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To me the interesting thing is with some of the libertarian bloggers like Michael Rivero and Alex Jones. They've been in the forefront of the 9-11 stuff, for which I give them credit, but totally blind to the evidence in the case of peak oil and global warming and the general ecological crisis. I give credit to Mike Ruppert (no longer active) and Colin Campbell for having linked peak oil and 9-11 (and geopolitics in general), whereas most peakers like to shy away from it. (And, I agree, it certainly shouldn't be a focus here at TOD.)
It's of great interest to me to see the reactions of people (including me!) to the various calamities that have started befalling us in this century. It's a whole study in itself.
The thing about 9/11 is that for most people the topic loses interest logically-you either accept the evidence that factions in the USA government were possibly/probably involved, or you don't. If you accept the evidence, now what? Unlike oil depletion, insights gained into 9/11 cannot really be used to advance your life, so naturally people leave it alone.
Another group besides the Libertarian is the Coast-to-Coast/Art Bell crowd. They seem to be interested in whatever has a conspiratorial bent to it. The problem is that with Peak Oil, there is historically very little by the way of conspiracies associated with it. Perhaps the "oil industry collusion" or guvmint cover-up will grow in stature, and these guys will get all confused and not know which side to believe. It's possible that the C2C crowd will swing from believing in Peak Oil to believing in a Peak Oil conspiracy.
The problem is that with Peak Oil, there is historically very little by the way of conspiracies associated with it.
'conspiracies' in oil/energy I can think of tight off the top of my head.
Teapot Dome scandal
The price fixing conviction in propane in the past few years
Enron
Standard oil
That list is as fast as I can type. With digging, I'm sure more could be found.
I meant with "Peak Oil" not with regular corporate shenanigans.
An example would be that the government is hiding the fact that there are vast quantities of abiotic oil available that is off limits because it would anger the Martians who are secretly siphoning it off.
I meant with "Peak Oil" not with regular corporate shenanigans.
Ahhh, but this is where the two parties talk past each other. Alex and others like him can point to corporate historical 'shenanigans' and raise the question - "Is it happening again?" What they can see is actions that do not match past claims, money being transfered at record rates, and "oilmen" in charge of the nation. Any data that does not support their believe is deemed 'a lie' or what 'a useful idiot' has to say.
An example
An actual example would be nice. Of the ones who get air time, William Deagle has the Linsey insider (common to others) and claims the alien tech that he knows of will save us.
I guess this is the triangle of talk show politics. We have progressive politics, conservative politics, and the marginalized libertarian/conspiracy politics. I hear things about the latter, Alex Jones and such, but don't pay excessive attention to it.
No kidding, from an academic point of view this is fascinating. From an emotional point of view frightening. The first thing I check every morning is the price of oil as if the sequel to a movie, what's going to happen next.
The "9-11 stuff" is a sheer waste of time, it has served superbly to distract attention from real problems. Like UFOs, the PTB are probably quite happy to see people distracted by it. It's a honey pot for the "wingnut" category.
Far from giving credit, the association of PO with the other wingnuts has only harmed the credibility of PO.
Your attempt to link 9/11 to UFOs or Santa Claus is transparent-logically it would be grouped with the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK.
Not even Roswell? But yours are probably better examples.
I don't think the government has ever been accused of a cover up regarding Santa Claus ;)