The Comfort of Conspiracy
There are so many conspiracy theories flying around these days to explain the financial crisis. I have been pondering just why people are drawn to conspiracies.
http://surkanstance.blogspot.com/2008/10/comfort-of-conspiracy.html
The tin foil hat wearing conspiracy theorists, convinced that dark forces have made secret plans to control events, may not be the paranoid anti-social mal-contents most people assume. In fact, it is quite possible that the belief in (unproven) conspiracies is a perfectly rational response when the world around us feels out of control. It is far preferable to think that the bad, or seemingly unexplainable, events that occur are the result of devious plots by nefarious persons meeting in dark rooms than to accept that terrible things happen all on their own.
http://surkanstance.blogspot.com/2008/10/comfort-of-conspiracy.html
Comments
That's a false dichotomy. It's not a choice between orchestrated conspiracy and random events. It could be that certain people caused certain things to happen (whether it's investment banks getting leveraged to the hilt or masses of homeowners taking out HELOCs to buy Hummers), either not knowing or not caring about the outcome. Thus it is not a conspiracy to bring down our economy, but it is also not the result random chance.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/23/205644/020
Sure the link is for Daily Kos, but the original source is the Army Times. It talks about the deployment of A US Army batallion from Iraq back home for use against potential domestic "insurgents". First time an Army Batallion has been used in this way for over 100 years. In fact, it was illegal until last year when Dubya issued a signing statement making it not illegal to use the US Army against it's own people.
Now remember, Bush has signing statements that give him executive power to jail anyone who is considered an "insurgent" or "domestic threat". He can do this without actually charging anyone with a crime and can hold them indefinitely if the executive branch deems them a threat to the country.
That along with the executive branch having control over every state's National Guard if he wants, plus our privatized Blackwater Army. Anyone know if they're still in Iraq or not?
I think that conspiracy theories are incredibly entertaining, however they are very rarely based in actual fact.
Maybe I've been suckered in. But the deployment of Army troops for work against US citizens seems like maybe not a good idea?
I'll tell you why.
Because there are people in this world who pay for people to throw words like "conspiracy theory" around, to make sure no debate actually happens. No facts are ever discussed. The entire topic gets shoved under the carpet and given the label of "garbage."
The people who pay for this type of disinformation and distraction stand to make more money, and collect more power, by ensuring the people around them are disinformed and confused.
The recent bailout legislation is a perfect example. Congressmen were recently threatened with martial law in the US if they didn't pass the bailout bill... this gives you an idea of the mentality and the greed behind the people who are calling everything they don't want you to think about a "conspiracy theory."
So rock on, dude. Go get 'em.
I think you have more explaining to do than any "conspiracy theorist" that might post a fact-based topic on this forum. What the hell are you doing here if you aren't interested in facts? Could it be you are here to earn some extra cash?
My statements could hardly be labeled an attack, and I hold no particular emotional bonds to them. I was simply explaining why true or false your views are correctly called "conspiracy theories". And further, I explained the scientific reason why you might hold such "theories" to be true. You seem to have taken them personally however, which suggests you believe these beliefs partially define you as a person. If someone attacks these beliefs, you feel that they are attacking you. For many people, religion holds a similar place in their psyche, so there is nothing unusual about this.
Why should I waste my time researching every single conspiracy you describe? The first time you offered the Bilderberg Group conspiracy, I did some research. Your theories did not check out. They were nuts, bogus, bunk, and false. My time holds value for me, and when you waste my time with bogus conspiracies, I value your opinion less and less. Each time, I am less inclined to do any additional research, especially because you rarely provide sources.
Wait, are you suggesting that because I think your theory is bunk, that therefore I am a paid shill working for the Bilderberg Group? Is there even a correct response to this? If I deny, you will be that much more convinced of the veracity - "Me thinks he doth protest too much" as Shakespeare said. If I ignore the claim, then you can proclaim that I had no answer to your question, and ignored it like a politician with no answer to a question. If I claim it, then I shall be lying. In short, I have no recourse. Yet, you think I'm the deluded one?
So, I choose to turn the tables on you. Since we are making up assertions now, how about this? You sir, work for another group of uber-wealthy people, one so secret is has no known name. Your group consists of Asian interests, working to make a new world order/one-world government where the power structure is centered in Hong Kong. This is intended to recalibrate world power and punish western nations for the colonial system. Your organization has invented the Bilderberg Group as a diversion to prevent the world from discovering your groups true nature. You are a paid shill for that group, and you spend your days going to message boards making sure that knowledge of the false Bilderberg conspiracy is disseminated. I hope you are enjoying your extra cash.
Conspiracies have existed since the beginning of humanity. There are both big and small conspiracies. The Bilderbergers happen to be a big one. They conspire together and have an agenda, as does the board of Monsanto who would like to control seeds and patent certain plants and control the food supply for profit. Conspiracies are a natural and predictable outcome of the pursuit of power and greed.
The wink above meant that I was jesting, not hyperventilating. Of course "conspiracies" happen, you have to be naive to think that power-brokers don't meet behind closed doors and make agreements that will screw over the rest of us.
I've pointed this out before, but if you apply game theory, you can prove that under certain circumstances the "privileged" can benefit more by screwing over those without privilege. We all know this implicitly, but the point is that it's mathematically provable.
What does this mean for the regular guy? I'm sure congress passes "sweeteners" that cost taxpayers billions so they can reap millions in donations or lobbying jobs. The Bilderbergers exist, and there is no reason to doubt that when they meet they negotiate (particularly in smaller private meetings) for things that help the members, but might harm us regulars.
What's unreasonable is the extrapolation of these likelihoods into greater conspiracies. To assume that billionaires are trying to get richer is easily supported, to assume that they are working secretely with the singular goal of a one world government falls outside the realm of likely expectations. Go ahead and believe it if you like, but don't get testy when people look at you like you're nucking futz.