Conspiracy theories are necessary lymph, not sickly disease, of politics

Evidence

Conspiracy theories are less the lifeblood of the body politic than lymph: not an attractive feature of the system, or a thoroughly healthy one, but necessary to normal functioning within proper parameters. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 841

Categorization

• CANDY: The lifeblood-versus-lymph metaphor is a vivid, tweetable reframing of conspiracy theories.
• XREF: connects to: Conspiracy theories are accessible ways to speak truth to power — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 842; Conspiracy theories are best contained socially, not legally — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 822; Some conspiracy theories may strengthen political immune systems — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 824 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Theories must be tested by their political function, not retracted #corroborates (0.78) — Fredric Jameson, Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic…, 857
• Conspiracy functions as speculative insurance and wager, not mere irrationality #expands (0.72) — Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou, Speculative Communities, 331