Every serious student of current events and most people in the medical freedom movement have read this book. I am chagrined to admit that I just stumbled across it recently.
Download the whole thing at the link above. Either read the PDF on your computer or put it on your Kindle like this. The audio above is the complete five-hour narration. This book is also available free at TragedyandHope.info, but you should purchase it on Amazon.com after you understand its significance.
Plummer’s work is a summary of the 1300 page book of the same name by Carol Quigley.
The following is a repost of UNBEKOMING’s September 23, 2023 interview of Mr. Plummer
".... the powers of financial Capitalism had another far-reaching aim, nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole. This system was to be controlled in a feudalist fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements arrived at in frequent meetings and conferences. The apex of the systems was to be the Bank for International Settlements in Basie, Switzerland, a private bank owned and controlled by the world's central banks which were themselves private corporations. Each central bank sought to dominate its government by its ability to control Treasury loans, to manipulate foreign exchanges, to influence the level of economic activity in the country, and to influence cooperative politicians by subsequent economic rewards in the business world." - Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope: The History Of The World In Our Time (1966)
I came across Tragedy & Hope 101 (or HERE on Amazon) by Joe Plummer, via Greenwood’s 180 Degrees.
I cannot recommend Tragedy & Hope 101 highly enough.
Most of us will never read Quigley’s 1,300+ page Tragedy & Hope, so what Plummer has done, by providing us the most important takeaways of that book, is a true gift.
Even though Plummer has made his book available free online, it’s worth buying two copies, one for home and one for a friend. I don’t think you can really understand how we got here and what is happening in the world without a foundational understanding of Quigley’s revealing work via Plummer’s summation.
Which brings us to today.
I got in touch with Joe he agreed to a written Q&A interview.
Please share this and Joe’s work with as many people as possible. It is critical that more people understand that we did not get here by random happenstance.
Thank you, Joe, for what you have done for all of us to awaken resistance.
Q: Do you remember the moment when you first “woke up?”
Well, that depends on how you define “woke up.” I’d always accepted the common narrative that government was there to stop crime, rather than engage in it. I never suspected that our so-called representatives would blatantly lie until I saw it firsthand during the anti-online-gaming push that began circa 1999. That was my first glimpse into how a small group of special interests can manipulate government policy for the purpose of gaining profit and power.
However, I didn’t realize the unbelievable depth of corruption until after 9/11. That’s when I really woke up. That’s when I heard about and confirmed the existence of covert operations like Operation Northwoods, Operation Ajax, Operation Paperclip, Mockingbird, PB Success, Gladio, Cyclone, etc. It’s also when I first heard about and confirmed the circumstances surrounding the deadly 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. (The FBI not only allowed the attack to happen, but they instructed their informant, Emad Salam, to swap the fake explosives for real explosives. Mr. Salam wisely recorded that conversation to protect himself.)
Needless to say, despite my 31 years on the planet at that time, I’d never heard a word about any of these topics. Not in school, not from my friends, and definitely not from mainstream media. I logically concluded that my state of ignorance didn’t come about by accident. The system created it, via distractions and disinformation, intentionally. I’d been conned, and I wasn’t very happy about it. That’s when I really started digging.
On that note, I need to mention that my journey toward discovering all of these things began with a so-called “crazy conspiracy theorist” named Alex Jones. On any given day, you could count on seeing Alex waving documents and screaming into the camera: “THIS IS REAL! THESE PEOPLE ARE CRAZY! THEY’RE EVIL!” So, hat tip to Alex. He used his platform to do what the mainstream media refuses to do. He informed millions of people, and those millions have informed millions more. We’re in a much better position thanks to him.
Q: How has your awakening journey affected your career?
Fortunately, I've always wanted to be a writer, so my "awakening" only solidified my commitment to that goal. It provided a strong sense of direction.
If you’re asking about how it affected my career financially, well, that’s a different story, LOL. I would have definitely earned more money working at Walmart over the past 20 years. Then again, I would have also been miserable, and I’m the furthest thing from miserable. I feel extremely fortunate to spend all day, every day, thinking about, writing about and sharing things that are important to me. As long as I earn enough to keep doing that, I’m “rich.”
Also, as if “being rich” isn’t good enough, sales of Tragedy & Hope 101 have continued to grow since its publication nearly a decade ago; despite the fact it’s available for free online. That feels good. (Knowing that people choose to purchase, even if they don’t have to.) So, bottom line: Zero complaints. I wouldn’t change the career path.
Q: How has your awakening journey affected your relationships?
That's a tough one. If I read into your question a bit, I assume you're asking because “challenging a person’s worldview” can strain relationships. Basically, I avoid that problem by accepting the limits of my influence. I don’t get to choose how people think or behave. I share what I know, back up my position the best I can, and then accept that their conclusions are out of my hands. We can lead people to information but we can’t make them think. Their choices are theirs to make, and as painful as that can sometimes be, it’s better than a world where “one group” (even if I’m a member of it) manipulates or forces people to think differently.
