Binkie said:
The problem is - which are the conspiracy theories? I take it you'd prefer not to know because it's too hard to figure. Welcome to middle-class Britain.
I think we need to take ALL wars out of the "conspiracy" banner.
Of course, a state aggressor will ALWAYS cover its own actions with myths, even unconsciously. I remember Chomsky giving a brilliant example of the behaviour of children. When we do immoral things, we like to convince ourselves that we are in the right for doing so, coming up with the most stupid reasoning.
I think states are the same.
I remember my eyes popped out when I read that Aristotle openly admitted that war is a method of acquisition, like hunting. That is the stuff that they use to educate the elite
So I think that when people say that Iraq was an oil war and the defenders shout "conspiracy", obviously they are using the joke of the Learned Elders of Zion to cover up the crime.
As for "real conspiracies", like a small elite in a state takeover, it is hard to say. There are historical examples ... but often these elites are just representatives of economic groups, not quite a "secret group". Some Marx is often handy when trying to work out these things ... like the "Illuminati", or the Enlightenment people (who, I have to say, had some excellent ideals). This group represented the interests of the new economic classes against the old feudal rulers. Yeah, I imagine Jefferson was in it, it was probably quite useful to meet in secret when you are planning a major revolt against the Church and Empire.
And as for intelligence agencies, yes. They perform actions when they consider "vital interests" at stake. I remember Chomsky covering some very ugly details about Watergate, in that the story helped to cover up the reality of political assassinations. But people just don't talk about conspiracies with real evidence. That is the weird thing. And the other big example of the Cuban Missile Crisis - it came out that a US submarine did in fact shoot at a Russian ship, and luckily they did not retaliate - quite a cover-up, and certainly not a thing to talk about on TV.
But it has to be admitted that many conspiracy theories create the effect of inaction. It is like the belief in metaphysical fatalism. What will be will be, the future is unchangable as the past, the will of nature is behind everything, trying to stop it is like trying to fly with a bird costume, etc.
Yeah, it is a mess, I admit. But I believe that we should always look at the source very closely, and think of any convenient political effects. Whole states can be consumed by conspiracy theories - I imagine that many Germans really thought that they were in danger of a Jewish takeover, with Hitler laughing in his big castle.
As for 9/11 - I imagine people get a bit twitchy about it. But I have yet to see convincing evidence. I would think that such an operation would be way too risky, and people often forget that the hatred against America is very real, and we could say, for reasons of revenge. Looking into the history of Middle East politics, I imagine there is a few p*ss*d off people who want to see the West removed from the earth.
If there was the internet in the 19th century, would people even bother fighting for the vote?
