M a r k D i l l e y

This essay from the Christian Science Monitor pissed me off for its stupidity. I hate conspiracy theories myself, but his author seems to think that all theories about how government power works are conspiracy theories. A conspiracy theory is flawed by definition because it is based on no actual facts or evidence, and it assumes that the powers behind it are colluding, actively working together in back room meetings to defraud the public: hence the term "conspiracy." But when a powerful group of individuals or constituencies have a common interest, there is no need for them to collude, or even communicate with each other. All they have to do is do their part to further their own interests, and the rest simply falls into place.