Vast conspiracy for stupidity?

So, being an American, I've been thinking a lot lately about the fundamentalist movement and what's driving it.I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist, and I like to take a look at things from the perspective of "who gains from this". I usually find that if you "follow the money" you find a pretty clear connection of cause and effect.It seems like most fundamentalists (by population, not by influence) are living in the middle of America are lower middle class or lower in economic standing.Yet, they overwhelmingly support policies which specifically hurt them in favor of people who are doing much better.Typical issues --
1) Should we send poor middle American children to Iraq to guarentee massive revenue for Exxon? -- Yes.
2) Should we critically handicap our own children's education in order to drive them out of high paying jobs and into poverty? -- Yes.
3) Should we completely roll back any taxes on billionares and their heirs? -- Yes.Now, it's possible that the fundamentalists are completely rational and thoughtful people who are deciding that they really do need to suffer more so that the super rich can be even super-richer.However, I tend to believe that they've somehow been duped. That the positive feedback loop of evanglists and education cuts has resulted in an enormous flock of sheep who are some enamoured with the wolves that they willingly give up their lambs and pay for the privledge of the sacrifice.The question is this: How do we, the few remaining rational people, save those who can not save themselves?Or is it too late? Do we need to let them starve themselves out of existance and rebuild from the ruins they leave behind?

True. Perhaps the fundamentalists believe that society needs a master class and a slave class - that would be consistant with Biblical teachings. Just find it hard to believe that an entire group is voluntarily setting themselves up to be the slave class.

We've tried.Here's an example:
Me: "Hey, let's talk rationally about gay marriage. What difference does it make in your life if two people in another state are married to one another?"Subject: "Hrmm, that's an interesting question, I think that..."Fox News Bullhorn: "Those damn dirty faggots want to corrupt your children and wipe their gay all over them, thus making them gay!"Subject: "Yeah, that thing about the faggots and the wiping of the gay."Me: "Um, what?"

Not just "on here". In general. Your personal religeous views should have NO bearing on deciding the laws of the land.The Bible is very much Pro-Slavery. I suggest that a good portion of the nation would object to reinstituting that particular Biblical flavor. Just like your religeous views should have no bearing on deciding the laws of the land, so too should your gastro-intestinal views.Things that make me what to throw up include: Ignorance, Racism, Homophobia, most of the mid-west.However, I have no expectation in using state sanctioned descrimination to remove these. You said this, and it's a fine sentiment, however, the one and only point you then expressed was about how gays make you feel.If you want to argue on behalf of the "nation as a whole", let's hear some real points.My initial question goes unanswered: "What difference does it make in your life if two people in another state are married to one another?"What sort of impact does this have on your actual life? Not conceptually, but really.

Not a nerve, but I topic I've been itching to get into... although we may be spinning off topic.My problem is that the arguement on the pro-descrimination side always seems to come down to something like this: But I have no way of quantifying or qualifying that.What is "immoral"? What is "sickening"?I'm serious. If some we look at some new behavior, how do we judge if it is immoral? Is "cow-tipping" immoral? I mean, it's certainly not mentioned in the Bible, so the Bible can't be the end all be all of setting the rules. Is Johnny Knoxville's "Jackass" immoral? etc.?Further, what is sickening? How do we judge that? How do we make laws of the land based on that?I'm not suggesting you are a legistlator, or that you even have firm beliefs on the topic, but you are the only one responding so...Can you give me a solid reason why we shouldn't allow two people of the same sex to fill out a State sanctioned license without bringing God into the argument?

Actually, before this thread spins further off topic, I'm going to start a new thread. I invite you to join the debate there

Funny how when we suggest that we educate the masses, those very people who need the education the most, the one's who have literally installed a fascist government, turn around accuse the people trying to help them of exactly what they have done.A perfect example of what I'm talking about Herpetron. Thanks for making my point!

Well, don't bother visiting the topic until it moves out of Proposed. You won't be able to reply to it until the admins make it active.Though, since you are quoted in the initial post, your absense may be a little conspiquous should you choose to avoid it all together