I Hope I'm a Conspiracy Theorist

By Josh Blunt

I really do hope my conspiracy thinking proves to be incorrect. Because that would mean that I’m a total nut job, and that the rest of the world is just fine. And, I’d be okay with that. But, I’m so afraid that that isn’t the case. There’s so much more on the line than my sanity. And I shudder to think that this “conspiracy” isn’t theory.

That an evil cabal is out to enslave humanity is ludicrous, right? That all human beings on the planet are at risk of losing virtually every right and every freedom. That we are all being pushed towards a totalitarian future. A future where a tiny number of “elites” live like kings and queens. While the rest of us eat bugs to survive. Toiling for them, our masters. And serving as biology experiments. For their benefit and amusement. Who could think these things? Only a nutcase, right?

I’ve started this newsletter to explore these seemingly daft assertions. As the world is by most accounts in a crisis, I want to address the question, “Is there really a conspiracy?” In my effort to find the answer, I will not draw upon scientific journals nor elaborate, quantitative studies. I believe the average person is far too busy to find time to pore over those. Besides, I don’t think such a labourious approach is even necessary. In fact, I think the answer to my question is far more easily found. It’s within our purview, all of us, every single day. Specifically, I’m talking about our news feeds.

But, does the nightly news work to merely inform us? Or, does it aim to persuade us?

Over the past several years, I have endeavored to curate a collection of news stories, mainly in the form of computer screenshots. I have thousands of them. In organizing the images, I’ve noted obvious themes. These include climate change, immigration, gender equality, social justice, racism, cancel culture and, everybody’s favorite, Covid-19. In future articles, I will present some of these images and offer my own qualitative analysis, and the stories they represent.

In addition to the screenshot images, I will occasionally incorporate video clips. Some of the videos may be sourced from external platforms (e.g. YouTube, Rumble and Bitchute); others will be produced and uploaded by me personally. I will include some of my own graphic designs and photographs, too. These original creations will be included to inject some humour.

We don’t often see news stories in a collated fashion; hence, many inherent absurdities can slip by, unnoticed. I hope to address this. Please note that the news images I provide represent actual articles from the various mainstream organizations; any added sarcasm will be mine.

Who funds the media?

I should also mention briefly mainstream media financing, since it’s pertinent: Canadian media organizations receive nearly $2 billion in annual funding from the federal government. Our state broadcaster, the CBC, gets $1.3 billion; another $650 million gets divided amongst the other large media organizations such as Global and CTV. Does this funding constitute the media being ‘on the take’? Do you think this money affects how (or if) stories are reported? I think it does. But, don’t take my word for it. Hear what Canada’s own Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has to say. VIDEO

In the context of Covid-19

Covid-19 has made the last three years especially tough on all of us. And, though my concern about a conspiracy is real, I believe it’s necessary to maintain a sense of humor. I think it will not only help us to push through this current crisis, but may even encourage us to think a little more critically about the world. Plus, it’s a great way to stay connected; people love to share a laugh.

In any case, my ultimate goal is to convince (at least a few) people to look beyond the mainstream news media for their information.

A note about the term “Conspiracy Theorist”

Since we hear it so often these days, I thought it would be a good idea to address the concept of the conspiracy theorist. In the context of Covid-19, I seriously doubt there is a person on the planet who’s not heard the term. However, its origin (and purpose) may not be so widely known.

The most reasonable explanation that I could find regarding the term’s origin comes from NYU professor of media studies, Dr. Mark Crispin Miller. Dr. Miller explains how the term came about shortly after the investigation into the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Warren Commission concluded that the assassination was the work of a single gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald.

In the wake of that ruling, rumours began circulating that the assassination was actually the work of deep state operatives whose goal it was to undermine American freedoms. To dispel this notion, a new term was coined: conspiracy theorist. It’s purpose was to mock any notion that JFK’s murder was part of a broader, more sinister plot; moreover, to assert that anyone espousing such views was simply a nut job.

President Kennedy’s stance on the CIA (and those running it) was clear. But, was JFK’s assassination an inside job? Check out the video below:

FYI: In1979, the US House Committee on Assassinations report confirmed the assassination was, indeed, the result of a larger conspiracy. Nonetheless, the term conspiracy theorist persists. To this day, it continues to be used as a censoring device regarding any subjects deemed off limits to inquiry or debate. I encourage you to do your own research on the subject.

In my next article I will look, briefly, at legislation in Canada. That sounds like fun, right? Specifically, I’ll look at legislation around censorship, and how it limits what we are able to see in the various media. It’s a topic that needs to be included early on in this newsletter because it sets the stage in making my subsequent articles more meaningful.

Thank you for reading this, my introductory, article. Is there really a conspiracy afoot to enslave humanity? In future articles, I will explore that very question. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your comments. Please SUBSCRIBE to and share this newsletter with anyone you think may enjoy it. See you next Monday here at Opportunity Mocks!