a few thoughts on conspiracies:

1. Focusing on conspiracy theories is exactly what the Right would love the Left to do (and vice versa). This has worked with the so-called culture wars–more people discuss race in this country than class. But this argument is nothing new…see Howard Zinn’s A PEOPLE’S HISTORYOF THE UNITED STATES (especially his discussion on the colonial South and the use of poor whites as over-seers).

2. Time spent on conspiracies is time not spent actively engaging with the government and policies that actually exist. Time spent on conspiracies is time not spent making change. Let’s stop the war first…

3. Why do conspiracies seem to be so West-focused?

4. Reality is difficult enough. There’s no conspiracy behind the army of lobbyists Wal-Mart supports. They just don’t want to pay for health care or higher minimum wages.

5. The towers fell. People died. It smelled. I enhaled that crap. Years from now I’ll get cancer. Not a conspiracy. The fact the the Republican appointed director of the EPA said it was all good…no conspiracy there.

Now go watch SURFACE on NBC if you want to learn about a really cool conspiracy involving a rebellious biologist, a Wilmington teenager, and a bunch of big-ass sea lizards!!!!!!