Discussion on:

Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

The less people know about the fundamentals of basic science,
economics, or politics makes it easier for them to fall for conspiracy
theories based upon half-truths.

> There is a strong association between income and belief
> levels: the better-off are less likely to believe in conspiracy
> theories. (Perhaps this can be chalked up to education.)

Or perhaps the more-well-off can afford to defend themselves against the conspiritors?

"There is a strong association between income and belief levels: the better-off are less likely to believe in conspiracy theories. (Perhaps this can be chalked up to education.)"

Uhmm... I don't think so. Unless you count actors/actresses and TV personalities in the "low income" bracket.

I found it very interesting that the official NASA moon landing photo was "lost" and had to be redigitized.

correction, the filming of the moon landing was lost and had to be reproduced very recently. I do have a basic knowledge of science.

I think a major factor is that if people cannot trust the people in power (or the people defending the event) they are more likely to believe that they are being lied to and something else is behind it.

If Charlie Sheen is considered low income, then what am I? As far as being educated, I graduated college. This article is way off.

"Uhmm... I don't think so. Unless you count actors/actresses and TV personalities in the "low income" bracket."

Are you honestly implying that actors are the rule and not the exception when it comes to the rich? I think the use of actors as an example probably is a key indicator that you are probably of the less educated variety. Do you believe staunchly in conspiracies too?

"Back in 2007, Patrick Leman wrote in the New Scientist that belief in
conspiracy theories is on the rise thanks to the distribution power of the
Internet.

Take the JFK conspiracy, for example: In 1968, two of every 10 Americans
believed it to be true. In 1990, nine of 10 Americans believed it to be true."

The internet wasn't even around in 1990, not in the way we know it today.

I have all the proof of that that I could ever wish for.

My grandfather was the head of the Masons for the State of New York. My father never got beyond the 3rd degree and is just getting by on his retirement and social security. I'm still working my butt off and never got a single break.

If the Masonic Lodge(s) were in control of the U.S., then I would have gone to an Ivy League college, gotten a military commission instead of an enlisted job, and retired to a high-level management position or government office.

Nope. Anyone who beleives the Masons are in control of the United States is an escapee from the insane asylum or a retirement home for the demented.

Sure, a lot of people in higher levels of government and business are Masons, and deals may be discussed and agreed on between individuals at masonic functions; but the organization itself isn't controlling anything.

What degree did your grandfather achieve as head of the Masons for the state of New York?Your father obviously wasn't the right material. That's why he only got to the third degree.Presumably you didn't get very far either that is why you are" still working your butt off".
Interesting in your last paragraph, you concede that a lot of people in high levels of government and businesses are Masons. So what does that tell you? Are you actually admitting that there is influence by being a Mason?

Here's a conspiracy for ya... this last week in the news media I have heard several stories mention "conspiracy nuts" and the like. Sci fri American, which became useless propaganda about 10 years ago, is in on it too apparently.

Curious as to how Andrew came to write this up. Someone at corporate suggest it?

BTW I read Scientific American cover to cover, every issue from 1973 through around 2001. When I canceled my subscription I wrote the (then new) chief editor with my observations. His reply indicated he acknowledged some of my criticisms, chiefly that there was now an official "position" within the over all operation. (one example now is assuming "climate change" to be man made, for instance)

Used to be it was all about the science, whatever that was and wherever it went. aka "objectivity." As a source scientific American is as subjective as fox news and cnn any more.

It is hard to refute the evidence that the demolition of Building 7 of the World Trade Center 7 hours after Towers I and II fell was nothing more than a cover-up to destroy all of the files of Enron and Arthur Anderson that were being held inside the offices of the SEC in Building 7. I'm sorry if you think I'm paranoid or a lunatic, but before you judge me or condemn me, you should look at the YouTube video on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AXG6KEiM2k&feature=related

Everyone knows that the people who propogate conspiracy theories were planted there by the government to throw everyone off. This way the government (aka "the Masons who are assisted by aliens") can inject nanobots into our bloodstream whenever we give blood, get vaccinated or log into GMail. Everyone who studied the historical documents "Independence Day" and "Men in Black" already know this. We are just waiting for the rest of you to catch up.

3 out of the 4 coud be appplied to the Global Warning Hoax - Let the flames begin...

