A single day doesn't go by without us hearing about one conspiracy or the other. Be it about the relationships that's none of our business or the office rumours that are obviously made up, the world seems to hinge on our ability to churn out ridiculous (and sometimes plausible) fancies. Here we take a look at some of the more ridiculous political conspiracies that have circulated around us. For the conspiracy buff, this here is heaven.

The CIA gave Hugo Chavez cancer
"There's no doubt that Commandant Chavez's health came under attack by the enemy," then-Vice President Nicolas Maduro, who has since gone on to become President, said in an address to the nation from the presidential palace. As the world held its breath at the death of a charismatic leader, remarks by Maduro helped all those obsessed with the powers of CIA sate their appetite for conspiracy theories with this gem. Over time alpha radiation, electromagnetic waves, or chemicals cause emergence and development of cancer, they claim. Of course, amidst wars, economic and policy crises, the US has nothing better to do than wage war against socialism in a nation that it has nothing to do with; because the Cold War didn't end twenty years ago.

Osama Bin Laden was Tim Osman
Well, duh. Osama Bin Laden was actually a CIA asset by the name of Tim Osman. At least that's what we are led to believe by internet speculation and 9-11 truthers. Michael Ruppert, an “expert,” often remarked on how it was well documented that Osama bin Laden is and was a creation of the Central Intelligence Agency in the 1980s when he joined with Mujahedeen freedom fighters in Afghanistan, and that he worked with Gulbadin Hekmatyar who was running six heroin factories under CIA protection in Pakistan and Afghanistan. As expected, many clamoured for more and it was no surprise to see people claim that Al Qaeda was nothing but a fabrication by the CIA. It's so overt, it seems, that it's covert.

2004 Tsunami was caused by covert nuclear experiments
A popular theory circulating in parts of the world is that the tsunami was triggered by an Indian nuclear experiment in which Israeli and American nuclear experts took part. Several newspapers in Egypt and the Middle East alleged that India, in its fiery nuclear race with Pakistan, has acquired sophisticated nuclear technology from the US and Israel, both of which were happy to twirl their evil moustaches to co-operate with India in experiments to exterminate humankind, beginning with the heavily populated areas of southeast Asia, where most of casualties took place. Despite being debunked by people who can think, belief in this awesome, if outrageous, conspiracy theory persists -- particularly on the web.

Everything by Alex Jones
Of course, one can't write on modern conspiracies without including the affably crazy Texan, Alex Jones: bankers pull the strings on world governments to solidify their power, companies are harming you and ducking responsibility, antidepressants are "suicide mass murder pills", President Barack Obama is using drones on Americans, and so on.
While not going bananas on CNN with another blundering host, he enjoys massive fanfare on a daily radio show where he champions rational arguments on how the New World Order has begun its nefarious schemes to take over the world. Not only does he claim to have evidence on abortion being an Illuminati conspiracy and 9-11 being an inside job, he's too cool to expose them.
For every inspirational story about someone thinking outside the box, there are many dismal failures -- which is fine, because that's how science works. We learn through trial and error. I'm certainly not trying to discourage free thought, but just because something is radical doesn't mean it's any good.