The simple fact of the Old Testament is that it is the lowest cost ‘inventory’ in the US money game - hundreds of $millions are donated annually to Churches whose only purpose is to generate revenue, tax free of course as Churches (sic) are tax exempt. Carl Rove himself activated the pulpits to get George Bush re-elected in 2004, while managing to keep below the IRS radar: the IRS does not permit political-activism by tax free Churches. Church scams are legion: Jim Baker, etc., (now back on TV/Radio peddling religion, yet again) where $ millions are directed annually to ‘lifestyle’ benefits for Church insiders - 7 or so Churches are under investigation by the IRS for misappropriation of funds currently. Jimmy Carter himself has taken on the Southern Baptist Convention (16 million strong) for their abuse of women - a given to them that a women’s place is in the home under the direction of her husband - not unlike Sharia - women are defacto chattels under US evangelism.

I take issue with the ‘Code’ moderator in that he attests the origin of US evangelism came from the founding fathers. They were staunch Christians (many faiths/sects) who believed in and set up a secular Constitution and government. Evangelism came about when Jerry Fallwell launched the born-again movement in the 1970’s, crystallizing many Churches (and splinter religions) around the old testament and its Armageddon prophecy, i.e. Jerry brought a focus and stimulated a huge cash flow to the evangelical movement - he founded a University with the proceeds, the graduates, acolytes of evangelism that are seen/heard across America fearmongering (and raising money) from Armageddon! Unless the Apocalypse is shown as ‘imminent, people won’t contribute to ‘their salvation’ (sic).

Have lived in the US and been subject to a 1″ of paper contract that constituted my health care coverage - and only covered 80% of a limited number of procedures/treatments. My view is that many Americans already have a built-in ‘fear factor’ based on the impact of health issues on their lives, finances and prospects so its an easy step for a George Bush to fearmonger around ‘terrorism’, as it is the Churches to fearmonger around ‘eternal salvation.’ 60% of Americans still believe in Christ, are health conscious and anxious so are simply manipulated by the bible thumpers and their monumental bullshit (for money, of course). At retirement, elder citizens are thrown from private health plans onto Social Security, augmented by their life savings (impacted hugely by low prime interest rates for the last 5 years) and home equity (the largest growing financial segment currently is reverse-mortgages) where Bush’s lack of oversight of financial markets resulted in the sub prime crisis that has devalued real estate, adding yet more anxiety for elder citizens. Elder abuse is legion in a nation driven by profit, first! : http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/05/08/defrauding_seniors.php

Canada, the UK and most EC countries can be proud of Universal Health Care and social services second to non. There are 48 million without health care in the US and 40 million+ living below the poverty line. So much for the richest nation on earth - the land of the free! Try: http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/76032/

The video the only one on your page with a blank box - can you simply post the YouTube URL please?

The US Republican party is a coalition of evangelical Christians, conservatives (anti abortion, homophobic), Neo Cons: pro Israel at any cost Zionists, and gun toting rednecks, all happy to support Bush, et al in a foreign policy based on Globalization, i.e. bringing Military materiel/hardware, Coke and Microsoft to the world and Imperialism: getting access to oil wherever it is located by installing puppet governments (Shah of Iran, Saudi royals and Emirate despots) and providing them military protection to ensure that the oil flows to America. Iraq a misstep*, other than removing the French & Russian influence on Saddam, who had denied the US Iraq’s oil under the UN controlled ‘oil for food program’. * Iraq was a religious war for George Bush - a clash of ideologies: Christianity/democracy vs. Sunni oppression/despotism.

Born again Christian evangelicals hold Leviticus as the-gospel, and George Bush (a born-again) has done all he can to end the separation of Church & State enshrined in the US Constitution with his faith-based social program initiatives, the loading of the Supreme Court with conservatives (to result in the ‘eye for an eye’ - Leviticus 19:18 - notion the law of the land), attempts at enshrining a marriage definition (a man & a woman) and reversal of Roe v. Wade, to ban abortion under the constitution! The US Constitution was written by Europeans who had fled religious persecution in Europe, hence insistent that the Church be separate from a secular government of state representatives, elected by the people.

I would suggest the 2007, 3 one hour segments: ‘God’s Warriors’ produced by CNN’s Christiane Armanpour: http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/ Extremists from all 3 religions are detailed/explored, all equally frightening in my view. Christiane, an Iranian, living in London: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/22/amanpour.answers/

One can only conclude that religion has no place whatsoever in politics!