The National Economic Security and Recovery Act, commonly known as NESARA, originated as a theoretical economic proposal drafted by engineering consultant Harvey Francis Barnard in the late 1980s. His primary thesis argued that compound interest was a “moral evil” and a major inhibitor of economic growth. To address this, his proposal called for replacing the federal income tax with a national sales tax, abolishing compound interest on secured loans, and returning the United States to a bimetallic currency.
In 1996, Barnard self-published his ideas in a book titled Draining the Swamp: Monetary and Fiscal Policy Reform. He distributed 1,000 copies to members of Congress, believing the proposal would gain support. However, it did not gain political traction and was never introduced in Congress.
In 2000, Barnard released the text into the public domain online. Shortly after this digital release, the proposal was adopted and reinterpreted by an internet personality known as the “Dove of Oneness.” This individual was later identified as Shaini Candace Goodwin, a resident of Washington state and a former student of JZ Knight’s Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment sect.
Goodwin claimed without Barnard’s authorization that NESARA had been passed by Congress during a secret session in March 2000 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. According to her account, the law was being suppressed by a Supreme Court gag order, with the penalty for disclosure being death.
She renamed the proposal the “National Economic Security and Reformation Act” and expanded it beyond Barnard’s original framework. Her version included claims of total cancellation of personal debts, the abolition of the Internal Revenue Service, the declaration of world peace, and the requirement for immediate new federal elections. She used authoritative and spiritual language, stating that she was in contact with “White Knights” — described as high-ranking military and government officials — and “Ascended Masters.”
Goodwin published her claims through online messages known as the “Dove Reports,” which gained a wide following through email and internet forums. In these dispatches, she often issued directives to the figures she described, presenting them as active participants in the implementation of NESARA.
Her rise was closely linked to the collapse of the Omega Trust, an investment scheme run by Clyde Hood, a retired electrician. The scheme promised “50-to-1” returns on “Omega units” through offshore trading that did not exist. Estimates suggest that thousands of investors lost between $12.5 million and $50 million.
Goodwin was an investor in Omega and began publishing reports in 1999 as the scheme began to fail and federal investigators became involved. Her updates aimed to reassure other investors. Over time, she incorporated NESARA into the Omega narrative, claiming that the promised “prosperity funds” would only be released after the public announcement of the law.
This combination of financial loss and expectation drew sustained attention online. One 2004 report described Goodwin as a “cybercult queen,” noting the level of engagement among her followers and her requests for “financial gifts” and frequent flyer miles. She stated these were needed to support travel related to meetings with world leaders. Despite these claims, Goodwin lived in a mobile home in Washington and had a record of financial difficulties. These included a 1989 bankruptcy that cleared $20,000 in credit card debt and an IRS lien for unpaid taxes.
On September 11, 2001, within hours of the Al Qaeda attacks on the U.S., Goodwin claimed that the strikes on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were carried out by the George W. Bush administration to prevent a planned 10:00 a.m. announcement of NESARA. She further stated that computers containing “prosperity fund” data were located in one of the towers and were the intended targets.
Before his death in 2005, Barnard became aware of Goodwin’s claims and publicly distanced himself from them. He stated that his proposal had never been enacted and described the narrative surrounding it as a “disinformation campaign.” Despite this, the movement continued to develop. Additional figures contributed new elements, including New Age and extraterrestrial themes. Some claimed that interdimensional beings and a “galactic fleet” led by an entity named “Sananda,” described as the galactic name of Jesus, were working to ensure the implementation of NESARA.
Shaini Candace Goodwin died on May 30, 2010. Despite her death and the absence of any confirmed implementation of NESARA, the theory has persisted. By the mid-2010s, the concept expanded into what was called “GESARA,” the Global Economic Security and Reformation Act. This version framed the reforms as global in scope, allegedly supported by East Asian groups and funded by the “Saint Germain World Trust.” Proponents claimed this trust held “one quattuordecillion” dollars and would be used to eliminate national and personal debts worldwide.
Key Sources:
Robinson, S. (2005, June 19). Some lucrative ‘New Age hooey.’ The Tacoma News Tribune.
Robinson, S. (2013, July 17). An annoyed Dove gives her proof of NESARA’s existence. The Tacoma News Tribune.
Robinson, S. (2013, July 17). Snared by a cybercult queen. The Tacoma News Tribune.
Robinson, S. (2013, July 17). Whatever happened to… ? ‘Dove of Oneness’ still at the keyboard. The Tacoma News Tribune.
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