Is AIDS A Conspiracy Theory? Hi Christine I checked out your site and from what I've read so far, this alternative AIDS stuff is extremely interesting. Even though I'm not through the whole site yet, I have to ask: Is this another government conspiracy designed to keep everyone living in mortal fear? And/or a way for drug companies to take advantage of a trusting public and make a bunch of money? I don't doubt what I've read at your site-it makes a lot of sense. I just don't understand why the media, the government, etc would make it seem like AIDS is a bigger problem than it is. It's hard to know what to think when it seems like everything I've ever been told about AIDS is not true. Shannon M. Dear Shannon, Thanks for taking the time to read and consider the AIDS information at our site. Too many people dismiss this data as a conspiracy theory without really checking it out. Unfortunately, I think it's human nature to avoid confronting new information that might cause us to rethink closely held beliefs. You mention something about this in your question, how it feels uncomfortable for you to have to consider that everything you've been told about AIDS may not be true. To get to the heart of your question, I personally don't go for conspiracy theories and that's not what our site or my book is about. From my experience, what goes on in the AIDS industry is "business as usual" rather than any intentionally created plan to harm people. Having managed a multi-million dollar business for eight years, I see that the standard business practices of identifying and finding solutions to problems; filling needs; expanding markets; engaging in effective, targeted advertising to inspire an ever increasing consumer base; securing government contracts; etc suffice to explain many aspects of the AIDS phenomenon. And I don't think there is a concerted effort on the part of most people involved in AIDS to keep the facts from being aired. But I do think a few leaders are reluctant to admit, as most human beings are, that many mistakes have been made. Additionally, people working under and looking up to the AIDS leaders don't have much reason or incentive to question the status quo, and unfortunately, there is not widespread awareness of alternative AIDS information due to the media's preoccupation with a single point of view. Further, there are few fiscal rewards for resolving the problems associated with AIDS through means other than pharmaceutical drugs. If anything, the various monetary interests involved in AIDS lead to a kind of conspiracy of silence. Can you imagine what would happen if a team of researchers proved that HIV was a relatively harmless infection not unlike a common flu, that avoiding certain risks allowed HIV positive diagnosed persons to lead normal healthy lives without drug therapies or other special treatment, that most people in the world were not at risk, and that the best way to curb AIDS in the developing world is support for basic healthcare and human needs? Who would benefit? HIV positives everywhere, developing nations that can't afford costly AIDS drugs, and humanity in general. But who loses? Pharmaceutical companies and their millions of shareholders and investors, AIDS organizations that base their services on testing, drug treatment and supporting the notion that HIV positives are fatally ill, doctors and clinics with HIV practices seeing patients monthly or weekly instead of annually, obstetricians performing recommended C sections on HIV positive expectant mothers, formula companies who have experienced unprecedented increases in market share since breastfeeeding was declared a vector of transmission, all the venues where these companies, organizations and practices advertise, AIDS researchers focused on drug based solutions and vaccine research and most employees at all the companies, institutions and organizations. Unfortunately, AIDS has become a big business, and keeping the business in operation requires a constant influx of new funding. Money is more readily spent on growing, urgent problems rather than diminishing ones of concern to few. Maintaining the perception that AIDS is increasing and everyone is at risk has become necessary to maintain the business of AIDS. I think every business executive knows that once you have a business in place, it's difficult to diversify, change direction or downsize. I think many of the attempts to make the AIDS crisis seem worse--showing increased percentages instead of lower hard numbers (as in the claim that AIDS is rising in America's ethnic minorities when it's been decreasing since 1996) and removing troubling data from government publications (such as the disappearance of charts from the US Centers for Disease Control reports showing that at least half of all AIDS diagnosis since 1993 are given to people who aren't sick) are conducted by a few from above who have something other than our best interests at heart. Kind of like what happened at Enron. A few top executives purposely put forth numbers that favorably exaggerated the company's financial status. This prevented employees and investors from making decisions based on correct data and ultimately cost many trusting people a great deal. In this case, Enron used misleading information to engender continued investor confidence, monetary investment, and guarantee self-perpetuation that benefited a select few. But many aspects of the AIDS are not all that different. In this case, the misleading (and even downright incorrect information) engenders our continued concern and funding which in turn guarantees perpetuation of AIDS research grants, AIDS organizations, AIDS medical clinics, markets for new AIDS pharmaceuticals and HIV tests, etc. As I mentioned previously, most people involved in AIDS are not responsible for the Enron-type situation that exists in what has become AIDS, Inc. Most people involved trust those in charge to give them the information they need to conduct their business, volunteer, and medical activities. On this point, I agree with the observations of Rabbi Michael Lerner: "Reality is much more complex that any judgment of right and wrong encourages one to believe. When you really understand the ethical, spiritual, social, economic and psychological forces that shape individuals, you will see that people act in accord with what they know and what world views are available to them. Most are doing the best they can given what information they've received and what problems they are facing." Anyway, I urge you to come to your own conclusions after reading through the whole (darn) site. Take care,
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Rethinking AIDS FAQ's: Is AIDS A Big Lie? |
