Editor’s Note: This interview conducted by James Perloff is reprinted with his permission. It is also a blatant advertisement for a summer camp for kids and adults in Massachusetts (July 28-August 3, 2019). Australia could set one up, too.
James Perloff interviewing Hal Shurtleff
James Perloff: Hal, it’s great to do this interview with you; for one thing, it gives me a chance to get caught up with you. We go back quite a few years, don’t we?
Hal Shurtleff: Yes. I recall literally bumping into you at the American Opinion Bookstore in Belmont, MA back in 1988. You were holding a stack of your Shadows of Powers.
JP: Oh, yes. I still have a bruise from that nasty bump—been meaning to talk to an attorney about that. But, oh, rats, the statute of limitations would have run out by now, wouldn’t it?
Anyway, one of my fondest memories is driving around New England with you, giving PowerPoint speeches about the New World Order, which you were instrumental in setting up. I mean you were instrumental in setting up the speeches, not the New World Order.
HS: I have fond memories of traveling the highways and byways of New England with you and hosting your excellent presentations, and also as an instructor at Camp Constitution’s annual family camps.
JP: Also, I remember you always had a great collection of Stalin jokes. The one about him going into a factory disguised as an ordinary worker, to learn what the proletariat really thought of him, still leaves me in stitches.
HS: The Stalin jokes are from a book by the late Petr Beckman called Hammer and Tickle. I have the book in PDF format and can provide your readers with a copy.
JP: Well, another thing I remember is that you were always collecting rare, out-of-print conservative books. You have those up for sale on Amazon, isn’t that correct?
HS: Yes, I have some rare and out-of-print books. Over the years, Camp Constitution supporters have donated thousands of books to our library and to sell on Amazon. In 2015, our mutual friend Sam Blumenfeld passed away and he willed us most of his library and papers. With it, we created the Samuel Blumenfeld Archives. It has a vast array of the writings, audio, and videos of Sam, a pioneer in the homeschool movement and one of the first to expose the plan to deliberately dumb down Americans.
JP: I have to say that, before the Internet, there was a great treasury of books that constituted a wealth of alternative views of news and history—if you knew how to access them. And unfortunately, most were never were put into digital format, so the only way to retrieve them today is through a resource like Camp Constitution’s Amazon page.
As to Sam, he was really amazing, an activist well into his eighties. Reminds me of the late Dr. Stan Monteith, who was still doing several radio shows a day in his mid-eighties, as well as G. Edward Griffin, who’s still going strong at 87! It confirms that one of the secrets to longevity is a meaningful purpose to your life.
And speaking of meaningful lives, why don’t you tell us a little about your background, and how you came to be involved with Camp Constitution.
HS: I was born, raised and still live in Boston. My Dad owned a drugstore in the Hyde Park section of Boston, and I started working in the store at the age of 8. I went to Boston government schools during the height of forced busing where I witnessed the heavy hand of the federal government, how the Left promotes racism, and how what we now call “fake news” operates. I joined the U.S Army after high school and served a two year duty in a combat arms unit in West Germany and then a tour of duty in the 101st Airborne. It was there that I learned that NATO was a fraud. In 1988, my former landlord loaned me a book by Gary Allen entitled Nixon: The Man Behind the Mask. It helped answer a lot of questions. I soon joined the John Birch Society and from 1990 to 2016, I served on the staff of the Society. In 2009, I co-founded Camp Constitution, and from 2016, I became its full-time director. I am married with five children. My wife Maura and I homeschooled our children.
Regarding the John Birch Society
JP: There’s quite a lot that to like in that resumé! I want to mention one thing here just to set aside some controversy. You and I both had a long association with the John Birch Society, which as you know, has been dissed by people on both sides—or should I say all sides?—of the political spectrum. Whatever its faults may have been, back in the 1980s, the JBS was virtually the only organized group that was “woke” about geopolitics. It was through the JBS that I learned about the CFR, the Fed, globalism, the conspiratorial Shadow Government, and so forth. They of course published my first book The Shadows of Power. I met many great and sincere patriots in the Society, and you were among them. I don’t know if you have anything you’d care to add to that.
