by Paul Wallis

Created on: March 07, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

THE INDUSTRY OF THE USELESS: CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

Conspiracy theories are a dime a thousand, but worth much less. I saw a truly fascinating TV show, at the conclusion of which the US audience was instructed earnestly during a lengthy close up that:

1. The legislature, judiciary, and government agencies were all involved in the conspiracy. Meaning that nobody could possibly be trusted to investigate anything, and no conceivable result could be achieved.

2. They should be "alert and informed" regarding this situation. Powerless, worried, and abused, but "alert and informed". Presumably that helps.

The logic of the conspiracy theory is that if you assume there is a conspiracy, you can just add whatever random collection of information happens to be available. Basic logic; a theory to fit facts. Extended logic: nil. By definition this process excludes other information. Therein the inherent weakness of any conspiracy theory.

It is an industrial process. There is a market for conspiracy theories, and publishers who apparently have nothing better to do with their time can spend millions foisting this irredeemable garbage on the public. "Chariots Of The Sods" would roughly cover this level of professional integrity on the part of writers and other media deities. Perish the thought that all these resources should be wasted on literature.

The most basic component of a conspiracy theory is shock value. For the US market, betrayal of trust seems to be a popular theme, in which quite literally anyone can be accused of anything without descending to the squalid process of a court or some form of professional oversight, or wasting time with providing actual proof. For the rest of the world, the US is a convenient place to locate conspirators, and endear oneself to the anti-American factions. It's a matter of opinion whether any part of the US government has ever not been accused of a conspiracy.

Appealing to prejudice is another safe bet. Any group can be singled out. Bigots are easy targets, and their thinking is all one way. If you accuse their pet hate of anything, they'll believe it. It will never occur to them to question anything that proves them right. However sleazy the source, and however patchy and contradictory the logic, all that's required is adherence to the rhetoric. It's a built-in market, and it does sell.

The primary product and hook of the conspiracy process is to generate fear. Nothing like a rush of adrenalin for that clear-minded approach to anything. Objectivity

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