The Best Conspiracy Theory Ever (Isn’t One)
We can’t allow selfish billionaires ruin everything for the rest of us.
The Best Conspiracy Theory Ever (Isn’t One)
by C.A. Matthews
I’m as sick as a dog (sorry canines) and trying hard to put out a post this week that makes coherent sense. Please forgive me if it gets ranty or if it ends abruptly.
Now, where was I? Oh, yes, I was going to point out that all this craziness that Trump, Vance and Musk (The Three Muskrateers?) are putting out there for public consumption is nothing new. Really, it’s been done before by different a-holes with different names utilizing different industries, lobbyists, foreign entities, and government agencies.
Remember the subprime mortgage fiasco of 2008? The “too big to fail” banks were bailed out by the US government. They bailed out the billionaires but not the ordinary folks, and many families lost their homes. If your brain has blocked out that unpleasantness, I apologize for bringing it back into your consciousness, but it’s necessary.
In other words, most of this DOGE-ing nastiness of Musk’s is predictable in its unpredictability. He’s hitting every government agency and slashing and burning them except for the one that is profiting his corporations the best, i.e., the Pentagon. So, don’t get fooled again or get caught up in the sleight of hand of used car salesman D. Trump and company.
Even a person with a 101 degree Fahrenheit temperature (that’s me) can see the forest for the trees and catch those foxes rummaging through the hen-houses… Okay, that’s a terrible mixed metaphor, so let me simplify the point I’m trying to get across. Here goes: Follow the money.
When in doubt why things in a capitalist government are going tits up, just slow down at take look at who is making the most money out of why things of going in such an awful way or being modified to work in an awful way. It’s not just random spitefulness by the Three Muskrateers. There is a method in their madness. Just because you can’t see it right away doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
The “Deep State” that so many bloggers love to post long-winded articles about and yak about for hours on podcasts is just another name for the system of super-rich bastards who run our government and profits from them at the expense of the workers—that is, those people who actually make things we need to live and provide needed services.
Always keep in mind that billionaires/CEOs/oligarchs/fat cats or whatever you wish to call them do not actually create or make things or provide services or do anything worthwhile. They simply hoard money and resources and keep them out of others’ control so they alone can profit from these resources.
If billionaires listed their job skills, they’d go something like this: “I inherited a shit-ton of money, and I continue to hoard it and use it to put the competition out of business so I can monopolize a particular corner of the market. And I don’t care who suffers from my actions as long as I come out on top.”
“But that’s not fair,” you, the non-billionaire, whine. “We live in a democracy. What about the rest of us? Don’t we deserve a little piece of the pie?” To that the billionaires reply, “Here’s a crumb. Be satisfied with that or else we’ll stomp you flat, you annoying little ant.”
If this fact hasn’t been pointed out to you yet—and I keep running into people my age and older who appear clueless about this fact—then let me break it to you not so gently here: Western so-called “democracies” or “representative democracies” are inherently undemocratic because of… Hold on to your hats… because of capitalism. The economic system of capitalism serves people like Musk, Bezos, Buffet, Gates, Zuckerberg, and Trump. You’re just the equivalent of a pack mule. You sole purpose in life is to serve (wait for it)… the capitalists. Nothing else.
(I can hear the boos and feel the rotten tomatoes being tossed my way even through my awful fever and full body shivers.)
A lot of folks have been propagandized for five, six, seven or eight-plus decades into thinking that the US is the world’s “best democracy” and that Israel is “the only democracy in the Middle East.” Recent events such as the US funding and arming Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the invalid arrest of student-activist Mahmoud Khalil have convinced a good number of those same people into believing these statements the US spreads about its “freedom and democracy” are outright lies.
Recognizing the lie is a promising start. Folks are learning to question the status quo. They’re learning to think for themselves.