HS: Jim, the John Birch Society was way ahead of its time. They were exposing the Deep State long before it became fashionable. I am of the opinion that if it hadn’t been for the efforts of the Society, we would have lost our liberty years ago.
JP: Well, I’d like to move on to the main attraction of today’s interview: Camp Constitution. Tell us about the camp.
HS: Camp Constitution was launched in 2009. We held our first family camp that summer. A few years later, we started a publishing arm, a radio show, a YouTube Channel, and more recently a speaker’s bureau. We have information and book tables at homeschool shows, Tea Party rallies, gun shows and floats in parades. Our website, as mentioned earlier, houses the Sam Blumenfeld Archives, and we also have downloads of important resources for numerous issues.
Regarding the Camp (July 28, 2019 – 6 nights)
HS: highlight of our year is our annual family camp. Our week-long family camp combines classes from some of the nation’s or even world’s top experts in their field with recreation, field trips to historic places, hiking, swimming, chess tournaments, just to mention a few. Some of this year’s instructors include Professor Willie Soon, Lord Christopher Monckton, John McManus, Debbie Bacigalupi, and Rev. Steve Craft. We have programs for those 5-11 which we started about five years ago.
JP: OK, and just so my readers don’t misunderstand, there are classes for campers up to—would it be age 18?
HS: Classes are for teenagers and adults. We are a family camp as well as unaccompanied minors.
JP: And, bearing in mind that there’s a whole array of fun recreational activities mixed in with the classes, give us some examples of what topics will be taught, or have been taught, at Camp Constitution. What will kids be learning?
HS: We have three classes in the AM and two in the PM. Some of the classes include U.S. Constitution 101, The Bill of Rights, The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, America’s Godly Heritage, The Moral American, The Climate Change Hoax, The Principles of Leadership, Economics, Get Us Out of the United Nations.
A day at camp begins with a 6:30 AM optional “polar bear” swim or run. 7:00 AM wake up, 7:50 morning devotions and flag raising, 8:00 a good hearty breakfast. Three classes from 9:00-11:00 with break time in between. Lunch and then afternoon recreation which include swimming, boating, basketball, volleyball, wiffle-ball, martial arts, chess tournaments. Tuesday, we will have an optional hike up Mt. Greylock. Wednesday we take a field trip to the Springfield Arsenal Museum. Friday, we take out some of the campers to pass out copies of the U.S. Constitution to businesses owners in the area. Every evening we have campfire where we sing hymns, old-fashioned corny songs, skits, tell jokes. Friday night is closing ceremonies. We have morning room inspections where we not only look for cleanliness but a Godly and Patriotic theme. The winning room gets free pizza on Friday night after campfire. It is a full week with lots of activities.
JP: Well, I have taught there myself, of course—three or was it four times?—doing classes on creation vs evolution, as well as on the New World Order. And one thing that was great was being among totally sane people—because, you know, we live in a culture that is progressively growing insane.
Home Schooling
JP: Being at Camp Constitution was much like the experience I had at MassHope—the annual Massachusetts homeschooling convention. I’ve given classes there a couple of times too, and I know you had a booth there this year. Anyway, after being at MassHope, I told my wife it felt like being in heaven, because everyone, all the kids, were so well-behaved. And Camp Constitution is like that, an oasis in a sea of political correctness. My son attended almost ten years ago, and although he was initially hesitant about bunking with kids he didn’t know, he was made to feel totally welcome and really enjoyed himself.
HS: One of the benefits of attending Camp Constitution is that we make life-time friendships. My children have become friends with a number of campers and stay in touch and visit each other throughout the year.
JP: There’s someone else I’d like to recommend as a guest speaker—Cece Doucette, who’s right here in Massachusetts and is almost undoubtedly the state’s top educator on wireless dangers. Wireless is contributing to cancer, DNA damage, attention deficits, and a host of other problems, and Cece backs up everything she says with scientific studies. You know how kids are into smartphones? The campers would really relate to what Cece has to say, and their parents would be very keen to know how to better protect their children. As an added bonus, Cece has been instrumental in getting several bills into the state legislature, and she knows first-hand how to work with state legislators—which of course can be helpful for any issue. HS: One of our new instructors—James Morrison—a colleague of Lord Monckton, will be covering that subject to some extent. But I will check her out.