Global Warming is just a money making scam. Supporting scientists are just making a living with research grants. Think of all the money that is being made by solar and wind industries, which incidentally are largely supported by government handouts and incentives. Once these payments are cut, companies go out of business. Al Gore is a large beneficiary of global warming, which he of course promotes as a real thing. I believe he has a large residence on the seafront somewhere. You almost hope that his house might get washed away by the rising water level.

Oops - damn keyboard - "could be "

pgit: Why go from one conspiracy to another with your statement:

As a source scientific American is as subjective as fox news and cnn any more.

While it may be true that news reporting leaves a lot to be desired lately, you are accusing two stations of having a conspiracy to report the news in a "biased" fashion.

If that is your belief, then you need to elaborate with specific examples of proof for both of those networks. That you may dislike one or the other or both is not conclusive enough.

People conspire all the time. For example: The Bay of Pigs was a conspiracy, (by our very own CIAand President Kennedy). Bank robbers, drug dealers, murderers, rapists, insider traders, con artists, are all examples of people who conspire to do some evil or another.

If you have to use an ad hominem "throw-word" like 'conspiracy nut', at people who think that there is more going on than they are told, it is prima facia evidence that you want to silence them. For whatever reason.

People who wish to debunk conspiracy theories always try and make out that people who believe in them are nutcases. They try and bunch them altogether, and condemn the whole lot without even looking into any possible evidence.
How much of science is based on just theory and wild supposition, before it may or may not be proved to be true? How about dark matter or dark energy, for example? It used to be thought that the universe was static, then they changed their minds and found out it was expanding.Then they found it was actually accelerating in expansion, and tried to find a way to explain this. So much of this is guesswork, isn't it?

Conspiracy theories... nearly meaningless phrase, unless given specific scope within discussion.

Scientific American's ability to be "scientific"....
Science has never been without "beliefs" or "bias" (reason: people)... it just continues to strive toward a better understanding of the physical world around us.
VERY hard to state any scientific "fact" without depending on some "limited, current" understanding on which the "fact" depends (Relativity vs Newtonian vs string theory?)
And being "scientific" about Human beings actions/beliefs?..
Well , let's just say. we have a long way to go.

Generalities (strong association between income and belief levels)
This brings up many issues:
- correlation does not equal causation.. ( sorta related to article - people seeing patterns in things - I suspect is a very human trait).
In a way... the article has proven it's own point .. they are seeing patterns in things .
- statistics...
......often misused or misrepresented.
......presented without complete references
Which is why Mark Twain's made the observation of "lies, damn lies and "statistics"

Biggest reasons for "conspiracies" ..
- trust betrayed ( numerous examples in institutions of Gov, etc...)
How does anyone belief in the "facts" presented around a specific event, when there a numerous examples of people in positions of authority lying to the public?.. people take this personally (fool me once , shame on you.. fool me twice , shame on me).
The example of change in opinions about the Kennedy assassination, is likely to be more a representation of loss of trust in government (after Watergate/Nixon, Iran/Contra, etc.....)
We - as a people in the US - had lost our innocence.

- complex issues trying to be understood by people with limited understanding (trying to make sense of things). Education alone will not address this completely.
Somethings are beyond the comprehension of a large number of people.
And somethings are beyond the comprehension of ALL people.

Traits might mean that a person has a tendency to accept conspiracy as a viable theory.

Others may have traits that make it difficult for them to see conspiracy even when it does exist (Gulf of Tonkin, Nazi Death Camps, etc.)

History has plenty of examples of both.

"Reasons" would be factual matter (for which conspiracy may or may not be a viable explanation:)

A 1000-page report that neglects the fact that a 47-story building that fell down -- I mean, neglects to mention that it happened, let alone offers an explanation.

A claim that, even though the attack was a complete surprise, teams were dispatched to collect every video with a view of the Pentagon strike within an hour.

Facts that don't seem to fit the explanations offered: those are the reasons people suspect conspiracy.

Shermer claimed that certain traits make conspiracy a more or less acceptable theory. If there were no perceived discrepancies in the available data, personality traits would be a null issue. Please be more careful.

jrlambert - "something" is not always equivalent to "some thing" (nor "maybe" and "may be," et al).

Any sufficiently advanced technology is assumed by some people to be magic (or a miracle). And string enough coincidental 'evidence' together and you'll find *some* loon that will run with it for you.

e.g. it was a miracle that Jack Ruby appeared to me in a dream in 1961 burning G.W.Bush's long form and saying the american King's successor had been born in Kenya. Imagine my shock a couple years later when Ruby murdered Oswald in TX so LHO (notice the similarity to BHO;s initials - just a coincidence?) couldn't testify how this guy named G.H.W.Bush from the CIA had hired him as an assasin to avenge the lives lost at the Bay of Pigs. This was all foretold by Nostradamus, of course.

