Articles

Three Basil Marceaux conspiracy theories debunked.
By Kevin R. Breen

Days ago, a disheveled-looking man in Tennessee with only three teeth, limited language skills, and some radical political beliefs won the hearts of thousands as we laughed at a viral video on which he promoted his gubernatorial campaign. The unrefined candidate, Basil Marceaux proclaimed unique ideas and conspiracy theories that were as much a “breath of fresh air” to some who are sick of the elitism of usual politicians as they were, not surprisingly, wrong.

I never wanted to debate Marceaux for both of our sakes, but I did post some satirical videos about him on YouTube. Many people criticized my videos for my alleged dismissal of Marceaux for the way he spoke without considering his ideas. As YouTube user “therealmaku” commented on my video, (with the original mechanical conventions retained,) “listen to what he is saying, dont judge and ignore him based upon how he is saying it, that is fucking racism.”

I’ll try to avoid wasting much time explaining why discrimination based on anything but race is not racism and resisting the urge to correct my detractor’s mechanical errors as is almost customary among online commenters to get to the point: Far from dismissing Marceaux’s political views for any reason, I had been intrigued enough by them to spend some time researching.

Flags with gold fringes represent martial law.
“Also I wanna remove all gold fringed flags from the state and fly the real flag…,” Marceaux said in a local news spot. The comment stems from an obscure conspiracy theory that flags with gold or yellow fringes represent martial law and that courtrooms displaying gold fringed flags are not bound by the Constitution.

Many conspiracy sites claim that this was made official by Executive Order 10834, (which changed the US flag to the current, 50 star design, representing the additions of Alaska and Hawaii). According to apfn.org, Executive Order 10834 says that “a military flag is a flag that resembles the regular flag of the United States, except that it has a YELLOW FRINGE border on three sides.” But the full text of Executive Order 10834 is easy to find online, and it doesn’t mention anything similar to this.

According to patriot-resource.com, “They originally were used on military flags. The fringe has no specific significance, but is considered completely within the guidelines of proper flag etiquette.”

He’ll end “slavery at traffic stops.”
Basil Marceaux frequently rails against what he calls “slavery at traffic stops. As his web site says, (with original mechanics intact,) “People Called to stop Slavery at traffic stop theyall say county court can notoverrule supreme court ,butno-one will help while 1.8billion is stole by false arrest”
Most people have no idea what he means by this, and I’m not entirely sure either, but I think he means that fines for traffic violations are unjust, police can initiate force against people they stop constitutes slavery. Although it is not a generally-accepted use of the word, with this premise, it is understandable that Marceaux would refer to a structure in which a group has the “right” to coerce others as “slavery.”
But Marceaux also wants to fine people $10 for not having a gun. If we apply the same principle that (presumably) led Marcaux to call traffic stops “slavery,” then this is also slavery.

It is a misdemeanor to violate the Constitution.
Marceaux appears to be saying that traffic stops are unconstitutional, so police are violating the Constitution. He explained to Jimmy Kimmel that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 makes it a misdemeanor to violate the constitution.
It does make it a misdemeanor to violate the specific the rights secured by the act itself, saying, “And be it further enacted, That any person who, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, shall subject, or cause to be subjected, any inhabitant of any State or Territory to the deprivation of any right secured or protected by this act… shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction, shall be punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, in the discretion of the court.” It was enacted by authority of section 5 of the 14th amendment, so it does make it a misdemeanor to violate some constitutional rights, but not all of them.

Marcauex told Jimmy Kimmel that these violations were to be enforced by Freedmen’s Bureau agents, (who aided former slaves in the late 1800s,) “…and that’s supposed to be a marine today.” There doesn’t seem to be any information to corroborate this anywhere. As of this writing, the first result from a Google search for “Freedmen’s Bureau Agent marine” is about Marceaux, as are many others. The rest appear irrelevant.

Marceaux has referenced several other conspiracy theories in interviews since his fame began, but those listed above seem to be the most unique. In the end, no matter how eloquent the delivery, they’d still be wrong.