America acquires a large disaffected minority
However, we live in a liberal democracy where freedom of expression is an inalienable right. Surely this is exactly why I and many others have articulated concerns over the increasing sway Christian fundamentalism is exerting on public policy in the US.
Ms Prone’s indignation at so-called mass stereotyping ignores the fact that Karl Rove, US President George W Bush’s chief strategist, targeted up to four million evangelical Christian votes.
This cohort enabled Bush to increase his majority in the Senate, the House of Representatives and, perhaps most importantly, also helped to enhance his popular majority to 3.5 million in the presidential race. This mandate undoubtedly comes with a price. Public policy will have to reflect this shift to the right. Appointments to the supreme court will be ultra-conservative and, in turn, this will influence constitutional interpretation of public policy.
This will affect conservatives and liberals alike, to what degree we do not know. All that can be said with any degree of certainty is that whatever legislation is effected there will be a substantial disaffected minority in American society. This surely is a cause for concern, not embarrassment.
Kevin McCarthy
Ardfield Grove
Grange
Douglas
Cork
