Could the US become a theocracy ?

Yes, I think it is a real danger, and I think if it happens it will not happen in a "bloody coup", but slowly and gradually.In fact, I think that we have been moving that way ever since Reagan made a lot of political hay from courting the extremeist Christian right.

The ACLU recently defended JERRY FALWELL in a case, even though he has expressed his seething haterd for that organization on many occasions.

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Ever read the Handmaid's Tale? It wasn't quite so simple, but exteremely disturbing.

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I read it a long time ago. I have thought of it often over the last 4 years.We are so close to that being a reality.

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I also see the need for some absolute authority to restrict things that can destroy a country.

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That you seem to really believe this is quite frightening to me.It is the attitude that allows a steady slide into facism and the end of liberty and freedom and our very way of life here in America.You are expressing very, very un-American attitudes.

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Not at all. I am just expressing the opposite end of the political spectrum than you are.

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The Founders were quite emphatic in leaving any kind of "moral absolutes" out of our constitution in particular and out of the realm of government interference in general.You are correct that you are expressing the far right political view, which is facist or dictatorial, but my point is that this view is very, very un-American.If the founders were alive today they would be horrified by your idea that the government should be imposing moral absolutes to the extent you suggest.

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Don't be so sure what they would express horror at. They may look around and see how society has changed. They may get to view some movies and T.V.

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Whoa, whoa, whoa, there, phat!If you have a problem with movies and TV, then I'm afraid that you have a problem with capitalsism, not the system of government that our founders set up.You have lots and lots of control over what you watch on TV for free and what you pay to see in the movie theaters. If you don't like it, you turn the TV off and you don't go see those movies.I think that the Founders would be horrified by the following:1)The low percentage of the eligable population that votes.
2)The way the press has become nothing more than a sensationalistic money-making entertainment enterprise instead of a way to investigate issues and government to help citizens learn the truth.
3)the erosion of our civil liberties.

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They may get to dee the issues that would never have been understood or accepted by folks in their day. They would be horrified, allright, but it would not be because of the religious conservatives.

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Yes, they absolutely would have been horrified by religion gaining power into the American government like it has.Remember, those men were products of the Rationalist movement. Several of them were quite anti religion.Please pay special attention to the Jefferson quotes I have bolded."I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved--the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!"--John Adams in a letter to Thomas Jefferson"Religion I found to be without any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, serves principally to divide us and make us unfriendly to one another."--Benjamin Franklin"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical."--Thomas Jefferson, _Statute_for_Religious_Freedom_, 1779, _The_Papers_of_Thomas_Jefferson_, edited by Julron P. Boyd, 1950, 2:545"History I believe furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose."--Thomas Jefferson to Baron von Humboldt in 1813, _The_Writings_of_Thomas_Jefferson_Memorial_Edition_, edited by Lipscomb and Bergh, 14:21This message has been edited by schrafinator, 12-09-2004 09:50 AM

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not to mention having to leave the building to smoke at all.

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Its what we can't do, or must do, in the name of "security" and "create a decent society" that would shock the hell out of them.

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Of course, once we told them that medical science has advanced so that we now understand that second hand smoke is injurious to others besides the smoker, I am sure they would understand their need to smoke away from others.

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They banned headscarves, the crucifix, yamulka's and any other religious symbols being worn by state employees while performing their government functions.

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Didn't they ban headscarves for children at school? And did they ban the other religious symbols at school, too? I had only heard about the headscarves and thought that if they were singling out the muslims it was wrong.

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The French banned everything...not just islamic symbols. The Germans are targetting Islam exclusively.

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I think it's wrong to ban headscarves and other religious gear or symbols which are required by a person's religion.This ban favors Christians and other religions that don't have such a requirement in their tennets.

I'd appreciate a reply to message #66, please.

OK, if you want to dismiss the findings of over 30 studies and the opinion of the EPA, the US Surgeon General, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Cancer institute, be my guest. 404 Error - American College of Chest Physicians http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/10_18.htm This message has been edited by schrafinator, 12-10-2004 09:16 AM

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It does not not mean that I don't think that my kids AND your kids need Jesus, however.

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You are free to think this, just as I am free to think that my kids AND your kids need to never blindly believe anything just because it makes them feel good.However, it's not unbelievers like me trying to get control of the government in order to get a philosophy like mine instilled as doctrine that everyone must follow.It is believers in your religion who are trying to get control of the government to force me to follow YOUR beliefs and YOUR religion.I am happy to live and let live.Your side is not content to leave me and mine the heck alone.

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The new freedom which is:" I should be able to go anywhere I want and not be offended... or put at risk... by behaviors that the owners and other patrons might like" is not freedom.

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Do you think that smoking should be allowed in the workplace, in office buildings?

OK, but he started it.(pouts sullenly)

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Your family lives in a small town. The voting block changes, as single factory workers move into the area. They vote to allow bars, liquor stores, ghambling, porn shops, and as an addition, drugs become rampant.

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I notice that you mention nothing about crime.If crime levels stay low, what's the problem?

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You cannot afford to move.
I would be in favor of legislating morality with a block of like minded families. What would you do?

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I would never want to dictate to someone else, by law, their morals.It is impossible anyway. People's morals are their own.If there was no increase in crime, I probably wouldn't do anything.

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BTW, your teenagers are getting more unruly because of the forbidden thrills available in town. They always listened to you, however, until this new temptation.

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If your teenagers run wild because of bars and gambling suddenly being around, then you did a terrible job of instilling your values into them.