February 1, 2021-
In explaining both conspiracy theory and compliance theory, there is a tendency to rely upon anecdotes, strung together, to form a pattern. Some of the anecdotes are true; others have tendrils of truth that are mixed with the worst of people’s fears. For example, it is true that a wealthy entrepreneur, who has controlling interest in a railroad, contributed to Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, and very likely made his thoughts about the XL Pipeline ( a competitor to the railroad) very clear to his beneficiary. It is also true that, BEFORE the contribution was made, both Mr. Biden and Kamala Harris made their opposition to the Pipeline known, and that this was largely based on what was going on at Standing Rock Reservation, in North and South Dakota-as well as on the opposition of several farmers and ranchers in Nebraska’s Sand Hills region. The truth, in most controversial matters, is complicated.
The truth in other matters is less so. For example, there is no question that it is ALWAYS wrong to expect sexual favours from an underage child. The corrupt and emotionally immature, among us, offer excuses for such behaviour, though, and cry out for “understanding” towards abusers. In my humble opinion, it is a hollow cry-to the extent that it negates or minimizes the harm done to the child victim. Yes, there is a common thread of truth to the notion that molested children can become child molesters. This happens when the cult of secrecy has kept them from getting proper help and treatment-as soon after the assault as possible. As a fractured bone, that is not properly set, will heal in a contorted manner, so does a fractured psyche find its own wayward path- often mimicking the very behaviour which led to its trauma.
There is the twisted feature of being stuck in denial, at the news of something seemingly too horrific to process. Thus, there are still those who sincerely believe that no child has been killed by gunfire at a school, since Jonesboro and Columbine- over two decades ago. Their denial, which ought to have been processed, and from which they should have moved on, remains because it is being nurtured and validated, by persons whose interests lie at the very fringes of the public weal.
As someone said, earlier today, in another context. follow the money. Good research never relies totally, or much at all, on anecdotes.
A Sagittarian Seeker 
Very nicely reasoned and explained. Information, misinformation, distortion, exaggeration, truth and fabrication seem to be stirred in the same pot. You can never tell at first glance what has been ladled into your bowl!
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Exactly! Strangely enough, it is the conspiracy theorists who are identifying themselves as deep researchers. Thus, my observation that there are most often tendrils of truth mixed with the strange meat being served.
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Both Biden and Harris have also made known that that they want to move the country away from its dependence on oil and natural gas energy. It is logical that they would then not endorse the construction of a high-flow pipeline to transport oil if that pipeline will not be needed in the foreseeable future. Building such a pipeline creates permanent scars on the landscape, and its use is not free of damaging spills. I doubt that the competitive nature of the railroad is sufficient to create such a blight for the short term — the danger of spills is equally great, if not greater, and the need will diminish quickly over time if the rest of the goals are met.
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There have already been spills, yet these have been minimized by people who live far from the places where the spills have occurred. The concern that some have raised, for the “poor Canadians being thrown out of work, by our heartless President”, are every bit as hollow as you might expect. Then again, most of the hue and cry is coming from Florida, which does depend on Canadian visitors and part-time residents for a fair chunk of its change.
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Of course — oil spills don’t really mean anything unless you are close by — but they are nasty on the surface, and they sink in and don’t disappear. Instead, they damage the land and the wildlife for years. Consider the spill in Valdez, Alaska, and the spills in Santa Barbara, the effects of which are still evident all these years later! Perhaps the “poor Canadians” would also benefit from the jobs available to convert to cleaner energy, and from the cleaner air and environment that would result from such a conversion.
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Everyone, sooner or later, will be in on the new economy- just as everyone has, eventually, been brought on board with every other economic innovation- including High Tech,
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Exactly!
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