Conspiracy vs. Conspiracy Theory

Submitted by Robert (United States), Jan 12, 2022 at 20:39

As I maintained elsewhere, the meaning of words do not generally come about by a scholar or talking-head introducing a Neologism into a discourse or narrative and the rest of the speakers or readers adopting the same.

Words and expressions generally attain their meaning by naive speakers using them in context; I subscribe to Wittgenstein's Theory of Meaning - that the meaning of a word (or term, or expression) is given by its USE in context. Our American scholarly (available online) dictionary, Merriam-Webster, often gives us definitions by actually citing instances of their use in the context of a quoted sentence.

The word "conspiracy" is often used in a criminal (or civil) context whereby by a court of law is tasked with issuing a legal Judgment is warranted to rule that a Crime or some Civil Right had been violated.

At the other extreme is the disparaging phrase, "conspiracy theory." Generally, such a phrase is used to discredit a hypothesis used by crackpots, or racists, for example, as descriptive of a chain of events that are unfavorable and for which the evidence is non-extent, false, or murky; the most notorious example in modern times is the Antisemitic text first published in the Russian Empire in 1903 under the translated title "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion." And this text is still reprinted and re-edited throughout the world in every major language.

Unfortunate, the Good is ofen accompanied with the Bad. The ongoing Media and Digital Revolution in out time has empowered every nut and crackpot in the world to produce, publish, and disseminate his (or her) particular Conspiracy Theory, and have a huge following, or a dedicated following.

And in between these extremes are shades that include legitimate hypothesis regarding a transaction.

Dr. Daniel Pipes raises 2 difficult but also different transaction involving complex issue upon which the laymen citizen, subject, or resident is forced to choose.

1. The Covid-19 Vaccine transactions is probably easier to account for because it requires us to have faith in Science, Medicine, and the Medical and Pharmaceutical professions. But that is complicated by several factors. The associated Disease of the Pandemic is very new, scientist worldwide are daily learning new facts about it; the vaccine is contiuously evolving and mutation, like the annual Flu, and serious issues regarding Economics and Public Policy are extremely critical, and these involve Political choice, which are often subjective are require politicians to make a choice for which they are responsible to their constituency (of voters).

2. The Trump "Fraud" or "Stolen Election" issue is simpler because very little science is involved - only Law and Politics.

The word "fraud" involves Law. And Trump has already been acquitted by the Senate in his 2nd Impeachment by the House. Furthermore, no Criminal Charges, Federal, State, or DC, have so far resulted in an indictment, and the facts of that January 6th criminal Break-In into the "unprotected" (by sufficient Capitol Police or National Guards) Capitol Grounds and Build, clearly demonstrate that Trump is not at all at fault, even if it took him about four (4) to step in as Executive, to protect the Legislature which failed to protect itself because of "Police Brutality" fears and "Defend the Police" and "Black Lives Matter" and "Woke" Democratic (Party) or Progressive culture. The issue of Trumps liability is currently before U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta. What will happen with the (Political, Democratic Party mostly) investigation is of course still pending, I can only imagine that the Democrats on the committee are working overtime to smear him at election time. Next comes the question of what Historian will say. And here I think one needs to examine the events of the 4 years of Trump holding the Office of the President of the United States. My Objective (I hope) Judgment is that Trump's Re-Election was "Stolen" by a 4-year Progressive and Democratic CONSPIRACY to Remove him from Office, or smear him sufficiently so that he would NOT be Re-Elected.

In summary, in the grey-area of what constitutes a "Stolen Election" I would say that this Metaphorical expression warrant describe the "Theft" as a "Conspiracy," not a mere "Conspiracy Theory." But perhaps only later in history will historians be able to exam the Concerted Campaign to "Destroy" Trump in every way legally possible. Unfortunately, Biden's Tactic of keeping silent was a brilliant move when Trump perhaps was too vocal and confident that he could defeat Biden by his Campaign Political Speeches. What makes this all a Grey Area? In our system, for one, lying is permitted, unless one is under Oath and Sworn to Tell the Truth. And the Progressive and the Democrats were better at it than Trump was, in the end.

So the "Conspiracy" against Trump succeeded in a "Stolen Election." Unfortunately, Dr. Daniel Pipes focuses on the January 6th Day instead of the whole 4 years of the Presidency. That obscure how Trump's Re-Election was in fact a "Stolen Election."

Finally, our sytem of constitutional government is not a Direct Democracy in the case of Electing a President; rather we Elect Electors. On January 6th our Legislature, under the Vice-President was to certify the Election by examining the Vote which resulted in Electors being voted into their respective Electors into their respective office. Trump mere exercised his right to challenge this election result; in most cases before, this process was a mere "rubber stamp." So what? Well, that novel challenge is a part of the ongoing Conspiracy of the Democrats to insure that Trump is not - once more - re-elected as President for 4 more years.

So I think you - Dr. Daniel Pipes - should clarify to the Conservatives that the ongoing "Conspiracy" against Trump has not yet ended - it is now almost 6 years old; things will get better only when a Republican House is soon elected, and it will say "Good Bye" to Nancy Pelosi and end the committee ("Conspiratorially") investigating January 6th and Trump's alleged "role" in that "Transaction" (I use this word in its legal American sense).

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