Part 2

Scholars such as Lance deHaven-Smith and Mark Fenster have advanced the study of conspiracy theories by revealing the ways in which valid questions about activities of the power elites in the US have been abrogated by simply applying the term ‘conspiracy theory.’ The pejorative use of the term dates back to a CIA memorandum from 1967 that was covertly presented to media moguls and influential political figures in order to help counteract growing negative reaction to the now totally discredited Warren Commission Report.

Even supposedly ‘Alternative media’ sources such as Salon, AlterNet and Huffington Post embrace some conspiracies as gospel truth while at the same time towing the corporate line and ignoring other probable crimes, including the political assassinations of the 1960s, government involvement in 9-11, the global drug trade, or – God forbid! – the UFO phenomenon. Indeed, these supposedly progressive media outlets employ the same rhetorical techniques that mainstream publications use to discredit “false” conspiracy beliefs, along with public figures who dare espouse them.

The conspiracy theory meme is routinely used to marginalize and quarantine reasonable suspicions about high crimes committed by the government, which have the potential to del-egitimize the prevailing social order. ‘Conspiracy theorist’ is a weaponized term used to discredit anyone who might harbor reasonable doubts about the dominant narrative promoted by the corporate media.

The term ‘conspiracy theory’ is a label applied not to categorize a position that will actually be considered, but to shut down the argument before it even begins. One of the reasons why this strategy is so effective rhetorically is that it targets the audience, not the speaker. It indoctrinates people who are undecided about the reality of conspiracies towards a propensity to dismiss them out of hand. In this way, conspiracy allegations which are actually quite convincing go unheard. This perfectly encapsulates the ‘Spiral of Silence’ trend which I described in a previous post.

When it comes to truth and accuracy, no government on earth is trustworthy – certainly not the United States. Without exception, every government lies to its own citizens at some point. Am I some kind of wacky conspiracy theorist for believing that? Frankly, I’d be a fool to think otherwise.

Surely, everyone’s heard of Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and WikiLeaks by now. Does anybody remember Watergate, Iran-Contra, or the Pentagon Papers? The list goes on…and on…

In another example of cognitive dissonance in media, liberals and conservatives both try to portray as irrational extremists anyone who harbors a fear that some vaccines might be dangerous. Like it makes more sense to trust politicians, the FDA and Big Pharma lobbyists than it does to be reasonably skeptical about the efficacy of certain vaccines. Which position sounds crazier?

I mean, look: if we’re truly going to think critically, we must question everything: even supposedly ‘reliable’ sources. We must begin to look at the motives involved – which is generally linked in some way to huge profits for a tiny minority.

It’s time to dispense with all this empty rhetoric about “thinking outside the box” and actually start doing it. True journalists can begin by using their critical thinking skills, instead of simply taking someone else’s word for “what really happened” – especially when those sources have repeatedly proven to be unreliable, at best.

Fact-checkers need to actually check facts and do their own research in order to draw their own conclusions on the issues. It is our sacred duty as active, engaged citizens in a democracy: not just as investigative journalists.

Call me cynical, but I believe that the truth is THE TRUTH, whether we like it or not. Sometimes, THE TRUTH hurts.

We need to go beyond thinking “outside the box”: Let’s try to envision thinking outside the room the box is in. That’s where I’m at. Care to join me in the unemployment line?