The Weaponization of the Term "Conspiracy Theorist"

On September 15, 1995, the economist Thomas Sowell joined Charlie Rose for a discussion on his book The Vision of the Anointed, which was to be published that fall, as well as a broader conversation about Sowell's views. During a portion of the interview in which Sowell was discussing the putative ideological similarity of those at influential institutions (particularly on favored social programs) most notably Harvard, Yale and The New York Times, Rose, in a slightly raised tone of voice, said to Sowell: "What amazes me is that you buy into these conspiracies like this." In response, Sowell defended himself: "It's not a conspiracy at all. I've never believed in conspiracy theories." Sowell then explained how he came to hold this view, given the shared ideological assumptions held by many of his fellow intellectuals. And as James Lindsay noted this July, along with available evidence now confirming Sowell's central claim, it seems as if the economist was correct all along.