Religion and American Government…How separate?

Essay: Religion and American Government…How separate?  April 2012

Summary: As we approach Easter, I selected a thorny subject to discuss. In 1787 the Continental Congress commissioned the first penny. The motto was "Mind Your Own Business”…not very religious. In 1864, during the Civil War, the Union introduced a 2-cent coin with the motto "In God We Trust". In 1956, “In God We Trust” was mandated for all our currency. Yet, our forefathers created the First Amendment of the Constitution: the right of freedom of religion. In 2012, we are among the most religious people in the world but our government plays a small role in promoting, endorsing or funding religious institutions. Today, there is a debate about the separation of Church and State and religious/moral issues regarding abortion, in vitro fertilization, contraception, marriage between two people of the same sex, and even birth control pills. These ethical/moral subjects have become heated during the presidential election season. This essay offers some history and perspective. I realize that this will be a long, perhaps tedious read. Since the issues regarding religion and government are complex and are rarely black and white, their history and evolution are placed in a “Detailed Review” section.

The full essay is attached.

DAVID SOWERS April 2012

Read More

CONSERVATISM: DEFAULT IDEOLOGY - FUNCTION OF LOW BRAIN POWER

Is Conservatism Our Default Ideology?

New research provides evidence that, when under time pressure or otherwise cognitively impaired, people are more likely to express conservative views.

 A research team led by University of Arkansas psychologist Scott Eidelman argues that conservatism — which the researchers identify as “an emphasis on personal responsibility, acceptance of hierarchy, and a preference for the status quo” — may be our default ideology. If we don’t have the time or energy to give a matter sufficient thought, we tend to accept the conservative argument.  Eidelman and his colleagues’ paper will surely  outrage manyon the left (who will resist the notion of conservatism as somehow natural) and the right (who will take offense to the idea that their ideology is linked to low brainpower.) The researchers do their best to preemptively answer such criticism.

Researchers at CalTech MedTransplant have also weighed in relative to the anomoly of disparity in cost of brainial transplants.  Michael Cohen, MD, head of the school's transplant unit, noted that the cost of brainial transplants of patient-donors of conservative ideology cost

about  60% less than those of liberal ideology, noting that the primary reason is that conservative brains have more mileage on them, i.e. they tend to be "used brains."

see rest of gallup survey below.

Read More

SMOKE RINGS AND STRING THEORY

Physics on the Fringe: Smoke Rings, Circlons, and Alternative Theories of Everything

Read More