IMHO:
1. You over-estimate the competence of the PTBs.
2. You under-estimate how much of what goes on is reactionary chaos.
I believe some want us to believe they control all these puppet strings when in reality, they are as much riding the wave of chaos as the rest of us. A lot of stories are floated on plans and schemes to keep people feeling someone’s ‘got this’, both good and bad. Some people need the reassurance that someone is in control. Others need to be controlled by fear by making them think that those in control are far more powerful than they are (thus the magnitude of conspiracy theories).
The reality is everything is much closer to chaos and most can’t think beyond checkers level of planning.
Seriously, you make salient points. I concede all of what you wrote.
Yep. Most grand conspiracy theories are crap. But they are fun to read.
I *will* grant that cohorts of people will appear to act together. The media is an excellent example of this - people, FReepers especially, love to ascribe some grand plan controlled by a scant handful of media puppetmasters to torpedo conservative pols, etc....
I doubt it. At best, the media is populated by a bunch of like-thinking, mostly dumb and/or foolish people who mostly agree with each other, and who act as one because they don't know any better, or it's just in their own best interests.
Most massive conspiracy theories are in that vein, IMHO. And, as far as the media is concerned, if some newsreader gave me directions to the bathroom, I'd likely get a second opinion.
Even when the conspirators think they have everything in hand, the law of unintended consequences will surely foil their(my) most diabolical plans.
Excellent post. I could not agree more.