Conspiracy Theory in America: Author to Speak in Denver

August 24, 2013 by

We are indeed pleased to cosponsor the author of the newly released book, Conspiracy Theory in America, Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith. He will be in Denver, Colorado, for two presentations and book signings. Dr. deHaven-Smith will discuss the history and destructive implications of the term “conspiracy theory.” He will also share with us his research on State Crimes Against Democracy.

State Crimes Against Democracy (SCADs) are illegal or extra-legal actions committed at the highest levels of public office. According to Dr. deHaven-Smith, examples of SCADs that have been officially proven include the Watergate break-in and cover-up and the illegal arms sales of Iran-Contra. State Crimes Against Democracy should become a household term because it is desperately needed to give an organizing clarity to a special type of political high crime, one that threatens democracy itself, as opposed to political corruption for personal gain such as embezzlement or kick-backs.

Please join us for these events:

Thursday, September 5, 2013 (doors open at 6:30 PM for book signings; presentation at 7:00 PM)

The Conspiracy-Theory Conspiracy
Tattered Cover Bookstore, LoDo
1628 16th Street (at Wynkoop St.)
Denver, CO 80202
Parking and other information

At the Tattered Cover, Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith will discuss the origins and destructive implications of the term “conspiracy theory” as a dismissive put-down in U.S. public discourse.  Most Americans are unaware that the conspiracy-theory label was popularized by the CIA in a global propaganda program to deflect criticisms of the Warren Commission’s conclusion that President Kennedy was assassinated by a lone gunman.  The label has become a verbal defense mechanism used by political elites to suppress mass suspicions that inevitably arise when shocking political crimes benefit top leaders or play into their agendas, especially when those same officials are in control of agencies responsible for preventing the events in question or for investigating them after they have occurred. DeHaven-Smith’s presentation will be drawn from his new book, Conspiracy Theory in America, which was published in April 2013 by the University of Texas Press.

Friday, September 6, 2013 (doors open at 6:30 PM for book signings; presentation at 7:00 PM)

State Crimes Against Democracy in Modern American History
First Universalist Church of Denver
4101 E. Hampden Ave.
Denver, CO 80222
(NE corner of Colorado Blvd. and E. Hampden Ave.; enter parking lot from Ash St., one block east of and parallel to Colorado Blvd.)
Map and other information

At the First Universalist Church of Denver, Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith will discuss the growing body of theory and research on elite political criminality in the United States.  In a 2006 peer-reviewed journal article, deHaven-Smith coined the term State Crimes Against Democracy (SCAD) to delineate a crime category for Watergate, Iran-Contra, Plame-gate, and other conspiracies in high office.  SCAD research has been highlighted in special issues of American Behavioral Scientist (February 2010) and Public Integrity (June 2011).  DeHaven-Smith’s new book, Conspiracy Theory in America, was published in April 2013 by the University of Texas Press. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Denver, Lance deHaven-Smith, Public Events, State Crimes Against Democracy

Denver, Boulder, and Grand Junction Monthly Meetings: “Counter-Intelligence: Part 1 – The Company” August 2013

August 11, 2013 by

Please join us for the first segment of Counter-Intelligence: Part 1 – The Company. (1 hour 18 min.) The accolades below speak for themselves about this amazing work.

counter-intelligence-film“Scott Noble may have outdone himself with Counter Intelligence. The Psywar filmmaker amassed a tour de force of power elite and deep state scholars weighing in and synthesizing decades of research. From the rise of the national security state and mass proliferation of state/corporate propaganda to the normalization of constant, now remote (drone) warfare and the ongoing decay of constitutional rights, Noble lays out some of the most significant, yet oft overlooked or outright censored information about one of the most significant issues of our times–Black-Ops. Noble helps expose the real conspiracies of the powerful factually, transparently, and responsibly. It’s a film that should be screening across the US, but given the nature and subject of the film, don’t count on it. Share and show it far and wide. Counter-Intelligence would be an excellent addition to college classes on political science, history, sociology, or critical thinking to spark debate and discussion, utilizing what’s left of our First Amendment rights while we still can.”
Mickey Huff
Director, Project Censored/Media Freedom Foundation and Professor of Social Science and History, Diablo Valley College

“A beautifully crafted and thought provoking journey through America’s secret wars.”
Trevor Paglen
Author, The Dark Geography of the Pentagon’s Secret World

“An extraordinary work by a gifted filmmaker, Counter-Intelligence shines sunlight into the darkest crevices of empire run amok. The film vividly exposes a monstrous and unconstitutional “deep state” in which multiple competing chains of command—all but one illegal—hijack government capabilities and taxpayer funds to commit crimes against humanity in our name. Anyone who cares about democracy, good government, and the future will want to watch all five segments of this remarkable film.”
Robert David STEELE Vivas
CIA, USMC, OSS, Earth Intelligence Network and Founder, Phi Beta Iota the Public Intelligence Blog

“Sunshine is the best disinfectant. With Counter-Intelligence, Scott Noble is here to clean house.”
Stephen Lendman [Read more…]

Filed Under: Monthly Meetings, Movies/DVDs, Scott Noble, Uncategorized

An Overview of State Crimes Against Democracy by Daniel K. Sage, PhD

August 7, 2013 by

https://colorado911visibility.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/An-Overview-of-State-Crimes-Against-Democracy_Daniel-K.-Sage-PhD.pdf 

State Crimes Against Democracy (SCAD).  Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith (2006; 2010; 2013) has offered a penetratingly useful approach to better diagnose the American political/psychological complex that is reflected in widespread citizen feelings of distrust, being threatened, and being shamed by our political-corporate Empire.  It is evident that this political/psychological complex exacerbates the wider and deeper collective trauma that traverses ethnicity, gender, the workplace, and cultural identity (Garrigues, 2013).  Moreover, it is patently obvious how it traverses the arenas of public administration, policy formation, law enforcement, economic manipulation, and a daily lack of a sense of well-being in the workplace or livelihood.

Because public policy and administration is the area of expertise for Professor deHaven-Smith, he applies his concept of State Crimes Against Democracy (SCADs) to scholarly standards of verification.  SCADs are outlined by deHaven-Smith as illegal or extralegal actions by public officials or elites that weaken or subvert democratic structures or popular sovereignty (deHaven-Smith, 2006) – in other words, SCADs are attacks by insiders/elites on the political system’s organizing principles (deHaven-Smith, 2013).

Such actions can be state crimes, elite criminality, or imploring extralegal methods to reduce or obstruct democratic processes and functions.  This is the context for deHaven-Smith explaining that SCADs include both illegal and extralegal or unethical elite acts (2006).  The construct SCADs liberates analysts and activists from becoming mired in what he calls “incident-specific myopia”—theories and inquiries isolated from a broader context (deHaven-Smith, 2006, 2010, 2013).

SCADs permit a larger perspective of criticism by interrogating many elite activities for recurring patterns, motivations, structures, and functions that increase elite power and subvert democracy (deHaven-Smith, 2006; 2010; 2013)  Election tampering, political assassinations, voter fraud, government graft, non-governmental rogue operations, state counter-democratic actions, and corporate collusion with extralegal initiatives all can be classified as SCADs (deHaven-Smith, 2006, 2010, 2013).

A proposed list of SCAD-like operations not specifically offered by Professor deHaven-Smith might also include: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Daniel K. Sage, Lance deHaven-Smith, State Crimes Against Democracy
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