(The image above is from The Atlantic Wire.)Americans seem to love conspiracy theories, some really wacky ones. Public Policy Polling did a survey of some of these conspiracy theories between March 27th and 30th, by polling a nationwide sample of 1,247 registered voters (yes, these people actually vote in our elections). The survey had a margin of error of 2.8 points. I give you the percentage who say they believe in a certain conspiracy theory, and the percentage who say they are unsure if it's true or not (which is nearly as bad):
DO YOU BELIEVE SHAPE-SHIFTING REPTILIAN PEOPLE CONTROL OUR WORLD BY TAKING HUMAN FORM AND GAINING POLITICAL POWER?
Yes...............4%
Unsure...............7%
DO YOU BELIEVE PAUL McCARTNEY DIED IN A CAR CRASH IN 1966 AND WAS REPLACED BY A LOOKALIKE?
Yes...............5%
Unsure...............14%
DO YOU BELIEVE EXHAUST SEEN IN THE SKY BEHIND AIRPLANES IS ACTUALLY CHEMICALS SPRAYED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR SINISTER REASONS?
Yes...............5%
Unsure...............8%
DO YOU BELIEVE OSAMA BIN LADEN IS STILL ALIVE?
Yes...............6%
Unsure...............11%
DO YOU BELIEVE THE MOON LANDING WAS FAKED?
Yes...............7%
Unsure...............9%
DO YOU BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT ADDS FLUORIDE TO THE WATER FOR A MORE SINISTER REASON THAN DENTAL HEALTH?
Yes...............9%
Unsure...............17%
DO YOU BELIEVE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT KNOWINGLY ALLOWED THE 9/11 ATTACKS TO HAPPEN?
Yes...............11%
Unsure...............11%
DO YOU BELIEVE PRESIDENT OBAMA IS THE ANTI-CHRIST?
Yes...............13%
Unsure...............13%
DO YOU BELIEVE THE CIA DISTRIBUTED CRACK COCAINE INTO AMERICA IN THE 1980s?
Yes...............14%
Unsure...............30%
DO YOU BELIEVE IN BIGFOOT OR SASQUATCH?
Yes...............14%
Unsure...............14%
DO YOU BELIEVE THE PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL INDUSTRIES ARE IN LEAGUE TO INVENT NEW DISEASES TO MAKE MONEY?
Yes...............15%
Unsure...............16%
DO YOU BELIEVE THE MEDIA OR GOVERNMENT ADDS SECRET MIND-CONTROLLING TECHNOLOGY TO TV BROADCASTS?
Yes...............15%
Unsure...............15%
DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN CHILDHOOD VACCINES AND AUTISM?
Yes...............20%
Unsure...............34%
DO YOU BELIEVE A UFO CRASHED AT ROSWELL IN 1947 AND THE GOVERNMENT COVERED IT UP?
Yes...............21%
Unsure...............32%
DO YOU BELIEVE SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS INVOLVED IN THE 9/11 ATTACKS?
Yes...............28%
Unsure...............22%
DO YOU BELIEVE A SECRETIVE POWER ELITE IS CONSPIRING TO RULE THE WORLD THROUGH AN AUTHORITARIAN WORLD GOVERNMENT?
Yes...............28%
Unsure...............25%
DO YOU BELIEVE ALIENS EXIST?
Yes...............29%
Unsure...............24%
DO YOU BELIEVE GLOBAL WARMING IS A HOAX?
Yes...............37%
Unsure...............12%
DO YOU BELIEVE LEE HARVEY OSWALD DID NOT ACT ALONE IN KILLING JFK?
Yes...............51%
Unsure...............24%
