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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.
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Reader comments (25) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Freemasonry, Zionists, and Social/Digital Media [582 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
RobertJan 14, 2022 20:38278256
SHORT CIRCUITS [16 words]MARK SIMPSONMay 24, 2008 20:03129837
1Mildly interesting, but not explanatory [315 words]morpheusFeb 5, 2004 13:3713766
Fusion Paranoia [145 words]Arlinda DeAngelisFeb 4, 2004 20:3613751
about old Conspiracies, new beliefs [144 words]FabienneJan 20, 2004 20:5813446
The Politically Disaffected In America [26 words]Michael ZeldisJan 19, 2004 01:3413401
1Stereotyping Conspiracy Theorists [259 words]Guy w. KleinertJan 18, 2004 07:0913397
skeptic [40 words]stuart leeJan 18, 2004 01:1213395
Crazies and Danger [209 words]Fay VoshellJan 16, 2004 14:4013381
what do you believe? [17 words]jeremy morrisonJan 14, 2004 20:0313368
Conspiracies [155 words]R. Lynn KelleyJan 14, 2004 11:4813363
You left a group out, Mr. Pipes. [274 words]Tom BryantJan 14, 2004 10:2713362
Old Conspiracies, New Beliefs [129 words]Scott SimonsJan 14, 2004 06:1113358
my (non-conspiracy) theory [99 words]relapsedcatholicJan 13, 2004 19:2813344
conspiracy theories/assassins/etc. [138 words]Peter J. HerzJan 13, 2004 19:0413343
1Left-sided conspiracy theories [48 words]David C. StolinskyJan 13, 2004 18:5313342
Nail on the head! [138 words]Donovan HudsonJan 13, 2004 18:4313341
worry about Illuminati, etc. [300 words]FCJan 13, 2004 13:3813333
1MYTH AND CONSPIRACY [96 words]DONVANJan 13, 2004 12:2913331
Conspiracy Theories [164 words]Stephen BermanJan 13, 2004 12:2813330
Old Conspiracies, New Beliefs [112 words]Bob MilliganJan 13, 2004 12:0313327
Washington Post's article on Middle East studies [227 words]SteveJan 13, 2004 11:5113326
Conspiracies in our time [216 words]Paul M. WeyrichJan 13, 2004 11:4913325
1Remember what the U in UFO stands for [71 words]Charles R.L. PowerJan 13, 2004 11:3113324
3Conspiracy Facts vs. Conspiracy Theories [301 words]Jose M. PaulinoFeb 5, 2009 05:0413324

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