Evidently these Christian lunkheads were't taught any American history:

http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/headlines05/0828-03.htm

How many f**king times do we have to fight this battle?

I'd love to see it. Let's run an experiment and see what happens. It would be worth a laugh.

Let's see -
Christian government in Europe = Crusades
Christian government in New England = Salem Witch Trials
Christian government in US = torture in Abu Ghraib

Secular government in the US = Pax Americana (mid-1800's - 2000)

Ummm... we tried the Christian government thing. I'd say it tends to end up violating the Commandments (especially that "kill" one), and we should leave it alone.

Philo

Oh, God no. When I drive down to Florida, I don't want to have to convert my money to South Carolina dollars with little Jesus heads on them.

> I don't want to have to convert my money to South Carolina dollars

No worries. They will be back to a barter economy in no time.

Ugh. Those "South of the Border" signs are annoying enough as it is.

Philo

As dimwitted as this brand of Christianity seems, I wouldn't put it past them to have some success. Already some boards of education have been taken over, and wonder of wonders, they're bring suit against the U of C for not allowing credit for certain high school courses--like biology with included creationism.

These bastards will not rest. They're organized like terrorist cells--waiting for the right moment to bring out the artillary. And it's no surprise that quite a number of them are lawyers.

Problem is, most other Christians of whatever stripe, seem to see these creeps as completely benign. Unfortunately for people like me, Christians seem to be the majority in the US of A.

For better or worse, in the long run it might lessen US' lead in military technology. Especially in bio/chem weapons and defense from the same.

I kind of understand the pent-up anger of the radically religious. Our airwaves broadcast corporate pornography aimed at children, encouraging them to consume anti-healthy food, to consider drugs like tobacco cool with images of cowboys and cartoon camels, etc. We smash unions and fail to reward hard workers with comfortable lives, etc. They know something is wrong.

The problem is, they're good and obedient enough people that they accept religious authoritarianism, since it's supported by the Republican party for political ends. This is how they deal with the problems.

They'll just replace the South of the Border signs with "Salvation in 239 miles." I wonder what will happen to that strip club...

Nothing. In my experience the Escorts section of the yellow pages is generally the same size as the Churches section.

Philo

I'm sure that some levels of repressive religiosity is a godsend for the porn industry. Reminds me of Adam Smith's claim that people are far more apt to be debauched on wine in wine-poor regions.

Though with increased political power, porn can be banned, which is no doubt bad for much of the porn industry...

Yep, just like banning alcohol was bad for the organised crime industry. ;)  As a general rule, banning things that people want to do can be moderately ineffective, and may or may not be productive in a wiser sense.

I don't think we disagree; control over the porn industry would then pass to the black market.

I think you misspelled "Europe and South America"

But banning alcohol was still bad for the *alcohol* business.

BTW, the answer to the OP's question should be obvious. I'm just afraid to point it out in case the mice leave.

Philo

"Secular government in the US = Pax Americana (mid-1800's - 2000)"

You wanna run that by me again?

K-Pax Americana, where we may or may not be sane aliens or insane humans.

But not sane humans? Ah, makes sense then.