[PatrickHenry]

Actually, this isn't as bad as I feared when I started to read the article. Lots of conservatives seem to have the right idea -- that ID isn't science and shouldn't be taught in science classes. Those that appear to be in the ID camp, or are otherwise totally confused, are Grover Norquist (who correctly thinks we shouldn't have government schools at all), Stephen Moore (I'm not too familiar with him), and Pat Buchanan (hopelessly muddled). The rest are either solidly in favor of evolution, or are more or less so, and mildly confused about details. Not all that bad, really.

The sad thing is that these are among the most enlightened conservatives, and so many of them have such a poor grasp of the issues. Of course, the state of scientific literacy among the dems must be at least this bad, but at this point they'd probably back evolution as a talking point with which to bash conservatives.

[ConservativeDude]

"Grover Norquist (who correctly thinks we shouldn't have government schools at all)"

Damn someone finally gets it right!!!!

If we could get rid of government schools and the IRS, then we will have substantially redeemed the tradition of religious freedom this country once had. I would think that my conservative and evolution - believing friends would agree with me on that.

Personally I know what I believe and don't particularly want to be forced to pay for the other side. A truly free society would not do that. That seems to me to be what is always lost in these threads. Government should not be arbitrating this debate precisely because it touches too deeply on religious issues. But the only way to get government out of arbitrating the issue is to get government out of the "education" business altogether.

Then get the IRS out of churches.

Surely about that we can all agree? (Didn't a famous and intelligent man once say, "cant we all just get along?").

[general_re]

Pat Buchanan (hopelessly muddled)

Nothing new there, eh?

[visualops]

Late to the thread- but- don't we have a major major problem with the comprehension of a great many people in just what is a theory and what is science and what is the theory of evolution? I mean I was in school a heck of a long time ago and while I did well in science there's alot I've forgotten, but I never confused science and theory with God or religion or the origin of the universe and/or life. I am dumbfounded by the garbling of this whole topic. From the first sentence "I believe in evolution" you're already off on the wrong foot saying you believe in a theory.