Countries that steal land from indigenous peoples and start wars for oil and resource grabs while refusing to take care of their own people’s health and safety (this would be the US) aren’t inherently democratic. They are more likely to be autocratic. Those on top make sure things work well only for a small minority of very wealthy people, the billionaires/oligarchs, but not so much for those at the bottom, the ones who actually do things that really matter, such as picking crops, teaching children, and building affordable homes.
So, to summarize what we’ve learned so far: If you’re not a billionaire (or close to becoming one) you’re pretty much screwed under the current economic and political systems in most Western countries. It doesn’t work for you. It never has. It was never meant to work for the likes of you.
Tough break. Get over it.
That’s a pretty rough explanation, and it’s the fever talking (probably), but it’s the truth. We can’t expect a system set up by extremely wealthy persons to ever serve the needs of the great unwashed masses of humanity. That’s not how wealthy persons operate.
Now that we’ve discerned what’s really ailing our society, and indeed the entire world, we need to find a way to cure it.
I go along with Occam’s razor. The simplest way is the best way to tackle any problem. We need to get to the root of all our problems—Musk, Trump, eternal wars for oil, zero affordable health care, racism, hunger and poverty. To ax this root we need to rid ourselves of capitalism, capitalists, billionaires/oligarchs, and all economic or governmental systems that perpetuate this immoral method of crushing the spirits, minds, and bodies of the workers.
So, that’s my conspiracy theory. There’s no such thing as a Deep State, because there’s no real need for cloak and dagger games when you’ve brainwashed the masses into thinking there are no other viable options. It has always been just capitalism at work, enslaving the workers, killing and warring its way across the planet into greater profits for those who have more money than they could ever hope to spend in a million lifetimes.
But how do we go about achieving the goal of ending capitalism? This is where things could become complicated.
The BDS movement and the ongoing boycotts/economic blackouts are fantastic, but we need to do much more than that. We need a much greater percentage of the people to join in on the boycotts. Much greater.
(Just In: For all shops, businesses and individuals -- Don’t Buy Apartheid https://palestinecampaign.org/campaigns/dont-buy-apartheid/)
We need workers to organize and unionize themselves and make demands for better pay and working conditions. We need them to boldly take on the corporations that have hoarded the profits generated by their labors. We need to demand that corporate profits are distributed fairly to all who have worked hard to actually create them and not just placed into the hands of a few extremely wealthy individuals, i.e. CEOs and owners.
We also need to envision a government that would guarantee universal human rights, such as health care for all and free education through college, and then we need to take determined steps to create that new government. Whether that can be done successfully from the ashes of the current system remains to be seen, but we won’t know until we try.
But we can’t quit dreaming of a world where everyone lives in peace and safety—with no one fears other countries’ huge military machines stealing their land, homes, and resources. We owe it to our children. And we can’t assume any persons involved in the current travesty of government that supports the mega-wealthy is to be trusted to help build a better one. Let’s kick those boot-licking bums to the curb!
The future is in our hands… The vast majority of humans on this planet... The ones who really matter when push comes to shove… The ones who grow vegetables and make shoes and take care of the elderly and cherish our natural resources.
We can’t allow a tiny handful of selfish billionaires ruin everything for the rest of us.
Here are some insights that demonstrate the horrors of capitalism:
‘It’s not Elon versus government, it’s Elon versus everyone’: A dire warning from fired federal workers
“This is about a billionaire and his rich buddies seizing power and getting rid of anything they cannot profit off of, no matter the collateral damage, because it does not personally affect him.”
Chainsaw Diplomacy: Javier Milei’s Argentina Destruction Is Nightmarish Model for Musk, DOGE
"If Musk is indeed using Milei’s Argentina as inspiration for his own mission with DOGE, that bodes extremely poorly for the United States. Milei’s rule has led to mass impoverishment of the Argentinian people, the enrichment of the country’s elite, and the vast expansion of a burgeoning police state."
Javier Milei is destroying Argentina's economy, making it a resource colony for foreign oligarchs
"As president, Milei has promoted a cryptocurrency pump-and-dump scheme called Libra, which caused tens of thousands of his own supporters to lose millions -- while Milei's allies raked in $100 million in profits.
