Hopefully, as the debunking of so many agendas pushed by governments become clear, we will all be more suspicious in future. And maybe being called a “conspiracy theorist” will become a compliment. Photo Credit: The Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg.
Conspiracy Theory
noun
- A theory seeking to explain a disputed case or matter as a plot by a secret group or alliance rather than an individual or isolated act.
- A hypothesis alleging that the members of a coordinated group are, and/or were, secretly working together to commit illegal or wrongful actions including attempting to hide the existence of the group and its activities. In notable cases the hypothesis contradicts the mainstream explanation for historical or current events.
- Hypothetical speculation that is untrue or outlandish.
That’s how a dictionary defines it, anyway. During the past few years, it seems to have been redefined to mean “a way of discounting someone’s legitimate argument and shaming them because you are pushing a false agenda that you fear being disproven.” This latter definition seems to be a trait especially exhibited by left-wing governments.
There have been several policy choices on important issues made by the Canadian government and those in some other countries that exemplify this phenomenon. One good example is the so-called climate crisis that has captured the imagination of so many developed country governments around the world. We were told for years that climate change is an existential issue for mankind’s survival and that the cost of various climate measures would be minimal and the cost of doing nothing so much greater.
We were also told that the economy and the environment go hand in hand and that all those great “green” jobs that would be created would more than make up for any jobs losses in the fossil fuel sector and others that are must be sacrificed because of the climate crisis. It was claimed that wind and solar power would easily replace fossil fuels. There were many more whoppers that were sold to a credulous population that had been frightened by threats of impending doom due to a warming planet.
As time passes, we are becoming increasingly aware of how so many of the promises of the climate cult have been disproven. More and more experts on the climate crisis issue that were originally convinced it was true are now reversing their position and stating the reality that pretty much every “scientist” that continues to support the falsehood is being generously compensated to do so. As people have experience with things such as the much-hyped electric vehicles, the unreliability and high cost of wind and solar power and the terribly detrimental impact of various climate measures on their standard of living, they realize they have been sold a bill of goods.
Perhaps this could all be dismissed as an unfortunate failed theoretical exercise except that society has spent an enormous amount of scarce taxpayer dollars on useless things such as the carbon tax and renewable energy, restrictions have been imposed on the fossil fuel industry that have negative impacts on the economy and people have lost their livelihoods because of an incorrect premise. Canada has been one of the worst offenders as the Liberal government’s zeal to punish Canadians in the name of climate continues, despite the fact the punishments imposed have little if any actual impact on the environment. The bottom line is – the “conspiracy theorists” were right all along.
The Covid-19 pandemic was the perfect petri dish for conspiracy theories. Nothing like a global panic with the threat of death to focus the mind. So many “conspiracy theories” emerged during this time. We were all told we need to wear masks, close businesses, keep children home from school, wash our groceries, obey curfews in some cases, take untested vaccines, avoid medicines that could be helpful, and so much more. And we did those things. Initial theories that the virus originated in a lab in China were pooh-poohed and anyone putting forward that thesis was accused of racism. In Canada the fact that two Chinese scientists at a top-secret lab in Winnipeg were fired and quickly exiled from Canada was treated as a non-event by the Liberal government. When parliamentary committees tried to investigate this and its connection to the pandemic, they were shut down. Anyone trying to question any of these directives and events were accused of being one of those hateful “conspiracy theory” promoters.
Now that the facts are being publicized and the initial panic is past, we are hearing about how all the shutdowns, masking, school closures, curfews, and border measures were useless, and hugely expensive and destructive. They did, however, greatly increase the power of governments and shone a light on their tyrannical inclinations. There is more and more evidence that the Covid virus did indeed originate in a lab in China. News comes out almost daily about the dangers we still face for having agreed to have an untested and increasingly questionable “vaccine” pumped into our bodies, and how the pharmaceutical companies profited enormously from this development. The fact that so much of our media bought into these drastic actions by governments without question was also an important factor in convincing the public they were necessary. Once again, the “conspiracy theorists” have turned out to be correct.
Many more examples of dissenters being accused of being conspiracy theorists, yet being proven right at some time later, exist. It does seem that all too many of our governments and others with influence are practising the age-old cynical advice of “accuse your opponents of that which you are doing.” Hopefully, as the debunking of so many agendas pushed by governments become clear, we will all be more suspicious in future. And maybe being called a “conspiracy theorist” will become a compliment.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