Q: What inspired you to write Tragedy & Hope 101?
That one is easy. Like Professor Quigley, I felt that the existence, aims, reach and “accomplishments” of The Network needed to be known, regardless of The Network’s desire to remain unknown. Unfortunately, the information was buried in the Anglo-American Establishment and Tragedy & Hope. In that form, Quigley’s 20+ years of research and writing on the topic wasn’t accessible to most people. (Few will pick up and read something like the Anglo-American Establishment, let alone a 1300-page textbook.)
So, I wanted to give the professor a hand. On the issue of revealing The Network and the unacceptable dangers of allowing it to remain secret, Quigley and I are in complete agreement. “…Such power, whatever the goals at which it may be directed, is too much to be entrusted safely to any group…No country that values its safety should allow…a small number of men…to wield such power in administration and politics…to exercise such influence over the avenues of information that create public opinion, and…to monopolize so completely the writing and the teaching of the history of their own period.”¹
Q: How many years of research went into writing this book?
As stated above, my awakening really began post 9/11/2001. However, to be a little more specific, G. Edward Griffin gets the credit for launching me full speed down the central banking/Quigley rabbit hole. I read his excellent book, The Creature from Jekyll Island, in early 2005. So, if we use that date, I spent another 9 years researching and writing before I published Tragedy & Hope 101 in 2014. (Prior to Tragedy & Hope 101, I published Dishonest Money in 2009, and Leaving the Illusion in 2012.)
Q: Do you think your book might be overwhelming for young adults? Should their awakening be more gradual?
I guess that depends on the individual. I always try to simplify the information in my books as much as possible so, hopefully, it’s not “overwhelming” in that sense. However, regarding the emotional impact of realizing you’ve been manipulated; that’s something else entirely. It’s not a pleasant feeling. And that feeling gets worse when you realize there are millions of people who not only remain oblivious, but have no desire to see what’s right in front of them. That can definitely get overwhelming. That’s when your commitment to “the cause” gets tested, whether you’re a young adult or an old one. But getting back to the main question, if young adults become overwhelmed during the process of awakening, maybe we just need to remind them that they're in good company. We've all been there.
Q: How would you describe The Network’s success since its official founding in 1891?
This is definitely another question that requires a book (or two) to answer properly. Suffice to say, The Network has been remarkably successful, especially regarding its ability to “conceal its existence” and remain “unknown.”²
Revisiting your previous question, I’d say that Quigley’s book, The Anglo-American Establishment, will be a bit “overwhelming” for most readers. However, if you want a methodically detailed account, that’s where to go. For those seeking a less detail-heavy account, I draw heavily on The Anglo-American Establishment (providing dozens of references) in Tragedy & Hope 101.
Here are some key points that hopefully answer your question: The Network set out to gain control of “all habitable portions of the world”³ via the application of “secret political and economic influence” and secret control of “journalistic, educational, and propaganda agencies.⁴ It began its conquest in Britain, where it captured prominent journalistic and educational institutions like The Times and All Souls College “quietly and without a struggle.”⁵ The Network also infiltrated and captured the British government, so much so that it became “one of the most important forces in the formulation and execution of British imperial and foreign policy.”⁶ From the partitioning of Ireland, Palestine, and India, to the appeasement policy toward pre and post Hitlerian Germany – from the Boer War to the creation of the League of Nations – The Network was at the helm, steering policy.⁷
But of course, that’s just the beginning. The Network’s goal to control all habitable portions of the world required it to “recover” the United States of America. That goal was openly expressed in 1877⁸, and by the early 1900’s it was well underway. The same tactics used in Britain to capture or create instruments of control were employed in the U.S.
The Network-connected Rockefeller foundation took on the task of gaining control of the U.S. education system (with a special focus on controlling the teaching of U.S. history). To achieve this, the foundation created the “General Education Board” in 1902.⁹ As for the press, Quigley names The New York Times and Washington Post as two prominent papers used to exert “influence.”¹⁰
The Network-connected Carnegie Foundation was also involved in capturing the U.S. education system, but there is an especially damning account (as conveyed by Reece Committee investigator Norman Dodd) detailing its plan to capture the “diplomatic machinery” of the U.S. government. In 1908, the foundation trustees asked “’Is there any means known more effective than war…to alter the life of an entire people?’ And they conclude that no more effective means than war to that end is known. So then, in 1909, they raised the second question: ‘How do we involve the United States in a war?’ Finally, they answered that question as follows: ‘We must control the State Department.’ That very naturally raises the question of how do we do that? And they answer it by saying: ‘We must take over and control the diplomatic machinery of this country.’”¹¹
Again, all of this requires more space to cover properly. I’ll summarize by saying that they did indeed capture the diplomatic machinery in 1912, which they eventually used to maneuver the U.S. into WW1. But not before Edward Mandell House (leader of “The Inquiry”), guided The Network’s most powerful instrument into existence: The U.S. Federal Reserve System. (This enabled them to expand and project economic, political, diplomatic and military power around the globe at a level that dwarfs former empires.)
