From sea to shining sea, Americans come together on the Fourth of July to celebrate our nation’s most precious treasure… freedom. The American way of life was built on strong families and sense of community—it is our personal responsibility, courage and actions that are the keys to securing the quality of life we wish to enjoy today and keep us free.

      Lobbyists and political campaign contributions have helped corporations come to dominate both the legislative and media landscape. Mergers and acquisitions countenanced by regulators have allowed massive players like Big Pharma, Big Food and Factory Farms to control most of what citizens see, hear and read, and even control how we heal, eat and learn.

            As just one example, government food policies and subsidies encourage agribusinesses to overproduce pesticide-loaded corn and soy, creating cheap, high-calorie, nutrient-

poor ingredients for processed foodstuffs. Advertising and promoting these “Frankenfoods” contributes to a large portion of mainstream media income, much of it targeting our children.

            We must create a more equitable system that treats people and nature with respect and reverence; holds corporations accountable to behave as responsible custodians of the environment and their employees; and requires government to be a servant of the people, instead of the other way around. The indicators are clear that we need to reevaluate our quality of life and consider how we can personally affect it moving forward.

            It’s our task as citizen consumers to separate fact from fiction and truth from propaganda. There’s a lot of information out there both good and bad, and it’s prudent to align ourselves with vetted sources we trust. We urge you to do some research and vote with your dollars, because that does follow trends and tells the market what is acceptable and what is not.

            Each new day offers us all fresh opportunities to change our trajectory. May we encourage the potential in all of us to soar above our fears and face our struggles with the courage and wisdom to make our dreams come true. An Elmer Davis quote rings more true than ever before: “This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

            We hope you find some healthful tips and meaningful insights in our July edition, because you never know what piece of knowledge or insight will propel you to the next level in your personal or family’s development.

For the love of freedom, happy birthday, America!

God bless humanity!