He has also devastated the real economy. Milei is overseeing rapid deindustrialization of Argentina. Manufacturing and construction are collapsing. Job loss has been enormous, in both the private and public sectors.
The majority of people in Argentina (53%) are now living in poverty. Their purchasing power and standard of living have been crushed by Milei's brutal austerity.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Argentines said in June 2024, after half a year of Milei's rule, that they were worse off economically."
Articles Full of Facts and Not Conspiracy Theory (and Other Interesting Links)
It’s the Poors Own Fault They’re Poor: How capitalism has poisoned our minds https://reformthesystem.substack.com/p/its-the-poors-own-fault-theyre-poor
We Are Duped Into Blaming Our Problems On Everyone Except Our Rulers https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/we-are-duped-into-blaming-our-problems
The Fog Of Class War https://popularresistance.org/the-fog-of-class-war/
Capitalism: The Director of Degradation https://www.greensocialthought.org/biodiversity-biodevastation/capitalism-the-director-of-degradation/
As DOGE Mauls Social Security, Profit-Hungry Private Equity Is Swooping In https://truthout.org/articles/as-doge-mauls-social-security-profit-hungry-private-equity-is-swooping-in/
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Teams Up With DOGE to Gut USPS https://truthout.org/articles/postmaster-general-louis-dejoy-teams-up-with-doge-to-gut-usps [I wrote about this possible scenario to privatize the USPS in They Did It Again (And Again…)]
Life expectancy for the wealthiest 1% of Americans is now 10 years higher than the poorest 1%. The capitalist oligarchy is killing the poor so the rich can live longer. If that doesn’t make you realize how evil and corrupt this system is then nothing will. --Power to the People @ProudSocialist on X
Your Introduction to Mahmoud Khalil’s Deportation Case and the Legal Battle Ahead https://austinkocher.substack.com/p/your-introduction-to-mahmoud-khalils
The Attack on Mahmoud Khalil Is Straight Out of the “War on Terror” Playbook https://truthout.org/articles/the-attack-on-mahmoud-khalil-is-straight-out-of-the-war-on-terror-playbook/
Professor at Center of Columbia University Deportation Scandal is Former Israeli Spy https://www.mintpressnews.com/professor-columbia-university-scandal-former-israeli-spy/289231/
EXCLUSIVE: Banned Yale Scholar Speaks Out After AI-Generated Accusations of Terror Ties https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/exclusive-banned-yale-law-scholar-helyeh-doutaghi
Jewish Americans and Allies Occupy Trump Tower Demanding Release of Mahmoud Khalil https://scheerpost.com/2025/03/14/jewish-americans-and-allies-occupy-trump-tower-demanding-release-of-mahmoud-khalil/
Israel Has Killed 3 People a Day in Gaza Since Ceasefire, Rights Group Says https://truthout.org/articles/israel-has-killed-3-people-a-day-in-gaza-since-ceasefire-rights-group-says/
UN report shows Israeli rape culture is out of control https://www.councilestatemedia.uk/p/un-report-shows-that-israeli-rape
Yemen Reimposes Red Sea Blockade on Israeli Shipping as Gaza Truce Deal Falters https://scheerpost.com/2025/03/13/yemen-reimposes-red-sea-blockade-on-israeli-shipping-as-gaza-truce-deal-falters/
Trump Is Bombing Yemen For Israel https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/trump-is-bombing-yemen-for-israel
20 MPs have weighed in over Israel stealing a Scottish fire engine destined for Palestine https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2025/03/13/fire-engine-israel/
The forever wars may be over, but Trump is no peacemaker https://jonathancook.substack.com/p/the-forever-wars-may-be-over-but
USA is #1 arms dealer, exporting 43% of world’s weapons: 7 times more than China, 5x Russia https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2025/03/13/us-top-weapons-exports-china-russia/
What I Want You To Know: The Afghan and Iraq Wars through one film and many books https://matthewhoh.substack.com/p/what-i-want-you-to-know
“‘An imagined reality.’” The scars of Zionism, Part 2. https://winterwheat.substack.com/p/an-imagined-reality
