[PEN-L:4031] Re: Re: Re: Re: secret societies

["Charles Brown" <CharlesB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

But if we know all about them, how are they secret ?


Charles Brown

>>> Jim Devine <jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 03/02/99 01:50PM >>>
At 01:37 PM 3/2/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Al this is small time compared to the Free Masons.

I hope you are kidding. Paranoia about the Freemasons has been around for a
long time (at least since 1789, when some blamed the French Revolution on
them) and should be avoided.

I should stress that "Skull and Bones" and similar secret societies are not
conspiracies that plot against the public or have a major role in steering
the path of history. They instead represent coalitions of individuals that
support each other in the business and government hierarchies. They work
within the system rather than going against the laws of motion of
capitalism. The key reason why they are successful is that their operations
mesh so well with capitalism's normal workings. And we should remember that
the various secret societies compete with each other, so that the power of
each one is limited.

The CIA is a conspiracy, with a clear (and negative) impact on people and
the process of history, but even it works within the system, is successful
because it helps maintain the system (and US power), and has to contend
with competing conspiracies (and overt forces, like Congress). And, as a
large organization, it has to contend with internal factions and the
limitations of bureaucracies.

Jim Devine jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx &
http://clawww.lmu.edu/Faculty/JDevine/jdevine.html