The "Holy Trinity of Conspiracy Theories"

[Tiktaalik]

Southern Poverty Law Center's newest issue of Intelligence Report (located online at: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/fall ) concentrates on conspiracy-theory-fed violence, with articles on Jerry Kane (Arkansas "Sovereign Citizen" killer), the Patriot movement, etc.

In the first-page editorial, Director of Investigative Research for the ADL Mark Pitcavage is quoted as saying "It's clear that Richard Poplawski's actions, for example, were substantially motivated by antigovernment conspiracy theories about gun confiscation, martial law, and concentration camps - the holy trinity of conspiracy theories."

(bolding mine)...

Interesting reading, including aritcles about oil-spill conspriacy theories, Glenn Beck, and animal rights extremists...

 

[EatatJoes]

I just read "'Patriot' Paranoia: A Look at the Top Ten Conspiracy Theories". It was quite excellent.
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/fall/patriot-paranoia

 

[LightinDarkness]

Of particular note here is that SLPC is calling out RTV for spreading paranoia/patriot propaganda. This isn't a surprise to any of us, of course, since its well known RTV's mission is to cater to the lunatic fringe to make the US look as bad as possible, which is why CTers are in love with them:
http://www.splcenter.org/get-inform...se-all-issues/2010/fall/from-russia-with-love

I've lost count of the number of threads on ATS, David Icke, and other lunatic fringe forums that are devoted to how RTV is a beacon of truth and which use RTV stories as proof that something is big enough to deserve US mass media coverage. Its no conspiracy secret that the Russian government funds a large portion of RTV, but what I find hilarious is that the CTers - who think they know the REAL truth (TM) behind everything - are basically falling for good old fashioned Russia propaganda that everyone but them sees. Oh, the sweet irony of it all.

I have to say on the whole SLPC has a political agenda that I often do not agree with, however, credit where credit is due: They are SPOT on about the lunatic fringe here and the role that places like RTV play in giving conspiracy theorists the illusion of credibility. I hope that as power changes hands in the next few years (as it always does) and the left wing lunatic fringe becomes enamored with conspiracy theories again, that they will continue to cover the issue.

The last paragraph on RTV is a gem:

Yet Russia Today is clearly serving the interests of those who promote the ideas that animate the burgeoning Patriot movement. The channel gets rave reviews on Patriot websites, including Jones' Prison Planet Forum. "This is what mainstream news should be like," one forum poster declared on May 7 — ironically overlooking that his ideal media outlet is heavily subsidized by and very likely beholden to a government. "Russia Today," he said, "gets many kudos from me."

Ah yes, CTers: beacons of truth and justice...as long as you tell them what they want to believe rather than reality. Reality, after all, isn't nearly as sexy as conspiracy.