DOJ Deploys ‘Antisemitism Task Force’ to Four US Cities as Part of Crackdown on Pro-Palestine Protests https://news.antiwar.com/2025/03/13/doj-deploys-antisemitism-task-force-to-four-us-cities-as-part-of-crackdown-on-pro-palestine-protests/
Trump’s War on Education https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-war-on-education
Travel Advisories Circulate in Communities As Trump’s Travel Ban Looms https://documentedny.com/2025/03/12/trump-travel-ban-muslim-immigration/
Reasons To Welcome Peace In Ukraine And The Demise Of NATO https://popularresistance.org/reasons-to-welcome-peace-in-ukraine-and-demise-of-nato/
Court Docs Reveal Citibank Froze Nonprofits’ Accounts on FBI’s Request https://scheerpost.com/2025/03/15/court-docs-reveal-citibank-froze-nonprofits-accounts-on-fbis-request/
UNREDACTED [4]: The Secret Corporate Takeover You Weren't Supposed To Notice!
AI search engines cite incorrect sources at an alarming 60% rate, study says https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/03/ai-search-engines-give-incorrect-answers-at-an-alarming-60-rate-study-says/
In Canada, Indigenous advocates argue that mining companies violate the rights of nature https://grist.org/equity/in-canada-indigenous-advocates-argue-mining-companies-violate-the-rights-of-nature
Denmark’s Colonial Debts: Lessons from the Virgin Islands for Greenland https://countercurrents.org/2025/03/denmarks-colonial-debts-lessons-from-the-virgin-islands-for-greenland/
Three quarters of the world’s land is drying out, ‘redefining life on earth’ https://grist.org/international/three-quarters-of-the-worlds-land-is-drying-out-redefining-life-on-earth/
Big Farms Breed Big Flu: End the Cage Age for a Healthier, Affordable Path to Food Security https://kucinichreport.substack.com/p/big-farms-breed-big-flu-end-the-cage
U.S. population keeps growing, but House of Representatives is same size as in Taft era https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/05/31/u-s-population-keeps-growing-but-house-of-representatives-is-same-size-as-in-taft-era/
Bravo! This may be your best one yet, IMHO. If anything, that fever helped your muse.
"Follow the money and it will lead you to the truth."--My dad
There are two large holes in this simple explanation. Not that it's wrong, but it leaves out two overwhelmingly important elements.
First, you blame the oligarchs/billionaires for this system, but it's equally corporations. The billionaires get to hide behind their corporations, but the corporations, being essentially machines, also dictate to all the humans involved in running them, or being the public face/spokeshuman for them, what to do--whatever best fills the mandate, the programming of all corporate machines: maximize profits. Any manager who makes a decision that interferes with this diktat, that prioritizes anything else over profits, will be tossed and replaced like any other defective component. This is why temporary boycotts are not the answer--we need to cease buying from Tesla, Amazon, Walmart and the other monopolistic corporations PERMANENTLY. Which also means creating the alternative--far more people growing at least some food, trading, and buying from local mom-and-pops.
Second, the demands for a returned and improved welfare state may no longer be practical because we are facing far greater crises than the loss of democracy and fair economic arrangements. Those are luxuries built atop a basic and essential platform, of ecosystems on which all of us depend. And those ecosystems are terribly threatened, by climate change and biodiversity loss and plastic pollution and resource depletion. Clearly those with power are uninterested in addressing these existential crises, being too fixated on the next quarterly profits and their absurd dreams of Mars/longevity/downloading into robots and creating a Panoptican dystopia for the rest of us. So we need to do it ourselves, build an alternative, sustainable system from the group up with no help from governments. We may in fact have active interference from governments. But their irresponsibility will almost surely lead to a collapse before long, and after that it will be local arrangements that matter.