Plausibility - Current Conspiracy Theories

The only thing I even considered about the holocaust line in this case is that it's open to differences of degrees. If even one death was exaggerated, then I suppose this statement is true.

I almost think it's more likely that the moon landing was faked than that Obama's birthplace was faked. Among other things, there was a reason in 1969 to fake the moon landing. It accomplished something. But Obama's future wasn't and couldn't be known in 1961. And his mother is a U.S. Citizen, so he'd have been a citizen no matter where he was born. The Presidency is about the only reason to fake the location of his birth, and I just don't see his mother thinking about that for her black baby in 1961.

And seriously, there's nothing wrong with what Mitt Romney did with his offshore accounts. It looks like crap for a presidential candidate, but it was a good move for a businessman at the time.

Well, Romney set up the accounts, but there's nothing really conspiratorial about that; he's allowed to.

The rest of them are bunk. No sense ranking them, they are all equally bunk.

Thanks for all the replies! I really enjoy all the rankings and replies. In retrospect, (especially as an accountant), I should have phrased Mitt Romney's finances more toward "an aggressive tax strategy" or "purposely moving funds offshore to avoid paying taxes". I take responsibility for the poor choice of words.

Here are my rankings:

1. -Mitt Romney has set up offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes that he otherwise would be paying if he didn't have offshore account
2. -The Holocaust was not as widespread as most people think. It was Allied propaganda (I do truly believe that the holocaust did occur but the motives would make sense and this took place further back in time making it more difficult to verify)
3. -The World Trade Center collapse was an “inside job” (Since people saw the planes flying into the tower I think the devastation from the planes would make the traumatic effect of explosives relatively pointless though I know of numerous engineers who believe the towers should not have toppled)
4.-Humans never landed on the moon (I'm hoping that if NASA faked the landing they would have put out better photos of the moon landings than the ones we have)
5. -The link to HIV and AIDs if false. AIDS is a result of lifestyle (Since there are also simian immunodeficiency virus and feline immunodeficiency virus I assume that there are some asian monkey's smoking crack and cats shooting up meth behind dumpsters by Circus Circus)
6.-Barack Obama was not born in the United States (This has been thoroughly investigated including the State of Hawaii verifying his birth certificate numerous times including to the State of Arizona)

Quote: Mosca

The rest of them are bunk. No sense ranking them, they are all equally bunk.

Ah, sanity. It's refreshing to run across it.

Quote: Dfens

Thanks for all the replies! I really enjoy all the rankings and replies. In retrospect, (especially as an accountant), I should have phrased Mitt Romney's finances more toward "an aggressive tax strategy" or "purposely moving funds offshore to avoid paying taxes". I take responsibility for the poor choice of words.

I have no love for Romney, but if I were him, I too would have "purposely moving funds offshore to avoid paying taxes". Completely legal. In fact, I would go even further and say he would have been a dumbass not worthy of his wealth had he not done it.

the rest of it is as I said.

Is it a conspiracy that I use the mortgage interest deduction to avoid paying taxes?

I think not.

Using a mortgage deduction written in the internal tax code (enforced by a legislative act) is one thing. Creating an offshore unlimited "synthetic" 401K that skirts around the tax system another.

Using the home mortgage deduction is like going to a casino and using a promotional offer to get $15 chips for $10. Using offshore tax planning involving shell companies and and Cayman Island banks (something my firm would not suggest) is similar to hole carding*. Using Cayman Island accounts, shell companies, and having relatives hold "blind trusts" is more like hole carding with the mob bankrolling your play.

The creation of shell companies and using Cayman Island banks to exploit a new system to create an unlimited retirement account is a questionable and at the very least, unethical. The exploitation of putting of hiding money and using shell companies is on par with the ethics of Lehman Brothers getting involved in credit default swaps that they couldn't possibly cover. In both cases, the conduct was legal though we will see some type of update to the internal revenue code, tax court decision or legislative bill (though getting anything substantial through Congress will be impossible for the next 2-4 years)

I am not saying Romney has done this or that he's the only person exploiting this system. I do have to say there's probably only a small number of wealthy individuals who use this system to avoid paying taxes. And regardless if they were a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green Party, or Ralph Nader, I would question their morals especially if they were planning to revise the tax system.

******
*hole carding in Nevada has gone to court and found legal. On the other hand, offshore accounts and shell companies to avoid paying taxes has not.
******

Why is this a conspiracy theory? Romney has been accused of using shell companies, Cayman Island accounts, blind trusts held by relatives, etc... and withholding the details (tax returns do not show your entire accounting picture. There's a huge difference from seeing your bank account statements, income from foreign companies that don't do business in the US, etc.. than your tax return). If what Romney critics believe about his financial planning is true and those alleged details were made public, it would most likely lead to a huge backlash and possible tax evasion charges.

The moon landing is one that seems perfectly plausible it was faked.

Ever listen to Joe Rogan's podcast? He's a really smart guy, but the moon landing was faked is the one conspiracy he definitely believes in and is adament about.

Quote: Dfens

-The link to HIV and AIDs if false. AIDS is a result of lifestyle

AIDS is primarily spread by male homosexual acts and sharing drug needles. Secondary way is an HIV-positive male to a female through sex. Most "other" ways to catch AIDS have been patched up--blood is tested and dentists wear masks and gloves for example. So a qualified answer of HIV causes AIDS, but it is transfered by lifestyle. Some even have intentionally exposed themselves to the risk.

Quote:

-The Holocaust was not as widespread as most people think. It was Allied propaganda

Totally false, too well doccumented. Too many people would have to be in on it.

Quote:

-Barack Obama was not born in the United States

He probably was, but is is amazing there is no procedure to check on any candidate's citizenship qualification. What *does* lead me to question it is that HI Govenor who defended Obama by saying, "he knew his parents well." Now, what are the odds of that in an entire state?

Quote:

-Mitt Romney has set up offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes that he otherwise would be paying if he didn't have offshore accounts

Totally false claim by Harry Reid. No source for the info, and being interested in being POTUS since at least 2006 only an idiot would hide income this way. Romney is no idiot.

Quote:

-Humans never landed on the moon

Then how did NASA get licenst plates for the moon?

Quote:

The World Trade Center collapse was an “inside job”

Totally imnplausable. To believe this you would have to believe several crews could access the WTC over seeks to months, placing charges, undetected by anybody. And believe the planes were hijacked by "inside operatives." And watching tape of the towers collapsing you can see them "breaking" not in the basement but high up, so if charges were placed they had to be placed not in the basement but where offices were.

Quote:

Thanks for your time! I look forward to reading your response!

Sorry for no rankings, hope you enjoy the commentary.

Quote: AZDuffman

Totally false claim by Harry Reid. No source for the info, and being interested in being POTUS since at least 2006 only an idiot would hide income this way. Romney is no idiot.

Is Harry Reid still the boogeyman? Anyway, he's not the only one claiming this.