I Read "Conspiracy Theory in America" (And You Can, Too!) - Corbett Report

Are you a SCAD theorist? What? You don't know about the SCAD construct? Well then you'd better join me for today's deep dive on a modern classic of conspiracy realism, Conspiracy Theory in America by Lance deHaven-Smith.



Watch this video to understand how the public has been manipulated by the term 'conspiracy theory' which tends to block a rational assessment of State-involved crimes. The term lumps together 'lunatic fringe' ideas with reasoned evidence-based questioning of controversial events. What happens is that no distinction is made to judge different events on their own merits, which is what should happen, and unwitting people, when they see this label applied to a notable incident, switch off.

As a blanket term it stops members of the public rationally considering, or exploring, something important. It also does not help when they are further faced with official disinformation - often laundered through 'independent' sources such as the media, academics, and skeptics groups - that offers a false explanation backing an official narrative. Seeing through such deceptions, for minds tainted by the conspiracy theory label, is very difficult. 

 Also, you don't need to agree with Corbett's perspective on how society should be run (voluntarism) to appreciate his analysis of Lance deHaven-Smith's book.

As an aside, Corbett does not think that any elite insider will ever really come to the rescue of ordinary people (spilling the beans on all the corruption). However, revolutions are often started by elites fighting among themselves over the levers of power, and pushing for more rights and benefits for themselves that can end up helping the public (ie the Magna Carta). The notion of democracy & free speech, transparency, and the rule of law is something that was done to shift power in the past and is an idea that can be used to rectify a lot of the mess in which we find ourselves today - no matter who is wielding these things at any particular time. What's important is the need for an open discourse about such things to drive everything towards a better future. 

[Posted at the SpookyWeather2 blog, May 14, 2025.]