What Next for Conservatives (Creationism and spending are destroying the Republican Party)

townhall.com ^ | 11/17/2005 | George Will

[curiosity]

The storm-tossed and rudderless Republican Party should particularly ponder the vote last week in Dover, Pa., where all eight members of the school board seeking re-election were defeated. This expressed the community's wholesome exasperation with the board's campaign to insinuate religion, in the guise of "intelligent design'' theory, into high school biology classes, beginning with a required proclamation that evolution "is not a fact.''

[Anselma]

"So I don't see this as much of a problem. But the spending is a different matter altogether. Republicans have gone nuts on this in recent years. But democrats would do as much or more. So - - - term limits, anyone?"

Agree with you! Well said.

Term limits are still a great option. In the absence of those, we'd have to take away the rule that if a Congressperson gets elected to a minimum of 2 consecutive terms, they automatically qualify for a juicy retirement (what? around $200,000 per year, isn't it?)

How about limited taxation, in the form of a flat tax, and some form of "torture"- ahhh, excuse me, I mean, personal penalty for the Congressional jamokes who vote for projects that bust the budget and don't benefit at least 51% of the population? That would be entertaining, at the least.

Let them begin the queue behind Sheets Byrd.

[rootkidslim]

As a teenager in High School, I volunteered for Barry Goldwater's Presidential campaign. (1964) I was a conservative young atheist, much to the chagrin of my religious mother. I don't remember any fundamentalist, or even devout Christians in the campaign then. Most of the young volunteers were would-be, and future policy wonks and political junkies.

[highball]

No need to do that - just offer an alternative science class with alternative textbooks.

I have no problem with this, as soon as a scientific alternative is proposed.

[moog]

equivalent of a knuckledragging tobacco chewing cousin marrying 8th grade graduate.

Shhhhhh. I don't want people to know what I look like:).

[wyattearp]

I'm sick and tired of the Republicans spending like drunken sailors...

Here we go again. I used to be a drunken sailor, and I always take offense at this remark. Even in my most drunken state, I never spent with the lack of responsibility that is shown by the Republicans in Congress and our Republican President. I wish people would stop comparing the fiscal responsibility of drunken sailors with the total lack of control shown by our Republican politicians. ;-)

[highball]

Sidereal astrology has more scientific merit than the theory of evolution.

Then you'll have no problem showing us the evidence for sidereal astrology, right? The physical evidence? The scientific journals, the scientific peer review, the articles and publications?

If not, then kindly stop making silly claims.

[moog]

If creationism results in electoral losses in a place like Dover, a country that went for Bush by a huge margin in both 2000 and 2005, it's going to kill us everything.

If creationism becomes the biggest issue, then it is unfortunate. There are far more bigger and more important issues out there to act upon.

[colorado tanker]

This debate should be kept out of Republican politics. There is no upside to making this a political issue.

[Ohioan]

Poland, for example, is a far more socially conservative country than the US. Far more religious, I'd venture to say. And yet, no one there has any problem with evolution.

The sad thing about those theological conservatives, who feel that their Faith requires them to deny Evolution, as testament to their belief in Creation, is that they have completely ignored the most powerful scientific argument for a deliberate, well planned (designed) and ongoing Creational dynamic. About 30 years ago, the Naturalists in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, reported a finding that suggested a predetermined pattern to the development of mutations in some species. I wish I could offer a specific reference, but that was a report which the religious community should have embraced.

In denying Evolution, on the other hand, people deny what has been carefully recorded even in the last few Centuries, with respect to Domesticated animals. That denial is foolish, and simply turns off other people.

[rootkidslim]

Bush's statement that George Will reported... If Bush really believes that "both sides should be taught" then he is likely ignorant of science. If he was insincere, it was "boob bait for the bubbas."

[js1138]

That doesn't have anything to do with my post.

[moog]

Here we go again. I used to be a drunken sailor, and I always take offense at this remark.

Never knew Wyatt had a second career:).

[af_vet_rr]

They may be in some cases. But most people are not really ideological. Most people have a collection of not very well sorted out beliefs--some driven by thought, some emotion. The point where one--if such a point ever comes--actually sorts out the inherent conflicts in personal beliefs is a very important one. But that point never comes for most people.

True - but then what do we call them? We could just keep saying Republicans, and work to make it clear that not all Republicans are Conservative, but that could lead to many Conservatives leaving the party, and I worry that it would lead to the GOP becoming very religious-oriented. I've been to countries where the people/parties in power were focused completly on religion, and to say it was disturbing is an understatement.

[moog]

to the GOP becoming very religious-oriented

It is already.

[moog]

"boob bait for the bubbas."

Monica Lewinsky on a stick???

[saganite]

LOL!

[rootkidslim]

Sorry if I misconstrued the meaning of your post, as I am for my double post.

[js1138]

I was responding to a post that said George Will knew more about baseball than science. I said that didn't imply that George Will was ignorant of science.

[JohnnyZ]

If creationism becomes the biggest issue, then it is unfortunate.

IMO people don't really care that much about evolution/creationism in schools -- it's more of a flashpoint, a reaction against the atheist liberal indoctrination that is rampant in many public school systems, from sex ed classes to no prayer in school to no Christmas celebration to skewed teaching of history and polisci.

The sad state of public school education is indeed an important issue; this is just a convenient though perhaps ill-chosen vehicle for objection.

[moog]

George Will knew more about baseball than science

I could have used his help on how to hit curveballs.