Derec

I just received an election campaign leaflet in the mail advertising for the Democrat David Scott for U.S. House.

One of the bigger issues that he is championing for are "traditional values" and "the observance of a moment of silence for reflection and prayer at the start of each school day." Apperantly there is already a law requiring that in Georgia public schools (one of the worst public school systems in the country by the way) that he authored while being a Georgia legislator.

He is also endorsed by an ex ballplayer Hank Aaron. Oh well, I guess I'll be buying my BMWs someplace else in the future

99Percent

Quickly zipped to CSS&SA. Such is the efficacy of II moderators!

4th Generation Atheist

You're correct that the religious inanity is not limited to Georgia, or to the "right". The religious right does appear to be an epicenter of sorts, and these views did seem to first gain a foothold in the Southeast, but it's by now found near everywhere in the U.S. There's also the religious/political current everyone seems to forget (possibly b/c the right-wing one is so visible), the one that runs "keep hope (in Xst) alive"---and yes, I'm paraphrasing Jesse Jackson. He's an example of religious involvement on the left. There's also the Lieberman-style contingent of Dems who feel, perhaps justly, that they'll lose constituents if they come to be seen as the "secular" party---so they bring out their own "don't-worry-we're-pious-too" line. Of course, in doing so the Dems abdicate their recent historical place as the "tolerant" party (which they haven't always held anyway, remember). If your political concerns involve C-S separation and secularists' rights, you'd do well to investigate individual candidates' records and not trust any one party on either (or any) political branch or "wing".

Buffman

I believe that 4th G.A. is right on the money with that analysis. I would like to suggest that a political watershed in C-SS came when the Ross Perot Presidential campaign fell on its face. Many of his supporters were those Americans who had become disenchanted with both of the major parties and were seeking the common sense, constitutional, fiscally responsible and more tolerant kind of nation that America had been.

Unfortunately, without the kind of financial resources of a Perot to support a national campaign, and without an objective, investigative, media to keep the public well informed, I am simply not sure how to combat the radical right with anything other than accurate education/knowledge/information finding its way to the majority of the voter eligible public. Then I watch Jay Leno interviewing people in the street and I lose heart.

4th Generation Atheist

That was the "radical middle" gang that was thought a likely source of support should Colin Powell make a Prez bid. Unfortunately, while Perot had the finances, he wasn't personally up to it. If we'd had his resources and a better actual contender....oh well, we know about "if only".

I think the "radical middle" still exists. I also think that when people are interviewed on the street there's a sort of subtle pressure to appear as conservative as possible: Gawd and motherhood and apple pie and tuff-on-crime and all those good ol' Amerikan thingz. If this is the case, that's good b/c all those people are actually making their decisions based on more "middle" values than it may appear, leaving us eventually with a more "radical middle" government in practice; but bad b/c of what the source of such pressure might be, and how much real effect it might eventually have if the majority culture doesn't think about where it will head.

Sushi X

Wolf in sheep's clothing=Republican claiming to be a Democrat. That's what you get for living in Georgia, I'm afraid. Don't feel bad, I'm in Virginia, practically within spitting distance of the big stupid Republican with his finger on the button. Jebus help us all.

Buffman

I was talking about the man in the street question, "Who's buried in Grant's tomb" type citizen. The one that answers, "George Washington?"

There are no Republicans in the South. Just reformed or "turn-coat" Dixicrats. I'm not even sure if Al Gore is a true Democrat.

Sushi X

Technically, Virginia's in the south. Hey, I'M a staunch Democrat. SUSHI X FOR PRESIDENT!