Ethereal

I used to read into conspiracy theory books and websites a great deal (I think anyone who is interested in world affairs goes through that phase). It was interesting stuff to read when I first became interested in politics, however, with my growing years and increased ability to research and draw logical conclusions from large bodies of information I have concluded that the Illuminati do not exist.

Those who espouse a belief in the Illuminati take a jumble a loosely connected instances of happenstance and try to mold them into a coherent hypothesis called the Illuminati. Basically they are pulling at straws.

Are there groups of elitist aristocrats who exercise a great deal of influence on matters of world economics and governence? Yes. Is there a tightly-knit cabal of occultists related to one another by royal bloodlines who have been actively trying to enslave humanity for thousands of years? Uh, no. Although it does make for some entertaining reading.

Now, is this to say that the nightmarish dystopia of black helicopters and storm-stroopers cannot come about? Absolutely not. A healthy distrust of the government is a good basis for any political ideology. Just don't go overboard.