Nevermind that Kenya didn't become a country until 1963.
The 'form of a burning bush' was a nice touch, don't you think?

I think the publishers of these write-ups should moderate the postings. I am disappointed that some people who call themselves educated chose to disagree by being nasty and rude. This is not a forum for insults or abusive languages...we claim being civilized, yet we are the most backward humans when it comes to behaviour and interaction. TR should not publish and write-up that has any form of insult, abusive language or rude. Even with what I have said now a lot of people will still attack me. In conclusion, EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE IN WHATEVER THE PERSON SEES FIT.

The very term "conspiracy theory" is a manifest scheme to control
permissible public discourse. Overwhelming evidence is what generally
convinces me. For example when I saw the 1963 Look magazine
photograph of Oswald standing in front of the TSBD building while the
Kennedy limo drove by, or when I saw the original Zapruder film of the front
of Kennedy's head getting blown clean off. Skepticism is intellectual
dishonesty when evidence is overwhelming.

It seems to me that conspiracy theories tend to spring up whenever the official version of events does not add up, or sounds fishy. That leads people to not only suspect that something is being covered up, but to try to formulate an alternative version of events. That's when they often trip up.

For instance, in "the Roswell incident", the fact that the army changed its story made a conspiracy theory inevitable. In this case, it seems that there WAS a conspiracy - even if it had nothing to do with aliens and more with top-secret military experiments.

Of course, sometimes the conspiracy theorists get proven right. Then it turns into a "political scandal" and people forget that it started off as a conspiracy theory.

Earlier in the replies, someone mensioned that his dad or whatever was a mason, then can you please tell me why does most of the high ranking officials have a mason connection or atleast be invloved in some masonic activities, they have long run this country from the money bills to its intent on terror and so-on. Their is alot of work put in to this, we barely could understand because it has took them hundreds of years to scheme and built their secret sociaty, with the help of the dark side, why does 911 always occure, why did W.Bush on Sept.11-1990 say he wants to make anew world order, 11 years later, his son completed the job with 9-11, has alot of people thinking is it just coincedence or do you call 911 for help? by the way
9 - is humans
10 - is God
11 - is one step behind God to Lucifer
when you call 911 your by passing God to get help from the masons or so-called lucifer advocates.\
Please don't flame, alot of facts , alot of unanswered questions, google it and see for yourself it all makes sense

There's a rash of these kind of stories lately, all promoting the idea that all those who question official explanations of events are the same, that it's something in their psychological makeup rather than gaping holes in said official stories.

Some of the "conspiracy theories" are ridiculous, but some serious issues get lumped together with the total crackpot theories in order to deflect serious examination.

Look at the flip side of this argument - why are higher income people more likely to accept the official account even when it makes no sense? I think it's because they have more of a stake in the established system, the idea that the authorities are lying to them threatens their sense of security.

I don't think the Masons run the country, but I know the 9/11 report makes no sense.

Many things are considered to be crack pot conspiracies, but has anyone ever given thought that perhaps some are not so crazy as one would think.
Case in point, Prez O is being pressed to make his original Birth Certificate available, but refuses and has spent 1.5 Million in legal fees to prevent release of documents, while hearings were heard for John McCain to determine if he was actually a US citizen but was cleared by his simply supplying his birth cerificate.

Question is why is O fighting it? If you go for a job where there is sensitive government material, you are required to provide information to the FBI for a background check along with, yup, Birth cerificate.

But not to worry, Court Date for preliminary is Jan 11, 2010 for validation of verfied BHO Kenyan BC and Registrar record submittal. But this is only a conspiracy theory

When I was in the military I was part of a conspiracy.

It seems to me that one major reason people believe in conspiracy theories is that every now and then a ?rumour? is shown to be true. E.g., the recent admissions by the CIA and other intelligence agencies with respect to various aspects of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The average layperson has no way of knowing whether some things are true or not, and when some preposterous claim is found to be true, then what are we to believe?
BTW, Freemasons have pretty strong connections in Australia, until recently owning a large hospital in Melbourne and having members in a lot of important positions in business and government. But I thought it was the Jews that controlled the world....

