Poirot, suggesting a direction for the proposed documentary is not side-tracking.
you write:" The powerful elite who enjoy the spoils of this system are only powerful because of this system - why would they seek to eradicate the very source of their power - with a bloody virus which doesn't discriminate between billionaires and ordinary plebs?"
The answer lies in their bio-warfare laboratories, where they also manufacture vaccines to protect those they wish to protect.
Remember, that conspiracies work both ways. The wealthy power-brokers are conspiring to maintain their position. Were you one of those sneering at conspiracy theories when the idea that we were all being spied on was mooted? Probably, yet Assange, Snow-den and others have proved that to be true. it is the same with Ebola. Read this: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40311.htm
The second part is the relevant piece. Yes, it sounds bizarre, but the USA has a documented history of trialling diseases on third world people, their own prisoners and others. Only fools think their leaders are working for the common good, they aren't and never have been.

What's really interesting is the proliferation of these conspiracy theories on the internet, with 'insider' stories alleged to be from CIA and military sources (Major General Albert Stubblebine? - 1980s?)

On the basis of these, Arjay and ybgirp are clearly deeply suspicious of the US government, the UN, and the gang of billionaires, and would presumably not believe a thing they said. Yet Arjay and ybgirp credit anything they read on the conspiracy websites? Why are they not equally suspicious of these sources?

Here's another conspiracy theory: these websites are part of a deep plot by the Russians/Chinese/Islamists to undermine confidence in western civilisation. We know the Russians and Chinese governments have very smart hackers - quite capable of faking those videos of ex-CIA / military men. Or maybe those guys were long-term KGB sleepers all the time? This is just as credible as the theories proposed by the websites (actually, now I write it down, perhaps even more credible).

The response will be: what about Snowdon and Assange? The difference is that there is hard proof for their revelations. Governments/google etc have admitted and even advertised what they are doing or proposing. Though it's one thing to have the ability to spy on the billions of email message and quite another to have the resources, manpower etc to read every single one and actually follow up suspicions - I think part of the PR message is to scare people.

The other thing I accept is the past testing of vaccines etc on prison inmates, soldiers etc. (the Australian Army did this in New Guinea in WW2). There are no doubt unethical practices still going on around the world.

But the wild extrapolations to vast conspiracies by the UN, WHO or the billionaires are just that - wild extrapolations. The history of pandemics and the reasons for the rise of new or return of old problems is well studied and understood so I'd suggest some courses in in history, biology and medicine as inoculation against the websiteconspiracy virus.

ybgirp,

"Poirot, suggesting a direction for the proposed documentary is not side-tracking...."

Okay...and then addressing the substance of the "suggested direction" is not side-tracking either, I presume?

Did ya ever stop to think that developing a weapon - and then supposing that you possess the antidote, might be a tad dumb?

Did ya ever stop to think how rapidly viruses mutate?

They're noted for it.

Poirot: "Okay...and then addressing the substance of the "suggested direction" is not side-tracking either, I presume?"
Yeah, ya got me there. [Argh!, you've mutated my English usage, I've never written ya for you before - or is it I who have mutated?]
I didn't quite get your last point, but I still think, rapidly mutating viruses notwithstanding, that the idiots who have taken over this planet are capable of this and much worse. They don't think like ya and me. As W. Churchill replied when asked if he felt anything after ordering the poison gassing of thousands of Kurds to see how effective it was [BP Oil was a side benefit] "No, they're just pawns in the great game."

ybgirp,

I think you and I are on the same page concerning most things surrounding the status quo.

The thing I don't buy is the suggestion that the people who are benefitting mostly from "the status quo" would seek to destroy the system - by exterminating the human resources which provide the foundation of their wealth?

(I occasionally employ "ya" for "you" - and "yer" for "your"...I have no idea why:)

The thing I don't buy is the suggestion that the people who are benefitting mostly from "the status quo" would seek to destroy the system - by exterminating the human resources which provide the foundation of their wealth?
Mmm...does seem odd, but we mustn't think they're stupid just because they aren't as nice as us. They realise that 7plus billion humans is unsustainable and will result in more wars than they can handle; they're well aware that climate change will spoil their paradisiacal futures, and what better way to stop that pesky CO2 than by eliminating the billions who don't buy their stuff and who are going to be a problem when their land and water are hijacked and who can be replaced by robots. Once you own everything, you only need enough slaves and servants to keep you in luxury. Their accumulation of wealth phase is over; Now it's time to balance species numbers and then they'll sit back and enjoy the fruits of their rapacity. I think that'll be the subject of my next novel.