Any 9-11 Stuff?
JP: Great. And while I recommend Camp Constitution unequivocally, there’s something else I think I should say, just so my readers have no misunderstanding. A great many of my readers are in the 9/11 Truth Movement, as am I. However, while I do believe individual families at Camp Constitution are undoubtedly skeptics of the government’s official explanation of 9/11, this is not a subject area that the camp curriculum gets into, correct?
HS: Not specifically. We have classes on the Deep State, exposing the New World Order, getting out of the United Nations, the global warming hoax, and I would say few camp attendees accept the official story of 9/11. I happened to be in the air when it happened and actually flew out of the same terminal at Boston’s Logan Airport as some of the hijackers.
The camp is in Pittsfield, Mass., and runs from Sunday afternoon July 28 and ends Saturday morning August 3. The camp is for entire families and/or unaccompanied minors and adults. The price for campers 13 and over and adults is $350. 12 and under $250. 3 and under free with parents. Folks can sign up online using this
link: https://campconstitution.registration.payscape.com/. The cost includes lodging, meals, material handouts, and field trip travel expenses. We do have a snack bar, a book table and sell camp T-shirts and camp group photos. We can pick people up and drop them off at airports, trains and bus stations if necessary. The closest major airport is Albany, NY (45 minutes), Amtrak stops in Pittsfield once a day. Car pool arrangements are also a possibility. Your readers are welcome to call or email me if they have any questions or concerns. 857-498-1309, campconstitution1@gmail.com. The camp website is https://campconstitution.net/
I’m going to sign up, after I ascertain what the camp’s latrine situation is….
We had one, summer camp but called excursion to the Colo River. Think the driving force is still serving time but because of privacy..
Its the winter(spring/fall/autumn) school however that maybe the problem Houston.
P.s-I’ve been facetious(and not) so now can be quiet awhiles.. ness
Here you are with your fine men.
Some might be better, your call of course.
my soft southpaw
I would suggest or recommend that you get a number of constitutional experts that really know what they are talking about and will truthfully declare what side of the fence they are on politically. They need to examine and critique the number of problems that Australia is confronted with that the corporate-government propaganda apparatus is deliberately suppressing from the public.
We need to get rid of the corrupt Preferential Voting system that gives the politicians and the political parties the last say instead of the electorate. It needs to be replaced with the far more democratic Proportional Representation model. Preferential Voting corrupts and perverts democracy with the priority number system. The minor parties or independents preferences would drastically change as the overs have the last say not the political parties which is undemocratic to say the least.
Electorate reform will not come from the political system or the carnivores politicians it must come from the people. The essence of sovereignty is from the people not the politicians. Australians are not familiar with ‘We the people” status as a whole particularly with the undemocratic Westminster system. The first principle is that sovereignty is always derived from “We the people” and that needs to be placed in the Australian Constitution.
The politicians are compulsive lying conniving creatures maintaining a two-party domination duopoly with single member district electorates. It is a subversive system that is undemocratic, uncontrollable and a blatant abuse of power. Their idea of ‘reform’ is restrictive, preventing real change of innovative ideas that are just, fair and do not follow the proper checks and balances that will keep the government in check. It has morphed into Executive edicts or judicial tyranny far from the scope of due process and the rule of law.
A reputable Peoples Constitutional Convention aka an Extra-Parliamentary Movement needs to be formed unlike the last one with Turnbull’s ARM and the very limited or narrow choice of the Republic model that was presented and rejected. The separation of powers has been corrupted and comprised with the Executive and the legislature.
The pork barreling or vote buying method is a direct consequence of the single member district electorate instead of a multi-member electorate where voters would be properly represented once and for all.
Here are some of the issues ignored or suppressed by those in power with the aiding and abetting of the corporate-government propaganda apparatus. They are like the Mafia with their ‘code of silence’ so no narrative of value can be mentioned or discussed publicly.
