This is why conspiracy theories are so attractive. It is much less scary to think that evil comes from a few bad people than from something built into the structure of the system. Hmm of course I have to admit this is a rather tautological critique of conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theory is defined as ascribing the results of a system to individuals acting exceptionally, rather than the normal operation of that system, and then critized for meeting that criteria. Still of the term "conspiracy theory" is to be a meaningful criticism, then it has to have a meaning other than "an theory the person using the term does not like", or a theory "critical of capitalism of major capitalist governments or law enforcement agencies". I think my definition is more or less the way Noam uses the term.