Archive for July 29th, 2009

The popularity of conspiracy theories is explained by people’s desire to believe that there is – some group of folks who know what they’re doing.

(Damon Knight via Reason Magazine)

Mr. Hardly: That all the 9/11 conspiracy Web sites are run by the government. The 9/11 conspiracy… is a government conspiracy.
Stan: Aw Jesus…
Kyle: Why would the government want people to believe they caused 9/11?
Mr. Hardly: For a government to have power, they must appear to have complete control. What better way to make people fear them than to convince them they are capable of the most elaborate plan on earth?
…
Kyle: I knew it! You didn’t plan 9/11 and you really didn’t shoot that guy!
George W. Bush: Boys, you don’t understand. People need to think we are all-powerful. That we control the world. If they know we weren’t in charge of 9/11 then… we appear to control nothing.
Kyle: Well why don’t you just tell people the truth?!
George W. Bush: We do that too. And most people believe the truth. But one fourth of the population is retarded. If they wanna believe we control everything with intricate plans, why not let them?

(South Park: Mystery of the Urinal Deuce)