Preferential Voting must be revoked and replaced with the far more democratic Proportional Representation
The Australian Constitution describes a status of dependency on the UK with the position of the Governor-General (who took us to two false flag wars by the way) which essentially a colonial relationship
The Constitution originally was made for a Federation in which it is clearly not today with the constant creeping of Centralisation
Local Government is not even mentioned in the Constitution hence we have Corporations acting as Local Governments with CEO’s as Australia has rejected twice that Local Governments be part of the Constitution (A wise decision not to be included in my view)
Australia is over governed or over ruled and over taxed
The Constitution makes no mention of political parties
A two-party inefficient single electorate system exists separate from the Constitution instead of a ‘multi-member’ electoral system with Proportional Representation and enshrined in the Constitution which truly represents the diversity in each electorate
Australia has become very Fascist with duplication, bureaucratic delays, over regulation and the ‘revolving door’ that must be shut for politician for 7 years after retiring
The so-called Parliamentary democracy is not protected in the Constitution
Australia is the only Commonwealth country that does not have a Bill of Rights for statuary protection of its citizens
The Constitution makes no provision for the Indigenous Peoples http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UNSWLawJl/2001/70.html
Few people are familiar with the Constitution which is seriously flawed and have turned their backs on the political system for good reasons. The Rod Cullen decision for one
The Constitution makes no provision for the protection of the Environment to be safeguarded
The Constitution has no provision for the appointment of Cabinet Ministers from outside the legislature as does Europe and the US, hence the lack of quality and expertise of Parliament
The Constitution makes no mention or provision for the diversity of representatives to the two Houses of Parliament
The High Court judges are able to determine what the Founding Fathers had implied in human and political rights…?
Introduce The Australian People’s democratic right to instigate constitutional changes instead of the bias two-party political system in which the ALP is not the Opposition at all as they claim to be.
The Corporation Power in Section 51 is limited to foreign corporations only. The various states have differing corporation laws
The Constitution does not state that the Government derives its power from the people the very essence of a true democratic nation-state and a Republic not a democracy.
The Constitution does not elaborate on nation economic sovereignty to be safeguarded in this sinister globalisation process hence the political parties taking advantage in many areas and the oligarchy of beneficiaries that is unwarranted
There needs to be a extra-parliament movement i.e. Republic of Australia Movement to override the Turnbull ARM which is wanting and deficient for regular Constitutional Conventions like the Constitutional Centenary Foundation of 2001
The Government abuse of power must be included in the Constitution as this is regularly breached
Withdraw from the Communist United Nations and divert funds to a number of areas
The Westminster system is undemocratic and there are far too many Executive decisions being made without judicial and legislative oversight with the proper checks and balances.
Democracy? Undemocratic?
All I can is that, so long as gumshoe commenters insist on misusing said word thing’s will continue to get worse, not better:
A classic example of a working democracy: most Australians aren’t prepared to spend the time/energy needed to stymie corporate meddling in private affairs & theft of natural resources/personal property; hence Corporate Rule.
Like it or not the Country’s current situation is just a natural progression of it’s foundational circumstances
The Cullen Gang
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931876573807331/
Listen to Wayne Glew who is a real Australian not an “Aussie” about the up coming election and the Australian Constitution. He gives it fair and proper to the PM and to the Socialist Shorten. All the previous Australian governments so-called from the seditious treason from the politicians of the Australia Act are illegal and so are the courts null and void as simply administrators not certified judges
Senator Rod Culleton’s Papers
https://www.cirnow.com.au/senator-rod-culletons-papers/
Senator Culleton Vindicated
https://www.cirnow.com.au/senator-culleton-vindicated-reinstated/
Ramifications of the Culleton Case
https://www.cirnow.com.au/ramifications-of-the-culleton-case/
Let the constitutional experts discuss these issues
How & When did the Government Commit Treason?
