>>> Wojtek Sokolowski <sokol at jhu.edu> 01/14/00 03:38PM >>>
In sum, both the elecoral system and conspiratorial theories are form of
ritualistic behavior that gives people an illusion that they control (at
least symbolically) a reality over which they have no control.
&&&&&&&&&
CB: In the same vein , we might hypothesize that this theory about psychological functions of ritual behavior gives the theorist the illusion that he is controlling the reality of those people he is analyzing.
Or more precisely it gives the social scientist with this theory about the ritual behavior in elections and conspiracy theories the illusion that he has superior knowledge of how the American system works.
CB