Not all “conspiracy theories” are nonsense. One “theory,” for example is becoming so obvious that it’s impossible to ignore.   It’s the claim that:

A rich and powerful network is engaged in a coordinated program to dominate the world, crushing any and all opposition.

By persuading western nations to abolish tariffs on goods produced in low-wage countries, global corporations moved jobs from the rich nations to low-wage places like China and India, paving the way for an assault on western standards of living. Then, playing on the fear and discontent engendered by crumbling western economies, they convinced voters in the western democracies that they can no longer afford programs to help the unemployed, feed the poor, care for the sick and old, or provide decent schools.

In America, for example, a pattern has emerged that defies the probability of coincidence.

Over decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has been stacked with “conservatives”  who could be counted on to do the bidding of powerful global corporations.  Then, enabled by the court’s decision to let corporations spend unlimited amounts on election campaigns,  and by their ownership of the Republican Party, the corporate power brokers are able to buy elections and control government at all levels.

The next step is, of course, to guard against future opposition.

And that means controlling the media, buying up newspapers and TV and radio stations, and funding a blizzard of web sites.

It also means crushing labor organizations, subjugating minorities and undermining middle- and working-class incomes -thus impoverishing the base of the Democratic Party and cutting off its source of funds.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that so many legislatures all over America are involved in far-right crusades – anti-labor, anti-choice, anti-immigration, anti-gun control, anti-welfare, anti-democracy…

I’m sure you’ve noticed it.

Florida is one of the states pursuing an agenda designed to demolish opposition to corporate dominance. The most recent manifestation of this is a proposed law that would shorten the time allowed for early voting and hamper voter registration drives.

In an article in the St. Petersburg Times on Tuesday, Senator Bill Nelson explained how this would undermine democracy and help to enhance the Republican Party’s hold on power in the state. (Click here to read it.)

This is just one of a multitude of legislative and Congressional assaults on “progressive” values in America. Not all are designed to enrich the wealthy at the expense of the general population – especially that part of the population that might support political opposition to the interests of the wealthy. Hand-in-hand with the economic program is a social agenda pandering to such fringe groups as religious zealots and racial bigots.

What’s that all about? The rich and mighty figured out long ago that it’s easy to rule if you divide those whom you would rule.

They know that some people will vote against their economic self-interest because of some deeply held belief. And they’re using that to set voters against each other.

And they’re doing it with cold-blooded efficiency.

I cannot believe that this finely tuned program being executed so precisely in America and other countries is the product of happenstance.

It has to be a conspiracy.