Robert Reich
Euan Mason@rbreich “Expose a cabal of global elites” is a #conspiracy theory. Why not just say that the gap between rich and poor has widened dramatically since the 1980s so that the super rich have too much influence over political parties? We need taxation to be more progressive & unions to be less restricted by legislation. Moreover, #climatechange policies are so far ineffective. On all those counts #Trump is an abject failure, along with his inability to understand the US constitution. #uspol
David Bramian@TreeStarMan @rbreich
Pretty sure when a conspiracy is uncovered by subpoena and verified in a court documents it ceases to become a theory
Pretty sure when a conspiracy is uncovered by subpoena and verified in a court documents it ceases to become a theory
@davbram @rbreich Conspiracy: "An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act". Cabal: "A conspiratorial group of plotters or intriguers. A secret plot." Clearly politicians in the western world are overly influenced by donations from rich listers, but it's not a secret cabal of elites - that's just a conspiracy theory. The influence of the rich is bad enough. Claiming that they get together secretly to plan it undermines our credibility and gives them too much credit.
@TreeStarMan @rbreich
You literally just described most right wing think tanks including project 2025, dozens of law enforcement agencies, several nation-state intelligence organizations, and fascist regimes. These are factual conspiracies, so common as to be banal, who routinely use the term "conspiracy theory" to deflect legitimate critical analysis. Mythologised conspiracies (e.g. Majestic-12, Illuminati, elders of Zion) are often promoted by these groups to suppress criticism.
You literally just described most right wing think tanks including project 2025, dozens of law enforcement agencies, several nation-state intelligence organizations, and fascist regimes. These are factual conspiracies, so common as to be banal, who routinely use the term "conspiracy theory" to deflect legitimate critical analysis. Mythologised conspiracies (e.g. Majestic-12, Illuminati, elders of Zion) are often promoted by these groups to suppress criticism.
@davbram @rbreich There’s no point in labelling a think tank as a “conspiracy”. They are not illegal and they apparently prefer to publicise their opinions rather than remain secret. Put your effort into countering their opinions rather than calling them names. Engage in argument rather than name calling.
@TreeStarMan @rbreich
Engaging in argument precisely what I'm doing right now!
Think tanks ARE illegal if their focus is illegal activity such as racketeering, corruption, election subversion, or regime change. Conspiracy is a crime.
This is why it's important to call it what it is. Laws against conspiracy exist for a reason.
@davbram @rbreich We'll have agree to disagree about this. I think much more is accomplished by giving people the benefit of the doubt and assuming that they'll behave honorably. Simple name calling never accomplishes very much unless it's backed by evidence, in which case, present the evidence and focus on that.