We've [kindof] talked about this before, but do you feel that a minority of people with one particular disposition should dictate government action in the U.S.?

Is Bush playing with religious fire?

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), September 10, 2001

Answers

How do you feel about the religious right making governmental decisions?

About ths same way I feel about the religious left making governmental decisions.

-- (Roland@hatemail.com), September 10, 2001.

Happens here in the bible belt all the time. It's no secret that the 1st Baptist Church of Jacksonville pretty much runs the show in NE FL. Many high ranking city officials are memebers of that particular flock.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), September 10, 2001.

Anita,

Do you really think that the religious right *is* dictating government action in the U.S.?

From my POV, Bush has thrown them exactly one tiny little bone - the limitations on abortion advice for foreign clinics. They certainly didn't get what they wanted in the stem cell decision, and the faith- based money would come with too many strings attached to please them.

As for the Kuttner piece, all I can say is HUH?? I can't for the life of me figure out what he's getting at. How is Bush "stirring up" the religious right? By *not* giving them what they want? A stem cell decision had to be made - the only decision that would have satisfied the RR would have been an outright ban. Allowing unlimited stem cell access would have somehow *not* stirred anger?

And, sez Kuttner, because of the stem cell decision and the proposal of funding faith-based charitable organization, we're headed for "religious war"?? Outstanding! Barkeep, I'll have what he's having...

Nope, can't make a lick of sense out of the piece. (Don't get me started on gems like these: "If our taxpayer dollars support services sponsored by Christian fundamentalists...", yup, everyone who goes to church is a Fundie - "The only logic of Bush's decision was to rescue the religious right from the wrath of the broad public, once the logic of its position was widely understood...", so apparently it's the general public who'd be getting all "stirred up" now - damned non- religious nuts.)

And, no, I don't think the religious right is *dictating* Bush policy. They are just a piece of the puzzle, just like the Naderite enviro-hippie left.

Just my opinion,

-- RC (randyxpher@aol.com), September 10, 2001.

The "religious Right" is a red-herring conjured by the Left as an all-purpose boogie-man to invoke whenever anyone opposes their ubiquitous "programs". Hey, it often works, I don't blame them.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), September 10, 2001.

Lars of course is correct. "Religious Right" is a media epithet tossed at those with whom they disagree. There is notably no corresponding group called the "Religious Left," or the "Agnostic Left." Rather, the media would have those people who disagree with the "Religious Right" as "Moderates."

Just as the media will speak of "Right Wing Extremists," but will never, ever speak of "Left Wing Extremists." Instead, the opposite of "Right Wing Extremist" is again, moderate, or in really intense cases, "Hardliners." As in, the Soviet Union is never in threat of being taken over by Communists, or Left Wingers, but by "Hardliners."

-- summary (supra@yotota.com), September 10, 2001.

Randy [and maybe Lars, as well]:

I don't think that either the author or *I* confuse the terms Christian and religious right. I don't even think that Christian fundamentalist is necessarily associated with the religious right. I don't think that the term religious right was coined by leftists, either. I've talked to many conservative Christians and they use the term, as well.

As to the decisions made, Randy, I'm going to use the "Eve cop-out" for now. I'll get back to you later on that one. [BTW, no offense intended, Eve.]

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), September 10, 2001.

About the same as I feel about the religious wrong making governmental decisions.

-- Bring (in@the.clowns), September 11, 2001.

Not understanding the direction here... should we deprive people of the right of suffrage if we disagree with their religious beliefs? Or are only those with religous beliefs, such as they are, similar to our who are allowed to participate?

-- sacagawea (sgw@bighurt.com), September 11, 2001.

Anita, they don't believe in the separation of chuch and state and that worries me, big time.

They believe God's will is absolute. They don't believe in compromise. Since God does not take votes or accept the will of the majority their intent is a theocracy NOT a democracy.

The people in our country have been able to live in relative peace due to the separation of church and state. We don't have the 'religious wars' that so many on this planet have. I can see it now - the religious right gain the power of our government and we are all forced to live according to the 'will of God.' But which 'will'? The following is meant to be funny but I find it frightening ...

I was walking across a bridge one day, and i saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. so i ran over and said "stop! don't do it!" "Why shouldn't I?" he said. I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!" He said, "Like what?" I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?" He said, "Religious." I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?" He said, "Christian." I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" He said, "Baptist!" I said, "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?" He said, "Baptist Church of God!" I said, "Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?" He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God!" I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?" He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!" I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.

-- Debra (Thisis@it.com), September 11, 2001.

Debra, which is more 'frightening'? Someone telling you that you should accept God into your life or someone telling you can't use the water from the stream because of the endangered fish?

-- liberals (have.it@ss.backwards), September 11, 2001.

Which is more frightening: living under the Taliban government or watching Flipper splash?

-- Jack Booted Thug (governmentconspiracy@NWO.com), September 12, 2001.

Wow, this thread has legs. It began before the WTC and continues after. Good. Same issue (weasel terminology); different world (AWTC).

Yesterday I saw the Great Flycaster (zen and the art of trout fishing) Tom Brokaw, refer to the Taliban as "Conservative". He was speaking not writing so maybe he was using a lower-case "c" but I doubt it.

Doesn't matter. Taliban is neither "Conservative" nor "conservative" and Brokaw is intelligent enough to know that. He is just not honest enough to admit it.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), September 12, 2001.