The Inquiry, led by House, eventually evolved into the CFR in 1921. This is where most people become familiar with the story because the CFR is specifically named by Quigley as the American front group for The Network.¹²
The CFR then proceeded to create two more unimaginably powerful instruments (the CIA and the NSA) during the War and Peace Studies. The CIA was then used to further infiltrate and control the U.S. media (see Operation Mockingbird), as it simultaneously began covertly toppling governments around the world. Last but not least, since its capture more than 100 years ago, the U.S. State Department/military has served as an instrument of The Network.
This obviously isn’t an exhaustive list. For instance, it doesn’t include supranational Network-created instruments like the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Monetary fund (IMF), etc. Regardless of brevity, hopefully this answer demonstrates that The Network has been incredibly successful.
Q: How does China fit into the picture?
I recently answered this question within the context of BRICS, specifically as it relates to the proposed currency among the member nations. If we remain focused on the ultimate goal (one government, one currency, with The Network leaders controlling everything from the top), then we can assume that every decision aims at centralizing power. (Consolidate control over larger and larger geographic regions.)
In my opinion China, and the BRICS nations more broadly, are being intentionally driven into alliances that will lead to a new/enormous consolidated “block of power.” This new block will likely come with a new currency that dramatically reduces demand for U.S. dollars. (It’s difficult to express how bad that could be for “U.S. power” on the global stage.)
As mentioned in Dishonest Money: "Although Keynes wanted the IMF to issue its own global fiat currency, he knew he couldn’t achieve that goal immediately. To convince other nations to participate, the IMF currency would need some form of gold backing. At the time, foreigners could still redeem their U.S. dollars in gold and that made it the perfect choice. So, as a starting point, the IMF chose the U.S. dollar to be its global monetary unit. The issue of eliminating its gold backing could be dealt with later.” This highlights one of The Network’s tried-and-true tactics: gradualism.
First, they tricked the world into using the U.S. dollar as the “world’s reserve currency,” then they removed its gold backing. In theory, this conferred unimaginable economic and military power to the United States; in reality it conferred that power to The Network that controls U.S. policy. And so, wearing its U.S. mask, The Network has economically and militarily bludgeoned the world. But that was never intended to last. Eventually, the U.S. would need to be humbled and absorbed into the “New World Order” that they’re creating. Eventually, the U.S. would have to pay the price, in sovereignty, for The Network’s indulgences.
"When The Network is satisfied that all major obstacles to its unelected rule have been removed, it will be a simple matter to destroy the U.S. dollar, ‘justifiably’ cut off the flow of money and credit to the United States, and create the political incentive (necessity) for the United States to fully enter the new global system."¹³
Side note: Don't be surprised if a new BRICS currency is, at least in the beginning, backed by gold or something comparable. Then, imagine its appeal compared to a U.S. dollar that's being printed into oblivion as quickly as possible.
Again, to summarize, I feel we're just watching the natural evolution toward their ultimate aim.
Q: Does The Network face any significant challenges?
Absolutely. In my opinion, it faces an insurmountable one.
The Network knows that, in order to control the world, it must maintain “secret political and economic influence” and secret control of “journalistic, educational, and propaganda agencies.”¹⁴ Everything hinges on their ability to create and control a system of “instruments” that manipulate human perception and behavior. As the orchestrated and undeserved blind faith in their system crumbles, it takes their power with it.
Q: What about organizations like the World Economic Forum, or individuals like Bill Gates and George Soros? Are they “fronts” or evolutions of The Network?
They are organizations and individuals that are knowingly or unknowingly serving The Network’s aims. Even at its inception, most people who served The Network had no idea they were doing so. They didn’t know it existed, so they certainly didn’t know the names of those directing it. (The secretive structure was/is intentional.)
There’s little reason to believe it’s any different now. Aligning and working with powerful Network-directed instruments (from the UN to the Federal Reserve system; from the WHO to the U.S. State Department) is what many in that ecosystem consider the epitome of success. It would never occur to them that they’re just fulfilling a role in a larger, unknown plan.
Bertrand Russell described the emergence of a secretive, “expert-directed” global system this way: “The society of experts will control propaganda and education. It will teach loyalty to the world government…It is possible that it may invent ingenious ways of concealing its own power, leaving the forms of democracy intact, and allowing the plutocrats or politicians to imagine that they are cleverly controlling these forms…whatever the outward forms may be, all real power will come to be concentrated in the hands of those who understand the art of scientific manipulation.”¹⁵
That’s a powerful insight; even the presumed “leaders” will be manipulated and controlled.
