Why We Need Conspiracy Theorists [The Daily Reckoning] November 22, 2023 [WEBSITE]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( It’s a Conspiracy! Annapolis, Maryland Editor’s note: On this precise date, some 60 years ago, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Who did it? To this day, many question the official version that Oswald acted alone. They believe it was a conspiracy of one sort or other. We take no position, yet today we republish our earlier article in defense of conspiracy theorists. [Brian Maher] BRIAN
MAHER Dear Reader, Due to professional obligations we take aboard an overplus of daily “information.” Some of it — perhaps more than some of it — sorts into the “conspiratorial” category. For example: the theory that space lasers set Maui on fire. For example: the theory that the Rothschilds ordered Kennedy shot dead. For example: the theory that the Twin Towers were knocked down not by shanghaied airplanes but by pre-planted explosives. Examples multiply and multiply. Some have even accused this very publication — if you can believe it — of merchanting conspiracy theories. These accusations have their origins in the pandemic. We had expressed… skepticism… about certain government claims and conduct. These concerned lockdowns, vaccines and the near-absolute suppression of unofficial information. Thus the “conspiracy theorist” label came issuing. Were we mistaken? Were we merely shouting wolf? Or have subsequent discoveries validated our doubting Thomas skepticisms? We leave that decision to you… our reader. Being a Fool Doesn’t Make You a Criminal Are certain conspiracy theories preposterous, debunkable and absurd? We believe many are preposterous, debunkable and absurd. For example, the theory that space lasers set Maui on fire. We believe many others file into this category. Yet if a fellow believes it, is he not free to believe it — and to preach it? Is a fool a criminal? He is not. And do you not enjoy the right to hear him yourself? Who would deny you the belly laugh his babblings would give you? Who indeed? Besides: If what he says is horrifically toxic, take the thing outside. Let the sunlight disinfect it. Keep it dark and the thing fester and festers… spreading like mushrooms in a dank cave. To expose it is to kill it. Eternal Vigilance Is the Price of Liberty Today we rise in defense of the conspiracy theorist — of the man with his tinfoil crown. That is because he is a suspicious man. A suspicious man is an alert man. And an alert man is a sharp citizen. Did not Jefferson — Mr. Tommy Jefferson — argue that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty? He may have said it and he may not have said it. But if he did not say it someone else did say it. And whoever said it was a very wise fellow. The free society must remain perpetually upon its toes. It must remain alert to threats that menace its liberties. And who is more alert to threats than the conspiracy theorist? Who spends more time upon his toes? The answer is no one. [Secret Gold Back currency RUINING Bidenâs plans for a digital dollar?]( There is a secret currency thatâs beginning to spread across America. And you only have a limited time to claim one of these âGold Dollarsâ for yourself. [Click here for more...]( And since youâll be getting it as part of an upgrade we want to make to your account⦠Youâll be receiving one of these âGold Dollarsâ as a FREE gift. You just have to watch this short 2 minute video recorded for you and respond by tonight at midnight. [Click Here To Watch Now]( So the conspiracy theorist may at times hallucinate. So he may at times chase phantoms. So he may at times connect dots that are not in fact connected. So he is — in many instances at least — lunatic. It is no concern. For he offers society an incomparable contribution. His incomparable contribution to society is his suspicion. In particular, his suspicion of government. Only a suspicious and distrustful people will keep an eye on their government — and if necessary, get their hands on its government. If the people take their eye off their government their government will soon have its hands on the people. That is precisely why the conspiracy theorist presents enormous value. His eyes are perpetually glued to his government. They are not glued to his smartphone — unlike many of his fellow citizens. All Government Is Against Liberty As the great Mencken observed: All government, of course, is against liberty… It is the invariable habit of bureaucracies, at all times and everywhere, to assume… that every citizen is a criminal. Their one apparent purpose, pursued with a relentless and furious diligence, is to convert the assumption into a fact. They hunt endlessly for proofs, and, when proofs are lacking, for mere suspicions… The natural tendency of every government is to grow steadily worse — that is, to grow more satisfactory to those who constitute it and less satisfactory to those who support it… Government is actually the worst failure of civilized man. There has never been a really good one, and even those that are most tolerable are arbitrary, criminal, grasping and unintelligent. This is a thing to be constantly and eternally watched. Cede it its proverbial inch and it will take its literal mile. Against this tremendous rascal the conspiracy theorist is arrayed. Against this tremendous rascal the sound citizen is arrayed. Long may he live, we say! Strength to his arm! Is government — at times — innocent of the roguery and criminality the conspiracy theorist suspects? Perhaps at times it is. It may not… always and in every instance… menace us in the fashion the conspiracy theorist believes. Yet it makes no nevermind. The default assumption of a free people must be suspicion that government is always and in every instance a menace to their liberties. What is history but a 5,000-year validation of that suspicion? [PREDICTION: The Next Trillion-Dollar Stock]( [Click here for more...]