Reuters columnist Debusmann: "Obama, Elvis and America’s birthers"

[Heidi]

03:32 August 6th, 2009

Nobody ever landed on the moon, the televised images are a hoax. John F. Kennedy was murdered in a complex plot involving the Mafia and the CIA. Elvis Presley lives. Barack Obama was born outside the United States and therefore is ineligible to be president.

All these claims stem from conspiracy theories and myths born in the U.S. and they throw a question mark over the long-held view of experts that such ideas flourish most in societies where news is controlled, access to information difficult and barriers to independent inquiry difficult to overcome.

This kind of restrictive environment applies to many Third World countries - conspiracy theories are particularly abundant in the Middle East and Africa — but not to the technologically and economically advanced United States. Yet there is a parallel universe inhabited by millions and millions of Americans immune to facts, logic and common sense.

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2009/08/06/obama-elvis-and-americas-birthers/">Read more

[annabanana]

1. "news is controlled, access to information difficult"

There's no question mark involved. Clearly, America has become such a society.

[Heidi]

2. That was exactly what struck me about this column.

And it's exactly why I snipped where I did.

Good morning, annabanana! :hi:

[zbdent]

3. going to be interesting to see how many people actually pay for

Rupert Murdoch's propaganda ... since he's going to start charging for "quality journalism" ... guess he'd have to find some quality journalists and hire them, first ...

[ellenfl]

4. do you have a link? eom

[Heidi]

6. Here it is, and I apologize. I must've screwed up the link when I posted.

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2009/08/06/obama-elvis-and-americas-birthers/

[ellenfl]

9. thank you! eom

[Winterblues]

5. Why leave off UFOs

:shrug:

[Heidi]

7. Because "unidentified" could mean anything?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=8964309

[Gabi Hayes]

8. nice linking in the JFK plot in there

please.....another coincidence theorist blabbering status quo nonsense

even the stupid shill Blakey came to the conclusion it was a conspiracy, though he got the particulars wrong