Stupidity
AJ Robinson

Well, it’s already happening: the conspiracy theorists are saying that the government is behind the Boston Marathon Bombing. Took them less time than I expected and it saddens me. Seems we go through this after every tragedy and use it as an excuse to prevent any meaningful measures to try to prevent future tragedies.

I’ve heard some say that either the government staged the whole thing or the bombing never really took place. That last one is a real loopy nutball. I mean, come on, consider how many people would have to be involved to pull off that. The thing is that most of those engaged in such a conspiracy would be John and Jane Q. Public-types! Huh, funny, I thought the government was supposed to be behind all this.

Yeah, the argument always is the government is out to get us.

I would really like to engage is a civil, thoughtful, and intellectual debate on this issue, but, I’m sorry, I’m just too tired. I’ve made all the arguments before and ignored; so, I’m just going to be blunt.

That is completely and utterly stupid!

Why, you as we know, we are the government. I know that, these days, in our post “X-Files” days, we see the evil Black Ops government activity around every corner. I know people feel that the government has an eye at every keyhole and an ear in every bush.

That is completely and utterly stupid!

Yeah, okay, Homeland Security and other agencies are keeping an eye on many people, but the idea that the government is “out to get us” is, I’m sorry, completely and utterly stupid!

I remember back when the Oklahoma City Bombing took place. I couldn’t help but see the act as a metaphor for America. A bomb went off outside a government building, and “We the People” spilled out. The bomber was out to hurt the government, and yet, who got hurt? There were little children, babies, old folks, retirees, soccer moms, business people and plenty of just “Middle America” folks.

America is different from many other countries; we don’t have a ruling class that is truly separate from the rest of society. Now sure, some might say that we really do – the rich. True, but the thing about being rich is this: it is not an exclusive club. You have but to look at some of the recent crop of new wealthy to see that! When some computer geeks can make multi-millions creating a new website or software package that makes for some interesting members of the “ruling class.”

Yes, some countries, such as Syria, Libya and others, can collapse into anarchy and revolution when those “Ruled” decide they can't take the “Rulers” anymore; Karl Marx called it the Proletarian Revolution. As for America – no, I don’t see it ever happening. So long as we have peaceful methods for addressing our issues with the government, open revolt will be unnecessary, and thus the government will have no need to conspire against us.

To believe otherwise is completely and utterly stupid!

Here is something to consider when you hear a wild conspiracy theory: “Occam’s Razor.” This is a principle used in logic and problem solving, and it states that when you have a number of theories to explain something, the one with the least number of assumptions is usually the correct one. My favorite scientist of recent times – Carl Sagan – put it another way: the wilder the theory, the more evidence needed.

You say the government is behind the Boston Marathon Bombing; I say how me.