Two university professors last week published wild conspiracy theories about the shootings that took place at Sandy Hook elementary last month.

The conservative editorial board at the Washington Times says “an unwillingness to accept the concept of individual responsibility” in America has fostered a “conspiracy culture.” The editorial calls out two guys in particular: Former Obama White House Official Van Jones and right wing radio host Alex Jones, people who likely travel in separate social circles.

From the editorial:

It is a testament to how mainstream conspiracy theories have become on both the left and the right that President Obama’s former green-jobs czar, Van Jones, is an avowed 9/11 “truther” — that is, someone who thinks the U.S. government knew about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist strikes beforehand and still allowed them to happen. Radio talk-show host Alex Jones thinks America’s “military-industrial complex” orchestrated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The supposed nefarious purpose was to erect a quasi-fascist surveillance state.

Such theories flourish in a society where people look for simplistic, easy answers as a response to complex, tragic situations.