The Religion and Values department at Gallup recently initiated a "Gallup Religious Tolerance Index," which will now be part of Gallup’s regular polling. Five questions will categorize respondents by three levels of religious tolerance: Isolated, Tolerant, and Integrated. "Isolated" individuals–the least tolerant–have religious attitudes Gallup describes as "my tribe or no tribe," characterized by certainty that theirs is the One Right Way.
Continue reading “Tolerating Muncie”
By Their Deeds
It is accepted truth among pundits—those Molly Ivins calls “the chattering classes”—that George W. Bush is a moderate.
Continue reading “By Their Deeds”
Parties & Pendulums
Twenty-two years ago, I was a Republican candidate for Congress. I was pro-choice, pro-gay-rights, pro-free market economics, pro-civil liberties. When I lost, the commentators were unanimous in their judgments: I was simply “too conservative.”
Continue reading “Parties & Pendulums”
Bush Trade Policy
Bruce Bartlett, a reliably conservative columnist whose commentary on economic matters appears regularly on the editorial page of the Indianapolis Star, recently delivered a scathing analysis of what passes for trade policy in the Bush Administration. After accusing the administration of ?incredibly poor judgment in trade policy ever since taking office,? Bartlett pointed out that the steel tariffs imposed by Bush have backfired badly, by costing jobs in industries that use steel. Bush?s agricultural subsidies, said Bartlett, ?doomed a multilateral trade agreement.?
Continue reading “Bush Trade Policy”
Faith Based Terrorism
We can change our foreign policy, we can feed the people who live in these desperately impoverished places, we can give more or less aid to Israel—but none of that is relevant to this particular jihad, or holy war. Those responsible for this wave of terrorist activity are fighting modernity. And there is no more important element of modernity than the secular state.
Continue reading “Faith Based Terrorism”