Do you think our government orchestrates tragedies to divert attention from the war?

Question

I have a friend who is a bit of a conspiracy theorist. He's your typical smart,well-read guy who comes across as a bit of a "nutter" because of his penchance for theorizing about our subversive, evil government. Yesterday, the news about the tragic Virginia Tech massacre fueled his fire. His belief is this: everytime some tragic or shocking event happens in the news, it can be traced to some sort of smoke screen made by the government to cover up something unpopular that it is responsible for. He believes that the Virginia Tech shootings and the whole Don Imus debacle were orchestrated (or at least egged on) by our govenrment to divert our attention from the war and the attorney General Gonzales scandal. Most of the time, I write these thoughts off as the harmless musings of my sweet, slightly twisted friend.However, I can't help but wonder if he's on to something here. What do you, my fellow Yahoo-ligans, think of this?

Answer 1

I wish I could say I thought it never happened, but I have to admit to having the odd doubt at times.

The attempts to manipulate our responses and opinions scare the hell out of me - mainly because it appears to work so well. And it's often so obvious it 's insulting. So, I suppose my trust and faith levels are under duress fairly often - like every time I watch the news...

However, situations like the tragedy at Virginia Tech, I just can't believe are orchestrated by the government. Cynic that I am, and I AM a cynic, even I can't quite go there. If I truly believed that yesterday was a political ploy of that sort, I'd have to renounce my citizenship.

Answer 2

I find it hard to believe that our government would intentially divert attention from something else that they don't want to get out in the open media. There are lots of corky rumors that will go on for months and years, but people are free to believe what they want.
If this guy was a loner, and I've seen this before, people shy away from loners. If people can notice and just speak to them and try to make them feel that they are human like everyone else, it certainly wouldn't hurt.Maybe these kind of people wouldn't be as lackly go off on the deep end I don't know that the guy was a loner, all I know is what I've heard on TV.Who knows what the answer is, but if he had some serious mental problems, they should've been dealt with, but the mental health system is so inapt. They don't keep people hospitalized long enough for their meds to take affect. If they were never hospitalized before, the laws should require that they be hospitalized as soon as their are noticeable signs that they are possible risks to themselves /others. Teachers and Administrators should be more schooled in these types of problems more and required to act accordingly.

Answer 3

A good friend of mine was just hired at $75K as an RN right out of school, with NO experience. Why? The market demands that nurses earn those high wages. It's the market, not discrimination. Teacher's salaries can near and even exceed $100K or be as low at $30K, all driven by the market, location, and tenure, funded by home real estate tax assessments. The market dictates salaries in all jobs, including publicly funded. Any wage gap is perpetuated by the choices men and women make. As someone else said, cops (mainly male) and firefighters (almost all male) are paid much less than nurses, because more men than women are willing to do it for the money they currently offer. Do women a favor and stop talking discrimination and wage gap conspiracy theories, and teach them the concept of supply and demand economics so they can make informed choices.

Answer 4

Yeah, I will say that many people in our government are evil, but not enough to where they would do something like this. People will pay attention to the war no matter what, and after a month or so, stuff with people not directly affected by the tragedy will already be back to normal, and the left will hate the war and the right won't.
This is America, remember?

Answer 5

Well the Gozales's scheduled testimony was delayed because of VT shooting, but it's pretty far out theory. But if you're someone who believe in lot of those conspiracy stuff I'm sure this looks appetizing. But I could probably cook up a real good story with some info scavenged thoughout the internet.

Answer 6

If the government is worried about being unpopular, I guess masterminding hurricanes and mass murders and radio guy firings would be a good strategy.
Especially if they think they can use these events to amend the constitution to prevent citizens from owning weapons. Once we are disarmed, they can do what they want.

Answer 7

Its funny, that i thought the same thing when i saw bush up there giving his speach... but i have to honestly say that this was just a tragady with no ties to the goverment. But i am sure that they are happy that it happened so attention will be diverted for a lil bit.

Answer 8

The opposite is true. The war was done to get peoples attention away from how screwed up the country is on the inside. It's easier to control people when the attention is diverted.

Answer 9

You are giving the government way too much credit. Have you ever been to your local DMV?

Answer 10

" I think your friend is a few sandwiches short of a picnic"

A few sandwiches short of a picknic...thats the definition Websters uses to define "liberal," which is obviously what your friend who believes that crap must be.