Why Have Fundies Become a Force in Politics?

[LiberalFighter]

Poll question: Why Have Fundies Become a Force in Politics?

I believe that the major reason was the result of the Falwell's, Robertson's, Bakker's and others being able to break loose from the local media and gain access to the national media. Cable Television provided the means to accomplish that goal and extend their reach.

If the FCC has their way in requiring alacart menu for Cable Television and Satellite Television it may be a way to cut off revenue to those on the religious channels. How many will want to include the religious channels if they have to pay beyond what they normally watch?


Cablevision Chair Supports a La Carte Cable Packages USAToday 3 Dec 2005

[JNelson6563]

1. Other

Because the rest of Christianity has not stepped up to slap a muzzle on them.

[ellenfl]

2. other . . . media control and control of the flock by religious leaders.

remember, they have been working on this for YEARS!

ellen fl

[marbuc]

3. Other

Grassroots politics can be dominated by special interests because the general electorate is apathetic and/or poorly informed. Their message seems benign on first glance, and few take the time to take that (not so)hard look that would reveal its insidiousness.

I mean, if one doesn't know any better, who wouldn't want a pleasant environment to raise our kids? Culture of life sounds pleasant enough, right? Who wouldn't rather marriages don't end in divorce? Few pay attention to the fact these are code for a dark theocratic agenda that would impose institutional persecution of anyone not practicing their brand of fundamentalist christianity.

[TrogL]

4. Authoritarian personality types just can't leave well enough alone

They have to try to control everything.

[DBoon]

5. their opponents are afraid to go on the attack

else they be accused of being anti-christian atheists

[Peace Patriot]

6. The Fundie "force in politics" is given a BIG TRUMPET by the war...

...profiteering corporate news monopolies, way out of proportion to their numbers. The question should not be, "Why have they become a force?," but rather, "Why do these minority views SEEM like a force?"

The vast majority of Americans are sensible, progressive people who love justice and peace. Opinion polls over the last several years establish this overwhelmingly. (For instance--my favorite--63% of Americans oppose torture "under any circumstances," May '04--despite relentless warmongering and fearmongering by the Bush junta and its lapdog press.) (Read the issue polls--you will be amazed!)

The effect of the over-trumpeting of rightwing fundy and fascist views is to make the members of the great progressive majority feel isolated and alone ("I feel like I'm the only one.") Depressed, discouraged, powerless, without a voice; the country on an insane course and no one can stop it. Other Americans must be crazy. Etc. Etc. Very effective propaganda. No one believes the CONTENT of the propaganda, but they think many OTHERS believe it, and they are therefore without recourse.

Solution: Read the issue polls! And find your compadres who believe in democracy, peace, justice and progress. And don't let appearances fool you. You will be surprised at who agrees with you. (Note: That 63% who oppose torture "under any circumstances" HAS to include many Republicans, as does the 58% of Americans who opposed the Iraq war before the invasion (Feb. '03!)--as do all the other polls, all of which show 60% to 70% majorities opposed to very major Bush policy, foreign and domestic.)

Stop buying into the ILLUSION of fundie dominance. It is manufactured by those who would steal all your money, pollute the earth and send your child to Iraq to boost their oil stocks.

[htuttle]

7. Other...

1) They aren't as big a force as we are lead to believe.

and

2) Sun Myung Moon's money and organization in the late 70's put them on the national stage politically.

[Yupster]

8. To my memory it started with the ERA Amendment

which would have been in the Seventies.

The ERA had passed the House and the Senate and was breezing through the State legislatures on its way into the Constitution.

Then one person set up a movement to organize religious Amricans to try to stop the ERA, and she stopped it in its tracks. In fact a couple of states which had already passed it through their legislatures rescinded it with questionable legality.

That one woman turned her fight into the Religious Right, allied herself with Ronald Reagan and created a political force which remains formidable today.

She may be the most influential American woman in the last 40 years. She is Phyllis Schlaffly and she's as acidic as ever.