I think this election, most elections, are ultimately about the economy. No matter what happens on election night, the clock will begin ticking for the winners.

Sharlet’s observation about co-opting is accurate, because Washington has a tendency to grind politicians into a mold of simply wanting to get re-elected. And so there is this odd master that they must serve, a combination of campaign money and popularity polls. If they become unpopular, then the money goes to someone else. If they generate enough money, they can generate popularity.

The factor beyond their control, which truly determines their popularity, the factor that ultimately wins or loses elections, is current events tied to the economy. Or, they can say things so astoundingly stupid that they embarrass their constituents.

For the Christian Right to gain real political momentum, a lot of folks have to become enthusiastically religious, so much so that they lose perspective on how society works and the institutions that keeps society stable. There is only so much momentum that can be generated here, especially since we love new technology more than we love religious beliefs.

You cannot theologically remove debt, although people try. Nor can you theologically reduce unemployment, or theologically control the stock market.

If there is a real danger sign that signals the possibility of the US becoming a theocracy, it is when people, en masse, avoid going to their doctor when they are sick and go to their clergyman instead. I don’t see that happening in the US, ever.