What are the reasons that the rest of the sheep that don't believe the conspiracy theories just believe whatever they're told by the media? Anyone who has been exposed to the media propaganda from across a mix of political environments will know that all media is either self-serving or in the service of a political power. Personally, while I don't go around with a tin foil hat on or believe that Elvis is living on the moon, I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that various assassinations were engineered by 'security' organisations etc...

Masons in control?
You can't get two Masons to agree how to make a
tomato sandwich.

Surely you jest.

I changed school systems often, and found that far too many instructors, often in the "better" schools, expected one to accept their "facts" w/o question. I also had a few, in some backwoods Ark. schools, that encouraged questioning darn near anything, if one did it with an open mind & a diligent search for evidence. This type of teaching seems far too rare today, and many students are not interested, just want a decent "pass" & a degree. Einstein had a gut feeling his relativity theory had a flaw, but couldn't put his finger on it. however, Joe 6-pak accepts it as fact, & so do many of our educated elite. The answer to the conspiracy question may well be found in the education of the believers, but not in the way most judge "education." Go outside the box, find the flaws, look at the ones with no flaws even if evidence is slim, & keep thinking & digging.........or not.

Ah, therein lies the rub. Regardless of what one believes about Elvis, JFK, Area 51 or the moon landings, there ARE intelligences that shape our world. But since the "west" has become "post-christian", demonic and angelic influence has been consigned to the "nut-case" bin - which suits Satan just fine, as he operates exceptionally well in the absence of recognition. It is true that all of us are susceptible to going off on a tangent with conspiracy theories (CTs), myself included. But here is truth: there is a lot more going on around us every day than we could ever think or imagine - just because we can't see or measure the spiritual world with a slide rule or microscope doesn't mean it isn't there, or that it is not affecting / effecting each and every one of us.

For myself, I am putting my money on the revelation of how this existence REALLY played by God at the end of time being far more "shocking" and "unbelievable" that the weirdest, nuttiest CT's being dreamed up today. And let us not forget: in this age of deceit (which is most certainly a fact, not an opinion - at least for those who compare the lies that wash out of the mouths of governments and media outlets the world over with God's perfect truth in the Bible), telling the truth, or even believing in it, is most certainly a revolutionary act - and not everyone likes revolutionaries... (esp those who want to keep their gravy trains on the rails - isn't that right, Reverend Gore?).

EndGame666 says: "But here is truth: there is a lot more going on around us every day than we could ever think or imagine - just because we can't see or measure the spiritual world with a slide rule or microscope doesn't mean it isn't there, or that it is not affecting / effecting each and every one of us."

While we may not be able to measure the spirit world, we can measure the distance and speed of light waveforms to implanted and embedded devices used for brain interfaces. Many of these network operators, pretending to be spiritual beings, are sitting at computer terminals. The trick for people, including them is knowing the difference.

Conspiracy theories remain theories because facts are obscured. People believe in them more now because information is available, with researching and cross referencing of sources. The other reason is just plain common sense. Everyone is skeptical about building being hit without insider planning for the whole thing that involves more than a few foreigners with box cutters.

Further, anyone who watched it happen on television knew it was planned conspiracy. What makes people suspicious is how those people identified, mostly from Saudi Arabia, ended up costing us so many lives in a war with Iraq and unaccounted for profits by oil businesses as subcontractors.

Americans are not stupid, they know when they are being lied to and fooled, even if there is no proof...yet. The quantification of information will get to the bottom of it and as long as there are people trying to dominate others, there will be conspiracies. Any business meeting about competitive strategy is just that.

The problem lies with those who attack people for expressing their views, which are nearly always based on what they have seen, read or discussed by and with others. It is usually in the form of calling them "nuts". Clearly, the number of scientists and women in psychiatric prisons and the huge numbers of slave laborers in prisons today, show that there is profit to be made by putting them there.

Profit motive and power is behind every conspiracy. The problem is...we only find out about them AFTER the damage is done, unless it is classified or covered up by corporate sponsored trolls. Corporate greed is the causitive agent.

Skepticism is a codeword for intellectual dishonesty, an excuse to
disregard the preponderance of evidence in favor of a more politically
correct model of reality. Michael Shermer is an outstanding example of
this demographic group.

1.people need to believe in something. (that's one of the reasons for religion)

2.everyone knows the government is dishonest.

3.humans question everything; that's whats makes us human.(for example: no other animal can question its own existence...)

4.every myth is based on some fact.

