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Are Conspiracy Theories a Conspiracy? (personal)
(Fred, sorry to stretch the definition of "news," but I thought the Rantburgers might want to see this. Some recent events are possibly relevant.)"Black" or "false flag" propaganda is propaganda that portrays itself as favorable to, and usually as originating within, a particular group; but which is actually disseminated by opponents in an attempt to create disaffection, fear, suspicion, hopelessness, or confusion within the targeted group. I have direct knowledge of at least one media based "false-flag" propaganda operation ("Indy-borg") that seeks to plant paranoid conspiracy theories among the adherents of the far left. "Far left" is defined here as "left" (in conventional terms) of the mainstream of the Democratic party. This would include the Green Party, the organized anti-war movement, the mainstream of politicized academia, the Islamo-fascist fifth column and its apologists, and the politically oriented segments of leading-edge popular culture.) I am also aware of far-left media activists having run the same kind of operation against the conventionally defined right. Indeed, the media generally associate such theories with the far right and there are many examples of such. But I believe they are actually more prevalent on the left, and that the left is inherently more susceptible to them. The left is generally much more closely associated with the worlds of entertainment and popular culture than is the right, automatically bringing in those who are given to substituting emotion and imagination for logic or facts. Additionally, certain fundamental principles of left-wing activism lend themselves to a conspiracist interpretation of events. One is the need to explain the lack of popular appeal for an ideology that conspicuously defines itself as representing "the people." Another is the far-leftâs authoritarian view of power itself and how it would be used, leading automatically to the projection of that behavior onto those who actually have power. I donât know whether this particular story ("Bush Body-Count") is a false-flag, but several similar and widely disseminated lefty conspiracy theories definitely are. Those who believe in such things as mind-control beams and flawlessly concealable domestic assassinations are unlikely to believe that there is any point in the legitimate political process. Initially, paranoid conspiracy theories will tend to inflame true believers. Ultimately, however, their effect is demoralizing. The magnitude of the power required to successfully execute and conceal these alleged conspiracies becomes especially intimidating over time. Why oppose Bush, or any other person in authority, if his cabal can rig elections, assassinate opponents, silence the media, and even control your thoughts? Believers thus become ideological drop-outs and their influence within certain organizations and factions can turn those into drop-outs as well. Look very closely and you will see this happening right before your eyes. Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2004-01-17 |
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