There's a thread regarding the Illuminati currently which brings up some interesting points that got me thinking about people generally relate to certain sub-set of ideas which are often relegated to the realm of "conspiracy theory."
Since many of these theories involve politics, which deals with realm of human governance and the total complex of relations within human society, one can make certain observations about the commonalities of human politics which can be discerned throughout the ages. Some of these observed commonalities might include:
- Most human societies are ruled from the top down, with a few decision makers at the top directing or guiding the lives of the many.
- Power corrupts (and absolute power corrupts absolutely).
- Wealthy people tend to want to increase their wealth, or at least retain what they already have.
- Businesses are in business to make money.
- Wealthy and powerful people hold greater influence over a given society than the common people.
- People who do bad or immoral things tend to want to conceal their actions from others.
In my opinion, these observations are self-evident and can be found throughout history as key elements in politics and human governance. Due to certain frailties and failings of human nature, human politics itself has always been a relatively dirty business. However, through most of human history, governments, politicians, and other powerful people have been rather brazen about exerting their power and flexing their muscle to keep the lower classes in line. The Romans would crucify dissidents and rebels openly for all to see, to send an unambiguous message that "we are in charge." The same basic principle operated throughout the Middle Ages, characterized by beheadings, burnings, putting people to rack, etc. Even the lowliest peasants, illiterate and ignorant, knew what the score was and who was in charge.
So, in other words, the ways and means of human governance and the wielding of political power has tended towards brutal, underhanded, and amoral/immoral methods. Some people might say "this is just how the 'real world' works."
Over the past 200-300 years, there have been movements advocating that society move away from those old, primitive methods of governance and work towards more liberal and democratic societies, as manifested in the American and French Revolutions, as well as a whole series of revolutions world-wide during the 19th and 20th centuries. People were demanding changes in "how the world works" and how the few in power governed over the masses in their respective societies.
To be sure, our governments did change. In the U.S., we have a democratic-republican political system, a Constitutional order with an emphasis on human rights, and an open society with a robust free press. Many Americans believe we have evolved beyond political systems which were associated with atrocities, slavery, cruel and unusual punishments, and other forms of human degradation and horror. Many believe that the world as a whole has mostly evolved from those earlier ways and that we are in a different age now. Technologically, industrially, and scientifically, this is certainly true, and life has definitely improved by leaps and bounds from the earlier, more primitive eras. However, after a few centuries of industrialism and expansion, that's taken a significant toll on our environment, eco-system, and climate.
This belief feeds into a common view held by Americans that America is on the side of "good." We are the "leader of the free world," fighting for democracy and freedom against tyranny and dictatorship. While I don't think many Americans literally believe this wholeheartedly, it does seem to be prominent within the overall American mythos and how we generally perceive ourselves. This remains true, even as many people often show open disdain for the politicians and the government in general.
But I have found that this belief seems to be often prominent in discussions regarding government when they're the subject of some kind of conspiracy theory. When people who have been raised to believe that they are living in the land of the free and home of the brave all their lives, the suggestion or possibility that that may not be true might lead to a reflexive denial and strong resistance to the idea.
Things that would be considered "politics as usual" throughout most of history - and even within many governments in the world today - are dismissed as "impossible" or "implausible" simply because...well...we're Americans and we simply don't do things like that. We believe in freedom, democracy, human rights, and good, honorable government. Of course, we allow that there will be some "bad apples," but our system works, and the bad apples are always caught. Good will always triumph over evil. Or so we've been led to believe, and anyone who doesn't believe it must be some kind of wing-nut or conspiracy theorist or maybe even evil.
For me personally, I've always been somewhat agnostic about conspiracy theories. I neither believe nor disbelieve, but I never felt any great need to go out of my way to challenge or confront anyone putting forth some sort of conspiracy theory. I don't generally entertain conspiracy theories that involve aliens, Satan, or anything that might be considered "not of this Earth."
But when it comes to theories involving politicians, bureaucrats, generals, police officers, or businesspeople behaving badly, then those are things I know exist in human politics in general, so I can put it in the "it's possible" category. Although, if there isn't enough evidence to prove it, then it may remain unproven, yet still within the range of possibility.
But I've discerned a strong resistance to the idea that "it's possible," as some people ostensibly believe that it undermines faith in the system and the ideals upon which it is founded. Because this is America, and we just wouldn't do things like that.
I guess what I'm really getting at here, when I look at the ways and means of how America has grown and remained powerful - and how we continue to try to exert that power, I ask myself: Has the world really changed that much? Has human nature changed? Have we really grown and become more enlightened? Is all this talk about "we are the good guys" just a big put on? Just some act? Are we just better at pretending?
I don't want to believe that any of these conspiracy theories are true, and I'd like to believe that we really are "the good guys" in this great human struggle we seem to having. But sometimes, I'm not too sure about that.
