A number of letters seem to pooh-pooh Michelle’s article on the grounds that this is a relatively harmless, insignificant movement run by a bunch of ignorant wing-nuts. It is run by bunch of ignorant wing- nuts. But they are a particularly well-organized and powerful bunch of ignorant wing-nuts and ridiculing them won’t make them go away or minimize their effect on the country.

We currently have a sitting president that claims to be a born again Christian (A man, incidentally, that has little intellectual curiosity and claims Jesus Christ as his favorite philosopher). His campaigns were partially financed and heavily supported by various religious groups and fundamentalist organizations. He has appointed ardent fundamentalists to high positions of responsibility and packed the Supreme Court with justices that spout heavily religious worldviews. Yet writers sarcastically tell Michelle to lighten up and act as though she’s just rehashing old news!

Even if the Bush junta were run out of Washington on a rail tomorrow, the virus that put them and dozens of members of congress in office is still as virulent as ever. The god-squad is dug in pretty deep and they’re growing-- partially due to their ability to court unlikely and disparate allies to sign on to part of their agenda. In the science of influence this is called ‘commitment and consistency’ (in sales it’s called ‘getting your foot in the door’) and it works!

If you really think that Goldberg is being shrill, do a little survey of who sits on the school board and textbook committees in your community. You may find that the very movement you are trying to marginalize has wormed its way into even the smallest nooks and crannies of our social and educational infrastructure.

BrianWiliam, The providence of legislation is often hard to follow and besides, this “dominion stuff” is just a small part of a much larger religious movement that has put many a politician in office. I’m not worried about these particular KKK goons gaining substantial political office but I think you would be surprised at just how many Americans think that Justice Moore got a raw deal just because he wouldn’t move his 2.6 ton ten commandment slab. That’s all it takes to get that slab rolling.

“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”

Sinclair Lewis

The quest to build a genuine Theocracy really is a pipe dream of the Dominionists. However, this mutated strain of religion is grown in the same soil as the garden-variety fundamentalism that is so popular and growing right now. To marginalize them a wacko’s is dangerous because what they are articulating is just an extreme form of what a good portion of Americans have a very unhealthy sympathy for: more God everywhere!

I’m not worried that Jerry Falwell is going to become a fascist dictator in the ‘Republic of Jesusland’ or that Bob Jones University will become the new Harvard. I’m worried that Roe vs. Wade is going to be overturned, public education dismantled and what’s left of the social safety net turned completely over to private organizations. In other words I’m worried about what’s happening right now- and it’s these fundamentalist elements (whether of the small Dominionist or very large Southern Baptist variety) that are becoming the key lobbying block on these issues.

So no, I’m not really worried about the ‘Dominionists’ per se. I’m worried about the Bible thumping guy next door who shares even an iota of their sentiments and will join them in slowly helping to erode all the progress this country has made in the last half century.

And no, I’m not going to ‘lighten up’. It’s lightening up that put the God-squad in the White House.

"…they are not represented by even one national political figure,and therefore have no serious political power."

You’re correct, the Dominionists do not have one national political figure. But their larger and not much less dangerous inbred cousin mainstream fundamentalism does. In fact one of those Jethros sits in the Oval Office!

"Until they do, I'm not going to worry about them."

That’s a good idea. I’m sure that the bulk of the German population thought the same thing in 1928.

I like a little gossip as much as the next guy. But since Salon is a fairly intelligent website and those of us who subscribe to it generally have IQ’s over a hundred, I would like to throw out the humble suggestion that certain people--most of whom are of absolutely no interest to Salon’s readership-- never be mentioned again in the Fix feature. My suggestions to head this list are:

Paris Hilton

Brittany Spears

Michael Jackson

Lindsey Lohan

Madonna

Anything to do with American Idol

Christina Agul…what’s her name

Mariah Carey (or however you spell her name)

This is just a start (and it obviously reflects my biases) but readers can add to this list if they like.

I don’t mean to be a gossip fascist but there are people that just don’t matter and whose names should not be conjured under any circumstances.

Chad