Conspiracy madness

By Alexis Papachelas

A friend went to a traditional taverna the other day. At some point, the owner pointed to an airplane that was leaving a long white trail as it tore across the sky. ?See what they?re doing... Have you noticed how much pollen is in the air this year??

It was not the first time I have heard of such a comment being made recently.

Our collective subconscious has become immersed in a deeply conspiratorial, paradoxical way of analyzing things. It is amazing how widespread conspiracy theories which are totally divorced from reality can become. You can hear otherwise serious people say things that are way beyond unreasonable.

Most of the time, their arguments are based on something they read on the Internet or heard on some late-night TV show.

However, it is wrong to turn up our noses or mock these people because we will never come out of the crisis unless we truly understand how we got here in the first place. We shall never move forward unless we, as a people, stop resorting to conspiracy or other bogus theories to explain complicated facts and notions.

How is that possible? There are no easy answers, I?m afraid. But the problem should not be underestimated. Mainstream discourse is dominated by theories and arguments that would hardly find a sympathetic ear elsewhere in Europe. At least, not to the same extent. There is no end to the crazy talk coming from the lips of politicians, priests, TV pundits ? each from their own podium.

Neither the current government nor any other will ever succeed in cleaning up the mess at home before they find a way to tame the beast of populism. Government officials will soon be portrayed either as traitors or players in some global zionist conspiracy, and so will their...