https://www.cirnow.com.au/how-when-did-the-government-commit-treason/
Treason & Treachery Defined
https://www.cirnow.com.au/treason-treachery-defined/
Wilful Treason
https://www.cirnow.com.au/willful-treason/
Treason Documented
https://www.cirnow.com.au/treason-documented/
HIGH TREASON – WE HAVE NO GOVERNMENT
https://www.cirnow.com.au/high-treason/
Corporate Government? No
https://www.cirnow.com.au/corporate-government-no/
Fake corporate courts — How to Recognise Them
https://www.cirnow.com.au/fake-corporate-courts/
Commonwealth of Australia Vs Australia Act
https://www.cirnow.com.au/commonwealth-of-australia-vs-australia-act/
Criminals in Government
https://www.cirnow.com.au/criminals-in-government/
More issues to be discussed and rectified instead of suppressed
Australian Government Now Officially Illegal
https://nationalroadfreightersassociation.blogspot.com/2011/10/australian-government-now-officially.html
Australia Has No Legal Constitution
https://iliasbafas.wordpress.com/2015/12/03/australia-has-no-legal-constitution/
Australia The Concealed Colony the book the federal police removed from bookshelves
https://corpau.blogspot.com/2017/09/australia-concealed-colony-book-federal.html
Australia Concealed Colony Notes
https://ozff.org/AustraliaConcealedColony.html
Youtube Author Bob McCulloch Builder Describes what’s in the documents Australia Concealed Colony Volumes 1 & 2 links below. https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=DFa-5kS1KGE
Albert Anderson JP YouTube channel
If Australia is an independent sovereign nation then a foreign head of state could not have executive power in Australia this is common sense and Australian parliamentarians, judges, lawyers, police , governors and Governor General can’t be taking an oath of allegiance to a foreign sovereign QE2. If you disagree please show me how I’m wrong.
So if everyone in Australia’s corporate clown government are swearing oaths of allegiance to a foreign head of state instead of the true sovereigns of Australia the Australian people doesn’t that amount to a foreign takeover by stealth by unwitting traitors who simply rule in the hope the true sovereigns the Australian people never wake up to reclaim what’s theirs by right??
This book, AUSTRALIA the Concealed colony! from original website, has been forced out of publication and all printed copies seized by ASIO. That’s how explosive this book is. But it is a book that every Australian should read to understand why our government system is illegal. Every politician sitting in Parliament today is there under false pretenses.
http://www.cirnow.com.au/fileuploads/AustraliaConcealedColony1.pdf
http://www.cirnow.com.au/fileuploads/AustraliaConcealedColony2.pdf
Where does the commonwealth constitution get its power and authority from?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/287355148544320/permalink/358567124756455/
John Martin shared a link.
Admin · April 9 at 7:32 AM
Addressing all Public Servants and the Governor General
This Australian Government, a foreign power under the Hague Conventions which has signed into the League of Nations and is currently under the United Nations has no right of use of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act July 1900 UK/PGA the founding document of the Commonwealth of Australia to which they occupy as a De Facto Administrator post Gough Whitlam Era.
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act July 1900 UK/PGA is an instrument of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as created under Queen Victoria and became the Sovereign document of the Commonwealth of Australia post Imperial Conference 1926 under King George the Fifth.
Most of the people in the lands of Australia do not comprehend their own history, although, unfortunate for this Australia Government Administration, many of us do. There is a complete research available to which can be put before the High Court to demonstrate these facts.
Having no right to the Constitution, that would mean that all sitting within the Australian Governments Parliament have no right to make complaint on Section 44 because they are acting outside of the Constitution Act and its high time that Justice be corrected within His Majesties Realm.
This Australian Government created Australian Citizenship by way of the Nationaliaty and Citizenship Act 1948 following the introduction of the International Monetary Fund Act 1947 using Citizens as Debt Fodder for its false economies based in Credit from the IMF. This was increased to full Citizenship of a Foreign Power to the Commonwealth of Australia after Secret Meetings with the Queen and Gough Whitlam in 1973.
This Australian Government abolished the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet in 1971 changing the very structures of the Prime Ministers Offices so that it could run this country outside of the Powers of the Commonwealth of Australia.