"Insanity -- a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world." R. D. Lang
I posit that religious fundamentalism is a not the problem (well yes, it is A problem, not THE problem) that we must confront, rather it is a symptom of an America that offers less and less opportunity to the average person. It may seem irrational, but is in fact a rational response to a feeling of being without power to change ones situation. It is a result of being on the losing end of a class war that has been fought since Reagan was elected.
While the powers that be tell the public that schooling is the way to succeed and the only response to a degrading labor market, while simultaneously removing access to schooling by raising the cost and stripping the funding for the middleclass to attend. When they do nothing about access to affordable healthcare, where can those without look than to prayer.
That we saw this phenomena in the Great Depression and we see it now is not a coincidence. While we need to confront the excesses of religion and their attack on science; we can not succeed in getting the public on board until we return hope to them.
People have lost faith in the ability to provide their families with the basics of life simply by working hard and playing by the rules. Which is a dangerous time for any Republic, which by its nature depends on a functioning social contract.
Other symptoms: The increasing in gambling and playing the lotteries. The popularity of "reality shows" where people are given homes for the worst hard luck stories. A rise in the crime rate after years of falling. Increasing drug epidemic (meth) in the small town and rual areas. A general feeling of anome as people feel aliented.
I'd like to engage in ideas of how a populist agenda can return rationality to a country that once thrived on science and being forward looking.