Shhh...Conspiracy

I propose that you can't be a good American unless you have a conspriacy theory. Everyone has some strange idea that a mysterious "them" is hiding something. I can understand why you might feel conspired against, feel like you are a victim. Life dosen't always work out the way you want and somebody should be at fault for that.

Conspiracy theory provides a very special function. It gives people the belief that at least someone is in control. It's easy to believe that the US Government conspired to start a war in Iraq using false information. Especially if you weren't in the room when they discussed it. Especially if you were told by people who said they have evidence. Especially if you don't double check their evidence, blindly believing what you're told (frankly, who has the time).

The alternative to that is less comforting; that our leaders are grossly incompetent and willfully myopic.

Maybe the Iraq war is a bad example. I can see why a large group might believe that its cause was a little of both; voluntary ignorance and bold faced lies. Hey wait a minute... nah. In any case, if you have a theory take heart, you're not alone. Just realize the truth may be a lot more simple and a lot more scary than you thought.