( In 2007, he predicted Facebook would become a $100 billion company. In 2010, he predicted Apple would reach a three-trillion-dollar valuation. In 2013, he called Bitcoin â before it rose 50,000% and ultimately reached a trillion-dollar market cap. And now, this A.I. Genius is stepping into the spotlight to predict the next-trillion stock. See his shocking new reveal… [Go Here Now]( Putting the Fox in Charge of the Henhouse There are nonetheless many who would voluntarily take their eyes off government. What is more, they would train government eyes on us. In brief, they would hire the fox to watch the henhouse. For example, New York Times technology reporter Mr. Kevin Roose. From whom: If left unchecked, networked conspiracy theories and online disinformation campaigns can lead to offline violence, as they did during [the Jan. 6, 2021] deadly Capitol riot... Unless the Biden administration treats conspiracy theories and disinformation as the urgent threats they are, our parallel universes will only drift further apart, and the potential for violent unrest and civic dysfunction will only grow. This Roose fellow even blessed the establishment of a “reality czar.” Do we overstate or exaggerate? We do not: Several experts I spoke with recommended that the Biden administration put together a cross-agency task force to tackle disinformation and domestic extremism, which would be led by something like a 'reality czar'. Can you imagine it — a reality czar! We invite and encourage you to revisit Mr. Mencken’s observations of government’s innate rascality. Then come back. Recognize that Mr. Roose would place this frightful beast in control of reality itself. Because I Say So! What would this reality czar tell us? That the 2020 presidential election was “the most secure election in history”... That lockdowns stopped the spread… that cotton surgical masks kept the virus out… that no workable treatments were available save the vaccines… that the same vaccines resulted in no death or injury… That the Russians dynamited their own Nord Stream pipeline… that Ukraine is routing Russia… That Hunter Biden is a gifted artist… that his father never discussed business dealings with him… That the southern border of the United States is secure… that the economy has never been stronger… We hazard a reality czar might inform us these claims are true. How many are true? How many are false? It does not matter. The reality czar wields the final verdict. Let us then lift a hymn of praise for the conspiracy theorist. He is the prickly thorn in a reality czar’s flesh — indeed, he is the prickly thorn in government’s flesh. Without him they will proceed unwatched, unchecked and unstopped. A free society requires him and his dark suspicions… be they anchored in truth or unanchored from truth. His vigilance is the price he pays for his liberty — and for ours. And what if he is correct? Regards, [Brian Maher] Brian Maher
Managing Editor, The Daily Reckoning
[feedback@dailyreckoning.com.](mailto:feedback@dailyreckoning.com) Editor’s note: Five months before he was shot in Dallas… President John F. Kennedy issued [Executive Order 11110.]( One that would create a new type of currency back by hard money. And even though he wasn’t around long enough to see it through. [A new type of money has begun to spread across the nation.]( One that fulfills one President Kennedy’s promise, and could soon become the most important asset in a time of crisis. If you’ve got money in the markets, or assets you need to protect… Or you’re worried about the rise of Biden Bucks and CBDC’s… We suggest you watch [this short video from Jim Rickards.]( Because something like this, may soon become a highly desirable asset. [Click here to see this new money spreading across the nation.]( Thank you for reading The Daily Reckoning! We greatly value your questions and comments. Please send all feedback to [feedback@dailyreckoning.com.](mailto:feedback@dailyreckoning.com) [Brian Maher] [Brian Maher]( is the Daily Reckoning's Managing Editor. Before signing on to Agora Financial, he was an independent researcher and writer who covered economics, politics and international affairs. His work has appeared in the Asia Times and other news outlets around the world. He holds a Master's degree in Defense & Strategic Studies. [Paradigm]( ☰ ⊗
[ARCHIVE]( [ABOUT]( [Contact Us]( © 2023 Paradigm Press, LLC. 808 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21202. By submitting your email address, you consent to Paradigm Press, LLC. delivering daily email issues and advertisements. To end your The Daily Reckoning e-mail subscription and associated external offers sent from The Daily Reckoning, feel free to [click here.]( Please note: the mailbox associated with this email address is not monitored, so do not reply to this message. We welcome comments or suggestions at feedback@dailyreckoning.com. This address is for feedback only. For questions about your account or to speak with customer service, [contact us here]( or call (844)-731-0984. Although our employees may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular investment situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. We allow the editors of our publications to recommend securities that they own themselves. However, our policy prohibits editors from exiting a personal trade while the recommendation to subscribers is open. In no circumstance may an editor sell a security before subscribers have a fair opportunity to exit. The length of time an editor must wait after subscribers have been advised to exit a play depends on the type of publication. All other employees and agents must wait 24 hours after on-line publication or 72 hours after the mailing of a printed-only publication prior to following an initial recommendation. Any investments recommended in this letter should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company. The Daily Reckoning is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We do not rent or share your email address. Please read our [Privacy Statement.]( If you are having trouble receiving your The Daily Reckoning subscription, you can ensure its arrival in your mailbox by [whitelisting The Daily Reckoning.](