A recent survey conducted by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University has revealed some amazing public perceptions about the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Indications are that as many as 1/3rd of respondents, out of a sample of 1,010 adults, believe that the attacks were carried out by our own Federal officials and that our government either assisted in them or took no action to try and stop them. Let us, along with those who believe in a massive U.S. Government 9/11 conspiracy, suspend our sense of reality for a few minutes.

Initiate a Google search for "9/11 Conspiracy" and we find over 20 million results. We are drowning under a flood of unsubstantiated theories and illogical conclusions. It is not surprising that thirty-six percent of those surveyed overall said it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that federal officials either participated in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon or took no action to stop them "because they wanted the United States to go to war in the Middle East." As the crazy theories grow, noted scientists, respected journals (e.g. Popular Mechanics), and Educational Institutions (such as M.I.T.), respond with clearly stated facts, well reasoned rebuttals, forensic and photographic proof, and documented eye witness accounts. Despite this the swell of skepticism grows like a lethal fungus, embracing anyone who looks for simplistic answers and any idea that raises questions about the conclusions of the 9/11 Commission report..

There are a number of pervasive theories being openly discussed on the internet and even in traditional TV and print news media.

One popular theory is that the Twin Towers collapse was not caused by the impact of Boeing Jet aircraft but by explosives deliberately placed and timed to bring the buildings down. 16% of those surveyed speculate that strategically placed explosives in the buildings were the primary cause of the buildings collapse. Despite the almost universal rebuttal of engineering and scientific experts, this idea is still gaining momentum.

Some actually believe no planes were flown into the 110 story tall buildings. Morgan O. Reynolds, former Labor Department economist in the G.W. Bush administration is certain and insists publicly, "There were no planes, there were no hijackers." Asked about all those New Yorkers who saw planes hitting the twin towers, he replies, "I don't believe anyone in Lower Manhattan. You hire three dozen Actor's Equity dudes and they'll say anything." Mr. Reynolds could not offer specifics on how the illusion of impact was created for transmission via television networks. That does not diminish his belief in the "no plane" idea.

12% of survey respondents are convinced that the Pentagon was struck by a cruise missile rather than by an airliner commandeered by terrorists. Some have been convinced that American Airlines Flight 77 did not hit the Pentagon and assert that the buildingwas struck instead by a Cruise Missile. David Ray Griffin, a liberal theologian and philosopher, says, "There was a massive complicity in this attack by U.S. government operatives." As to what happened to the passengers on Flight 77 he replies, "Why should any of us know where it went? It could have crashed in Kentucky. We don't need a theory where it went." Never mind that passenger remains were recovered and identified and that the aircrafts black (flight data recorders) boxes were also recovered. Major components of a Boeing 757 were retrieved from the rubble. Perhaps they were placed there after the event under cover of darkness?

In 2002 a French journalist and political activist, Thierry Meyssan, published a book titled (English translation) "The Big Lie," which asserts that the damage to the Pentagon could not have been caused by a Boeing 757, but was in fact a carefully planned truck bombing or missile strike made to look like a plane crash. He unveils other "facts," including the stunner that Osama bin Laden was an agent for the U.S. who was used by President Bush to destroy secret CIA offices in the World Trade Towers. The book became a world best seller (according to Wikipedia) and was translated into 27 languages.

I have come to the conclusion that many in a civilized society will never be persuaded from a narrow ideological mindset - no matter how logical or reasoned the argument. After all, the Flat Earth Society still exists after astrologers advocated a spherical globe 1,850 years ago. When confronted, in 1956, with one of the first NASA photographs of earth taken from an orbiting satellite, Samuel Shenton, then head of The Flat Earth Society remarked, "It's easy to see how a photograph like that could fool the untrained eye." There can be no rational reply to statements like that.

Our society as a whole is poorly educated. True, we have initiated more revolutionary ideas and life saving technologies than any other civilization before us. Despite the brilliance of our academic successes and achievements, there will always be those who live in their own fantasy world of conspiracy, deception and treachery, and ignore the truth. Perhaps they need to live in a world of doubt and disbelief to maintain their sanity, their sense of importance and to feel good. It is, above all, important that our feelings are nurtured.

To me, this is a serious danger to our Representative Republic. The risk is that public opinion can be too easily swayed to an extreme on one side of the political spectrum or another. We could very well end up with leaders who act to ensure that as many of our citizens feel good as possible. I believe that civilizations ultimately get the leaders that they deserve. The vote of a dedicated conspiracy believer carries as much weight as mine.

Skepticism is a wonderful thing to have and it should be used often. Everything I read and most of what I am shown raises my skepticism and fuels my doubts. There is a time however when analysis and reasoned judgments have to made. I honestly believe the earth is round and that planes flew into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. It is too bad that so many people disagree.

If a future U.S. President is a member of The Flat Earth Society, where will we go to find the truth? Just as the price of peace is eternal vigilance, the search for truth is never ending, even when confronted with the obvious. That's why my vote is so important.