From: Wim Nusselder (wim.nusselder@antenna.nl)
Date: Wed May 12 2004 - 22:03:29 BST
Dear Dave S.,
You write 11 May 2004 21:28:45 -0400:
'that statistic [59% of the Americans believe that the bible book of
Revelations is literally true] is unnerving indeed. What good can come of
all this, you ask? Well, with respect to the USA's recent foreign policy
actions, and the worldview that governs them, the answer is "not much at
all."'
You go on to describe neo-conservative thinking which is -according to you-
behind the Iraq policy of the present US administration.
You ignore both my question whether that statistic is true in your
experience (I can't really believe it) and that I did not ask whether that
present policy can be a force for Good, but whether your country can be if
non-rational belief systems inform foreign policy.
Your description of neo-conservative thinking (and other descriptions I
read) makes it quite rational (only less than realistic). I never saw
statistics about their numbers, but I didn't have the impression that
neo-cons make up 59% of the American population.
The problem I stated (and hopefully overstated) is not about some 'idiots in
Washington' who choose unilateralist over multilateral means to promote
national interests either. That's perfectly rational as long as you evaluate
the results of the chosen strategy and adapt it accordingly, however slowly
and if necessary by voting another administration in power.
The problem is that possibly the evaluation of government plans and actions
is (for a majority of voters) not ruled by the goal of national interests,
but by the goal of going to Heaven and by the belief that disastrous
government action could be conducive to reaching that goal. If that is true
even a (potential) Democratic successor administration will not be able to
choose and act fully rationally on pain of losing essential parts of its
constituency that are part of this 59%.
With friendly greetings,
Wim
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