Conspiracy Theories

Urban myths have been around forever. “There are alligators the size of Volkswagens in the NYC sewers!” “There are rats the size of dogs roaming the NYC subways!” Actually, the latter is not far from the truth. If you stay above ground and away from NYC, you can probably ignore those urban myths.

Conspiracy theories especially those involving “the government” are the offspring of urban myth and are inescapable. “If Obama is elected, the government will take away your guns!” “The government had Bill Gates put a microchip in every dose of COVID vaccine so they can track your every move!” “The coin shortage during the Pandemic was part of a government plot to push us into a cashless society that Washington can control!”

New crises bring new conspiracy theories. “High gas prices are a plot to put Americans into electric cars that can be frozen by the government just like your bank account!” I know that I would hate to be stopped dead speeding down the passing lane on the Interstate because the IRS had a problem with my tax return. They can freeze my bank account and even put a lien on my house, but getting rear ended after an unexpected dead stop at 70 mph would be a serious problem. Damn government. This would never happen if Trump was still president.

The locker room at LA Fitness is a hotbed of conspiracy theories. Most are dismissed with a chuckle. Sometimes, the conspiracy theory is delivered in The Voice of Doom and to a positive response. People actually believe this crap. Freedom of Speech is scary.

By Ed Dufton