costs.

But an appeal to help him move out of LA to somewhere else? Perhaps I need to put out a desperate appeal to get some solar panels put in at my place.

[rkerver]

MattSavinar ... Which is why I'm moving into publishing porn. And you're in the right blog for that - the contemplation of lot's of death has to be compensated.

[mgibbons19]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', '.')...
I guess it's okay for George Clooney to get paid millions to get in front of a camera but it's not okay for Mike Ruppert (or whoever) to get paid thousands to do likewise?

Best,

Matt

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mgibbons19', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', '.')...
I guess it's okay for George Clooney to get paid millions to get in front of a camera but it's not okay for Mike Ruppert (or whoever) to get paid thousands to do likewise?

Best,

Matt

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mgibbons19', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', '.')...
I guess it's okay for George Clooney to get paid millions to get in front of a camera but it's not okay for Mike Ruppert (or whoever) to get paid thousands to do likewise?

Best,

Matt

[SurvivalAcres]

About ten years ago, I quit my corporate job, sold my house, cashed out my retirement and "hit the road", with a mission, believing that people would support the cause I was championing.

Was I ever wrong.

Two years and $150,000 later, I was flat broke. I didn't have $200 left and was existing on donations, which wouldn't cover a parking meter for a week. I resorted to begging, which only worked if you had a big enough platform to reach a large enough audience. But then you had to beg again in another month or two, while still trying to champion your mission. We went hungry to cover our publishing costs, but it wasn't enough.

I went back to work and people complained that I'd "given up". Well, I'm sorry, but my family had suffered terribly by this time, so working was the only option.

People who have never understood the personal costs to a 'leader' in any movement or agenda need to walk a mile or two in their mocassins. The lack of funding becomes a monumental nightmare that is very difficult to overcome.

I eventually came to realize that most people really want a free ride and won't hardly help themselves. If it challenges their belief system, then they simply won't help you. Anybody who is bucking the status-quo has faced this.

Then there are always those 'flash-in-the-pan' converts too that will abandon you after two weeks after promising undying fealty and support for life.

I don't have an answer for any of this, because I have seen a great many startup efforts fail in similiar manner. I think it has to do with American perceptions and wanting something-for-nothing. This sense of entitlement has broken many well-meaning people and efforts. When it comes down to it, you have bills to pay, mouths to feed and you must sleep somewhere. We slept in a R.V. for years, but even this wasn't enough to cover expenses.

Anyone that has a message that you believe in, I strongly suggest you support it. They're doing all of the work in many cases, and have become not only the main messenger, but the jack-of-all-trades to keep it alive.

[rogerhb]

It's a good trick for the status-quo. The only people who can play politics are the people who don't have to worry about day to day survival issues.

Reminds me a story my Dad told me about some school children who had to write a story about being poor. One rich kid started of with "The family was poor, even the servents were poor..."

[Zentric]

I concur with what SurvivalAcres just said.

I'm considering donating myself even though I don't follow Ruppert that much. Before doing it though, I'd first have to consider whether Ruppert's main motivation was to warn people and help them prepare for economic/societal/ecological collapse -or- if he was more interested in spreading word of impending doom just so he could gain dollars and/or cult-status popularity. If it was the former, then I feel he is especially worthy of support. If the latter, then forget about him.

A related question is in regards to all the apparent sabotage that has recently befallen Ruppert. Is this more the result of arrogance or an especially prickly personality -or- that the PTB have intentionally screwed him over -or- does it have more to do with human nature which seems to dictate that when times get tough sometimes even your closest and most-trusted friends and associates can turn on you.

Which is it ... ?

[some_guy282]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Zentric', 'I') concur with what SurvivalAcres just said.

I'm considering donating myself even though I don't follow Ruppert that much. Before doing it though, I'd first have to consider whether Ruppert's main motivation was to warn people and help them prepare for economic/societal/ecological collapse -or- if he was more interested in spreading word of impending doom just so he could gain dollars and/or cult-status popularity. If it was the former, then I feel he is especially worthy of support. If the latter, then forget about him.

[mgibbons19]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mgibbons19', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', '.')...
I guess it's okay for George Clooney to get paid millions to get in front of a camera but it's not okay for Mike Ruppert (or whoever) to get paid thousands to do likewise?

Best,

Matt