The truth gets lost in conspiracy theories.

[democratreformed]

Here's another angle on this election. I was successful in getting my Repub dad to vote Kerry. Wednesday, he talked to us about it after my daughter asked if he regretted his vote. (He said no).

He said that, honestly, the only reason he voted for Kerry was b/c he remembers how affluent we were under Clinton and he wanted to go back to that ("Because I want money" - his words)

He went on to say that he doesn't think Bush is a bad man. He says he honestly believes he was fooled by bad intelligence and that's what caused him to make the BAD decision to go to Iraq.

We argued with him. I even said I had seen the reports saying he wanted to do that ever since before he was even elected. Arguing was, of course, wasted at this point - but I couldn't help myself.
He said that all those reports are just conspiracy theories and not true.

Somehow or another, the truth about how crooked this administration really is got lost in all the conspiracy theories.

[progressiveBadger]

1. Or maybe this administration

made them out to BE conspiracy theories.

[FlaGranny]

2. I don't think they got lost BECAUSE

of conspiracy theories. I think that the truth was just LABELED as conspiracy theories.

[Howardx]

3. thats it exactly!

call it a conspiracy theory and everyone knows not to pay attention. except us conspiracy theorists;)

[BeHereNow]

6. BINGO!

Just look at how hard certain
DU "members" work to ridicule anyone
who gets too close to the truth...
BHN

[sandnsea]

4. Yes to an extent

I agree. One crazy idea, 1000 true facts, and all anybody remembers is the crazy idea. And for now, that is all I have to say about that.

[tuvor]

5. The truth is also lost in what is the majority generally accepts.

Like Saddam being connected with the World Trade Center attacks.

ON EDIT: I guess that scenario could also be seen as a conspiracy theory, except that it's popular...?

[DemVIctory]

7. What kind of conspiracy theory

is the worst track record in Presidential history? Most lost jobs since Hoover, more corrupt than Nixon by FAR, largest deficits ever and we haven't even mentioned the illegal war. F Off all non-Kerry voters!!!

[shance]

8. It's more a problem of labeling the truth as conspiracy*

Certainly there are conspiracies that are not the truth. However, what is a bigger problem these days seems to be dismissing the truth as conspiracy.

However, one can only dismiss and disregard the truth so long.

Labeling truth as conspiracy creates the necessary doubt promoted by others who are afraid of the truth, and allows denial and distraction to enter into the equation again for those willing to dismiss and ignore the truth.

In reality, the truth will always serve us better and our well-being if we accept it, because the truth never goes away, and we never escape reality and/or the truth, as much as we might try to dismiss it and deny it. It simply becomes more and more apparent until it cannot be denied any longer.

If I eat too much pizza, drink too many beers and continue to do this day after day, no matter how much I deny the truth, my behavior (and the truth*) will reveal itself by the fact I can't fit into my pants any more. The extra lbs are the truth of my actions so to speak. If I eat too much, Im going to see the reality of my over-eating and I have the choice of either ignoring it and getting fatter, or facing it and choose to cut down on my eating. Its no different in any situation, be it a war* or too many ding dongs and hohos, because the truth never lies to us.

However, we can all lie to ourselves, and thats the dilemma.

[FlaGranny]

10. Ah, yes, but how does one find the truth.

Any attempt a finding truth these days results in the "conspiracy nut" label.

Was it a conspiracy theory that Bush and friends talked about invading Iraq before he was even elected. Was it a conspiracy theory that fake reports and documents were produced to justify the war? No, these were not conspiracy theories, these were conspiracies.

[bigmonkey]

9. I ran into a funny turn of phrase that I've started using.

In those situations where people call "conspiracy theory" to preclude any further discussion, I try to preempt them by terming them "coincidence theorists".