The History probes that the people in power continually acts in a conspirative way of life to obtain more power or money or... then, when we at local level see and can knows about little conspiracies, we extrapolate it to the mayor national/international events. With or without probes.
The human nature is selfish, egocentric, trying to obtain the best for ourselves/family/country and so. Then we must lie and conspire to obtain it.
The humanity is goberned by the enemy. That means
a terrestrial, animal and diabolic way of life. Everyday this goes deep in the darkness. Until God will say stop. It is time to judge.
All the media manipulates the truth. Almost all the people accept it without reasoning. If we knows a little about natural-physical laws, we can made or own conclutions. In the 911, due to physical laws is impossible that this little planes do the fall and absolute demolitions of that very big towers in 10 seconds. And the absolute disintigration of the pentagon plane is an never seen plane crash in the 100 years of aviation history. Please borrow my defficient english wording. I am spanish spoken. Thanks.

1. They're exciting; they make life more interesting. This is the same reason people believe in fairies, goblins, Nessie, etc.

2. They absolve you of responsibility for what's being done wrong. If the country/world is being controlled by a secret cabal that you have no influence over, then whatever's gone wrong isn't your fault in any way. There's no need for you to reconsider the way you vote, support a cause by attending protests, or anything like that.

yes i agree with you, but people love to believe those conspiracies because they all are just idiots.scientists dedicate their lives for the welfare of humanity and people ignore this and say it is done by some imaginary GOD/ALIENS/DIETIES/ILLUMINATI/ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT... this list goes on and on. i pity all of them

Reason 1: The U.S. Government nuclear test on solders. I doubt that men in these units volunteered. Later most of them died of cancer and other effects of atomic test.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2149878949626814717#

Reason 2: The Tuskegee Experiments in which the U.S. Government conducted Syphilis on Black Men.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762136.html

Reason 3: Federal Reserve and Income Tax. American people should not have to pay the Federal Reserve Private Banks money the right to print money for the Government.
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/tax.htm
http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1095269452.ph

Reason 4: The Government House Bill 15090 for the development of HIV/AIDS virus. Race specific virus for depopulation.
http://open.salon.com/blog/freeduhm/2009/01/22/house_bill_15090_showing_that_the_us_government_asked_for
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/aids.htm
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/AIDS3.html?q=AIDS3.htm

There are many more examples such as False Flag operations the illegal war on terrorism and illegal war on drugs. Do not tell me that Governments including ours do not conspire to commit these acts. By denying such crimes is in itself is criminal.

1.) Our nation began in conspiracy;

http://chss.montclair.edu/english/furr/spl/thandekawhiting.html

2.) Society seems to function primarily for the benefit of the
wealthy and powerful;

http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/personhood/fourteenth_amendment_hamm
erstrom.pdf
3.) There have been conspiracies undertaken by powerful people in
our recent past;

http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/53-index.html

4.) Our political system is designed to give the appearance of
liberty, free expression and inclusiveness even as these values are
rendered meaningless;

http://politeaparty.blogspot.com/2009/10/on-ideology-of-two-party-
state.html

Finally, our intelligence services and our mass media work hand in
glove on behalf of our most powerful citizens rather than the common
good;

http://www.takeoverworld.info/media.html#THE_CIA_AND_BERNSTEIN_
http://www.smokershistory.com/abc.htm
http://www.takeoverworld.info/overclass.html
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1332
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mockingbird
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/politics/dontblink.html


Still I believe that as Patti Smith sang, "People have the Power";

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbkKYTfUVx0


"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves."
~Edward R. Murrow

"The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority
acting against a divided majority."
~Will Durant

"The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions
back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them
honest. No one else can."
~John Gardner

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their
dreams."
~Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962)

A fact is of the brain and can be proven. Truth, beyond the brain, as a spiritual experience, can never be a fact. Please do not close your minds to others experiences. You do not have to agree or perceive the Truth of another.

