2008-05-04 Tell Me Again Why "Conspiracy Theory" is a Dirty Label

Specs

Date:	2008-05-04
Link:	http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2008/05/tell-me-again-why-conspiracy-theory-is.html
Source:	George Washington's Blog (articlescat)
Topics:	conspiracy theory
Categories:	conspiracy theory

Tell Me Again Why "Conspiracy Theory" is a Dirty Label

longer text

Whenever any claim is made that the government has done anything wrong, government apologists say "that's a conspiracy theory!"

...

In other words, conspiracies are committed all the time in the U.S., and many of the conspirators are caught and found guilty by American courts. Indeed, conspiracy is a very well-recognized crime in American law, taught to every first-year law school student as part of their basic curriculum. Telling a judge that someone has a "conspiracy theory" would be like telling him that someone is claiming that he trespassed on their property, or committed assault, or stole his car. Its a fundamental legal concept.

So tell me again why "conspiracy theory" is a dirty label...

Because in common usage, it implies a conspiracy among powerful or influential people in particular, and apparently that never happens. Or is too scary to contemplate, so we prefer to pretend everything will be okay regardless.

shorter text

“Whenever any claim is made that the government has done anything wrong, government apologists say "that's a conspiracy theory!" ... conspiracies are committed all the time in the U.S., and many of the conspirators are caught and found guilty by American courts.”