Readers React: Past government lies feed Jade Helm 15 conspiracy theorists

To the editor: Jesse Walker links the current anxiety expressed by some Americans about the upcoming U.S. military exercise with conspiracy theories of the past. (“The truth behind Jade Helm 15 conspiracy theories,” op-ed, May 6)

I suggest a simpler explanation for popular jitters and paranoia about our government: It has lied to us in the past on important matters, and has been caught at it too many times for us to take any public announcement at face value. The Internet just makes the discovery process quicker.

Just as with personal relationships, it will take a whole lot of truth-telling and healing to make the paranoia fade.

Gerome Torribio, Pomona

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