I wish that politicians didn't have to be religious to get elected

redwards · 06-11-2007, 12:46 AM

The rest of the world has to be fucking laughing at us.

3 Republican candidates don't believe in evolution. The 3 main democratic candidates went to a special interview specifically about their faith. Any politician running for major office who was asked about faith and said, "I place more value in evidence than faith," would probably get 3 votes.

What the fuck? One of the primary characteristics that Americans value in their politicians is the abdication of logic. Go us.

/rant

Dumpy Dooby · 06-11-2007, 05:47 AM

Yeah, I've noticed that too. Dawkins cited some study that indicated the American public would be more likely to vote for a gay person, a black person, or a woman than they would an atheist. Maybe that will be the next poll I start: "Would a candidate lose your vote if he was openly atheist?"

Linzyhop · 06-11-2007, 09:33 AM

at least they could concentrate on politics without bringing "faith" into it... i wonder if the Arab countries would be more lax with us if they thought we weren't pushing our collective "faith" onto them, with an atheist in office.

redwards · 06-11-2007, 09:43 AM

Sorry, I had CNN on and they were replaying the interview with the dems about their faith, and it made me angry enough to post. Just once, I want to see a politician say, "No, it wasn't my faith that helped me through the hard times, it was prozac and hookers." At least they wouldn't be lying.

Publius · 06-11-2007, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

at least they could concentrate on politics without bringing "faith" into it... i wonder if the Arab countries would be more lax with us if they thought we weren't pushing our collective "faith" onto them, with an atheist in office.

They'd probably be even angrier at us, because teh Muslims that are angry with us consider us the "Great Satan" and a godless nation anyway, having an Atheist in office would probably just help reinforce that rhetoric and inflame borderline U.S. haters.

Diamond Cross · 06-18-2007, 03:00 PM

They don't. Legally, anyone can be a politician. But legality and popularity are two different things.

avsp · 06-21-2007, 07:09 AM

I dont know about the rest of Europe but it certainly does seem odd, 'typically american' in the concensus view here in the UK. It can be frightening, ..., 'end timers' etc

As Blairs spin doctor said 'we dont do politics' when Balirs was once asked about his faith by a woman's magazine.

OTOH it only happens coz so many yanks are believers & it the politicos pronouncements very often smacks of insincere 'lip service' to me, (as for the speeches at the Oscars, ..., wtf?).

OTOH I can easily imagine that the US is much better off for having so many ppl with at least an understanding of some solid core moral beliefs, (even if many do, on occasion, behave slightly hypocritically, ..., but then Christianity is built around 'forgiveness' anyway).

Over here with the collapse of belief in Christianity since WW1 & the failure of 'liberal humanism' to be 'robust' there are loads of ppl who dont really understand the question 'What are your core moral beliefs?' & even if asked would say something like '"dont grass, string the peados up, send them all back to where they came from, such rules as these dont apply to me & mine, ..., errrr thats it, ..., did I mention send them all back to where they came from? I dont believe in religion but I reckon theres some kind og god or something". I reckon around a quarter of the urban population basically think like that

Cliffs: I agree with OP, but the grass is always greener, possibly could be worse etc