[Steve_Seattle]

The central claim of many of the conspiracy theories - including Oliver Stone's - is that the military-industrial complex is the only real power in this country, and that anything which threatens it will be destroyed.

Now, if you ("you" in general, not "you" in particular) really believe that, then there's no point in voting or participating in politics. Conspiracy theories thus present a strong temptation towards cynicism, apathy, passivity, and disengagement.

[Eagle Eye]

When it really comes down to it there are two opposing camps, each laughing at the other; there are those who believe most, if not all that the government says and those who believe that the government has no problem lying to cover up truth.

I’m one that tends to believe that there are things going on behind the scenes that that what we see and hear from the government is not always, or even usually precise.

Tell me if you believe that Vince Foster committed suicide, if Hillary Clinton really made her own money in cattle futures, and if Arkancide is just a string of coincidences; or if it is meaningless that Obama has no documented past and that will tell me where you stand.

[Eagle Eye]

There are a lot of supposedly credible people on FR who believe that there were plenty of conspiracies surrounding the clintons, and I think that the Dan Rather memo even fits into that conspiracy category.

US history is full of events where the official version seems to have serious holes or contradictions.

And recent history has shown us that the government is not above abusing citizens (Ruby Ridge, Waco) with recklessness and callousness.

For anyone to ask me to believe the government as my default position is to ask me to ignore a whole lot that I cannot ignore.