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worry about Illuminati, etc.
Reader comment on item: [Michael Barkun on] Old Conspiracies, New Beliefs

Submitted by FC (United States), Jan 13, 2004 at 13:38

Before worrying about conspiracies, we may do better if we acknowledge that civilization is a team effort and that the "enemy" is all of us who fail to construct good values and common goals. It is this failure that allows exploitation, separation of wealth and the other seeds of conflict that divide and keep the masses fighting ignorantly among themselves. If you want to worry about something, maybe it should be less about conspiracy and more about why people gladly give up control to pursue a dream. Too many talk about exploitation but fail to do anything that isn't connected to improving their individual standard of living.

I worry about the utter lack of focus on team because this is what allows a majority to be controlled like a bunch of puppets. Clearly, family and community are less important today; this is the age of the "me" generation. Even TV Reporter's (like Strassel) have reported that greed is the cornerstone of civilization, as if greed is The American Dream and is a good thing. But the fact is that most cannot be rich--only those who control massive production can be wealthy. I worry that most don't even understand or care about the basics, such as separation of wealth and exploitation of those who make the wealthy even more wealthy. If those who control us are conspiring, their success is rooted in getting the majority to follow their lead for greed, at the expense of families and communities. We all care to much about self and too little about what is good for the whole. It doesn't take much to exploit where greed drives the majority. It certainly isn't much of a conspiracy to exploit a massive number who think their dream counts more than the teamwork that makes civilization possible.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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Reader comments (24) on this item

Title By Date
SHORT CIRCUITS [16 words]MARK SIMPSONMay 24, 2008 20:03
Mildly interesting, but not explanatory [315 words]morpheusFeb 5, 2004 13:37
Fusion Paranoia [145 words]Arlinda DeAngelisFeb 4, 2004 20:36
about old Conspiracies, new beliefs [144 words]FabienneJan 20, 2004 20:58
The Politically Disaffected In America [26 words]Michael ZeldisJan 19, 2004 01:34
Stereotyping Conspiracy Theorists [259 words]Guy w. KleinertJan 18, 2004 07:09
skeptic [40 words]stuart leeJan 18, 2004 01:12
Crazies and Danger [209 words]Fay VoshellJan 16, 2004 14:40
what do you believe? [17 words]jeremy morrisonJan 14, 2004 20:03
Conspiracies [155 words]R. Lynn KelleyJan 14, 2004 11:48
You left a group out, Mr. Pipes. [274 words]Tom BryantJan 14, 2004 10:27
Old Conspiracies, New Beliefs [129 words]Scott SimonsJan 14, 2004 06:11
my (non-conspiracy) theory [99 words]relapsedcatholicJan 13, 2004 19:28
conspiracy theories/assassins/etc. [138 words]Peter J. HerzJan 13, 2004 19:04
Left-sided conspiracy theories [48 words]David C. StolinskyJan 13, 2004 18:53
Nail on the head! [138 words]Donovan HudsonJan 13, 2004 18:43
⇒ worry about Illuminati, etc. [300 words]FCJan 13, 2004 13:38
MYTH AND CONSPIRACY [96 words]DONVANJan 13, 2004 12:29
Conspiracy Theories [164 words]Stephen BermanJan 13, 2004 12:28
Old Conspiracies, New Beliefs [112 words]Bob MilliganJan 13, 2004 12:03
Washington Post's article on Middle East studies [227 words]SteveJan 13, 2004 11:51
Conspiracies in our time [216 words]Paul M. WeyrichJan 13, 2004 11:49
Remember what the U in UFO stands for [71 words]Charles R.L. PowerJan 13, 2004 11:31
Conspiracy Facts vs. Conspiracy Theories [301 words]Jose M. PaulinoFeb 5, 2009 05:04

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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