Q: What are some practical steps that individuals can take to break free from this system?
Let’s start with the tweet-sized answer:
Learn how (and why) they manipulate us.
Help others learn the same.
Become familiar with the emerging decentralized systems that undermine their control.
Now, the slightly longer answer: The Network derives its power from the instruments of control that it has captured or created. That is the true purpose of their instruments/institutions. (They exist to empower and protect The Network, despite being presented as a way to empower and protect the people.) As this fact becomes increasingly obvious, the power derived from their instruments can evaporate very quickly.
I recently watched a video of the WEF’s Klaus Schwab bemoaning the rise of an “anti-system movement.” He cited Brexit as an example. Why would that be? Because anything that strengthens national sovereignty “decentralizes” power; it weakens those who are striving to create larger and larger chokepoints of control.
This being the case, we need the equivalent of “Brexits” across the board. On an individual level, we need to exit the systems that they’ve monopolized. We need to enter and strengthen the decentralized systems that are emerging; in money, media, medicine, manufacturing, education, energy, agriculture, etc.
The current monopolized systems cannot survive the superior/decentralized alternatives that are coming. So, The Network’s leaders are faced with two choices: cede power, or “take off the gloves” and reveal the true nature and purpose of what they’ve created. In my opinion, they lose either way. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be a fight; to the contrary, it absolutely will be. So, it’s vital that we find and “wake up” the people who are reachable. The more of us there are, the better off we’ll be.
Q: What message do you hope readers will take away from Tragedy & Hope 101?
The Network’s secrecy and manipulation model is finally beginning to fail. Today, anyone can easily confirm or learn about everything we’ve covered in this interview. Just 25 years ago, that wasn’t the case.
I’m 53, for half of my life there was no such thing as “the internet.” There weren’t any smart phones. All of the information we received was curated and distributed by The Network’s “experts in scientific manipulation.” But now, people can be shown how the media lies and manipulates. They can be shown how governments lie and manipulate. They can be shown how the regulatory and educational institutions do the same. So, despite all of the “tragedy,” we have more reasons for “hope” than ever before.
“In all of human history, rulers have never faced a threat of this magnitude, and it’s only just beginning…We are now entering an era of technological development that many believe will lead to ‘exponential disruption.’ All of the choke points of control (from energy to education, medicine to manufacturing, agriculture to government) will change dramatically in the next 20 – 30 years. The most beneficial characteristic of these technology-driven changes is that they, like the internet, will decentralize and redistribute power. They will weaken, and then replace, the immoral and inadequate centralized systems that our rulers have created.”¹⁶
That’s the take away. That’s the message.
Footnotes
1 The Anglo-American Establishment, page 197
2 The Anglo-American Establishment, page 4
3 Tragedy & Hope, page 131
4 The Anglo-American Establishment, page 49
5 The Anglo-American Establishment, page 102
6 The Anglo-American Establishment, page 3
7 The Anglo-American Establishment, page 5
8 The Anglo-American Establishment, page 33
9 For those unfamiliar with the General Education Board, here is a good summary provided by GPT4: “The GEB was established with the aim of reforming education in the United States, but critics argue that it also served as an instrument for promoting a particular ideological narrative. By funding academic chairs, research, and educational programs, the GEB was able to exert significant influence over the field of history, among other disciplines. The historians who aligned with the narrative favored by the Rockefeller Foundation often found their careers advanced, gaining them prominence and credibility in the academic community. On the other hand, those who resisted or critiqued this narrative faced challenges in securing funding and academic appointments, effectively marginalizing them.”
10 Tragedy & Hope, page 953
11 Tragedy & Hope 101, pages 122 – 123, excerpts taken from an interview between Norman Dodd and G. Edward Griffin
12 Tragedy & Hope, page 952
13 Tragedy & Hope 101, page 49
14 The Anglo-American Establishment, page 49
15 The Scientific Outlook, page 175
16 Tragedy & Hope 101, page 117
HERE is how to cross-post. If you improvise, you may have to figure out how to stitch together all five hours of Joe’s audio like I did.
Parting Shots
Aurelius:
If thou workest at that which is before thee, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract thee, but keeping thy divine part pure, as if thou shouldst be bound to give it back immediately; if thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to nature, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which thou utterest, thou wilt live happy. And there is no man who is able to prevent this.
And the poster from Britain during World War II:
William Somerset Maugham (25/1/1874—-16/12/1965):
Life wouldn’t be worth living, if I worried over the future as well as the present. When things are at their worst, I FIND SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS.
267. AN UNBEKOMING REPOST: JOE PLUMMER'S HUNDRED-YEAR-PLUS HISTORY OF THE CABAL