Mon, 5. November 2012
US Election
I have not been overly concerned at the prospect of a Mormon in the White House. That is to say, I have no more concern about Mormons than I do about having any other branch of the Christian religion (or any other religion) represented there. A person is entitled to his or her beliefs and yes, I know Mormonism is an absurdly wacky belief system. However, when one is on the outside, looking in on all religions, they all have wacky and absurd beliefs that are unsustainable in the real world. Some of them are called "mainstream" christianity but they're still wacky.
Atheists have been stuck with religious political leaders for a very long time, so we are used to electing people with crazy beliefs - but the question I always ask is whether the candidate can keep his or her religious beliefs out of politics. More specifically, perhaps, to what extent can they keep their political decision-making secular and govern for the benefit of all, not just for their own religious fellow-travellers. Most of them do so without too much religious interference but some allow their beliefs to dictate their public policy actions.
Another question I always ask is who is the politician likely to take his or her orders from - the people or the cleric of his choice? Whilst many religious people are scared of the word "secular," most decisions made by politicians are just that. They are made for all people, no matter what they believe. it's only when it comes to certain matters that the religious factor comes into play and the church leaders start to influence decision makers. (There are exceptions of course, such as the tax exemption status of churches).
So I judge a religious politician by his or her ability to act on behalf of all people - and this brings me to the prospect of the Republican Party getting control of America. A few years ago, I would have been a Republican supporter. My political views are right of centre, which is how I once saw them. Not now. They are off the traditional political spectrum, on a crusade to merge politics and religion.
In recent years I have seen the ghastly stranglehold the fundamental christian right has over this once great political party. It is now stacked with complete and utter idiots who believe the world is 6,000 years old and that every word of the bible is true. The hatred and contempt they show for anyone who is not with them is very visible. If they take over, they will be attempting to govern for christians to the detriment of everyone else; and I don't think it is an extremist view that they will be pushing America back into the Dark Ages. In Australia, politicians swear to uphold the constitution. In the States, they do that too - but as soon as they are elected it suddenly becomes the bible they are upholding, whilst the constitutional separation of church and state is trampled on.
They are obsessed with repressing the rights of women, homosexuals and atheists. They are anti-science and seem to be more happy supporting travesties such as "intelligent design" museums and building full sized replicas of Noah's ark. They are indoctrinating their children to be anti-science religious bigots. They want to post the "ten commandments" everywhere and enforce them. America is going down hill fast - but not fast enough for the Republicans.