Due to over 17 years of experiences which I can not explain (because the brain mostly only understands facts, not Truth beyond the mortal), it is confirmed in my mind that there exists a huge powerful underworld. A mammoth Real Estate Corporation and management company has developed secret ways to act as the alternative government to those who wish to bypass the democratic process. The "Godfathers" of this Real Estate power offer services such as control with fear and even murder via accident on purpose. This mammoth Real Estate power also offers an Insurance Policy against lawsuits. Health and personal information is collected about us from computer software programs and internet giants as well as by the lower members of this Real Estate Power I named "Webmob" in my blog site: http:apartmentsstrangehappenings.blogspot.com.. This "Webmob" prepares for court before they commit their crimes. I could go on and on if anyone was interested to write me at my blog site. There is NO question in my mind that someone has been trying to kill me over the years. I have a stong fight or flight instict as well as the secret nature of the "Webmob" crimes usually have a pattern where they use several members to execute a crime such as "A" doesn't know "B" doesn't know "C" where "X" is the person who placed the order. Also, after many years, I figured out when I am "free." If I have no patterns, I am generally free. Early in the mornings and late at night I have always felt free going out. After doctor appointments, I can have "events of imminent danger", but not always. I have learned to trust my "fight or flight instinct" and accept feeling ostricized by much of society (though not all) for my beliefs.
These "Webmob" criminals can find out your patterns, your health, what you fear, what you buy that could be stolen, your banking patterns, etc, what can be used to manipulate you, what can be used to set up a problem to make you look bad to a jury in court (they are well aware of human limitation and use it-- such as the sex trap juror to trap lawyers or judges). It is all so complicated and, intentionally, so as to make it impossible for the brain to follow the tangled and twisted "web"-- all to prepare for court before they commit their crimes.
I understand that to be in denial of what I believe, is the norm. Our brains will put us into denial when we are not ready to deal with something horrible.
But my suggestion is-- protect yourself, democracy IS at stake! http://apartmentsstrangehappenings.blogspot.com

"But research has been thin on precisely why some have a conspiratorial dispensation."

This statement strikes me as odd. Because it could mistakenly read as asking why 'some' people have a dispensation toward conspiring. The author probably didn't intend for this question to be asked but if we ask this question and come to a consensus on an acceptable answer it seems to make answering the intended question seem almost trivial.
Why do some people have a dispensation to conspire? Love, money, power, or more generally, for personal gain.
Why do some people have a dispensation to "believe" in conspiracy theories? Because "some" people have a dispensation to conspire.
For love, money, and power.

"can you please tell me why does most of the high ranking officials have a mason connection or atleast be invloved in some masonic activities"

How about we take a look at the Mission and Values of the Masons?

----------------------
Our Mission
Masonry is the world's first and largest fraternal organization. It is a body of knowledge and a system of ethics based on
the belief that each man has a responsibility to improve himself while being devoted to his family, faith, country, and
fraternity.
As Masons, we lead by example, give back to our communities, and support numerous Masonic philanthropies. We invest
in children, our neighborhoods, and our future.

Our values
Our Mission is guided by the enduring and relevant tenets of our fraternity--Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth--and our core
values, which include:

Ethics
Our lives are based on honor and integrity, and we believe that honesty, compassion, trust, and knowledge are
important.

Tolerance
The fraternity values religious, ethnic, cultural, social, and educational differences. We respect the opinions of
others and strive to improve and develop as human beings.

Personal growth
Our continuous pursuit of knowledge, ethics, spirituality, and leadership brings more meaning to our lives.

Philanthropy
We make a difference in our communities through charitable giving, community service, and volunteerism.

Family
We strive to be better spouses, parents, and family members and are committed to protecting the well being of
members and their families, especially when they are in need.

Freedom
Masons value the liberties outlined in the U.S. Constitution and continually promote freedom of speech and
expression, freedom to worship a Supreme Being in an individual way, and other important liberties. We believe it
is our duty to vote in public elections and to exercise all of our liberties within due and proper bounds.

----------------------
To be a mason requires a man to have some sort of free time to devote to the duties of a mason. Obviously someone low down on the socio-economic scale isn't as likely to have that free time. Conversely, a person at the bottom of the scale will not have discretionary income to donate to others, which pretty much precludes their participation in philanthropic activities. Furthermore, a man with no or very little income has very little time or inclination, to engage in support of freedom as he basically lacks any of his own.

So who does that leave to be a mason? The rich and the well-to-do middle class. And since those people are busiest with earning their way in the world in their early years, you find that most masons are past middle age. Which is the same pool you find in senior elected officials, political appointees, and running businesses.

Correlation does not equal causation. Just because many people who are in positions of authority are also masons does not equate to masons, as an organization, running the country or being our shadow rulers.

Or, perhaps the well off and the intelligent are IN on the conspiracy,
and so deny it so as to confound the rest of you....

The government loves when conspiracy theories lurk. It makes the government be percieved as more powerful. For those who conspire, strengthen the government.

I wonder what the Jewish folks were thinking about a few years before Hitler murdered 6 million of them? Just saying..