The War on Unions, Regulatory System, and Social Safety Net - Examples from Fundamentalist Textbooks

Biblical Capitalism - Part Two

The Tea Partiers' version of constitutional conservatism is not new, as shown in the following quotes taken from Protestant fundamentalist textbooks. Neither is this worldview the creation of the late Mormon author Cleon Skousen, or a unique discovery by Glenn Beck. Thousands of pages of fundamentalist textbooks trumpet claims related to the belief that federal regulation of the free market is not only unconstitutional but against God's will. This worldview often comes as a package of interrelated narratives: 1) Biblical Capitalism; 2) a Christian nationalist version of American history and exceptionalism; and 3) Creationism. Many Tea Partiers and their candidates of choice are voicing an ideology that have been widely taught to both students and adults for more than two decades - a worldview that is more closely related to the Constitution Party's mission "to restore our government to its Constitutional limits and our law to its Biblical foundations," than libertarianism.


The Impact of this Worldview on Today's News

The recent changes to Texas Social Studies curriculum guidelines (with 86 references to "free enterprise" in the standards) were so radical that they have been criticized by the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute as a "politicized distortion of history," in a report submitted this week. Also this week, Former Sen. Russ Feingold remarked that the agenda of the new Wisconsin governor, Scott Walker, is "destroying unions." In January, the newly elected governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, stated, "Let me be very clear...this is an anti-union administration." A January Wall Street Journal article, designed for classroom use, asks students to explain why some governors believe attacks on state workers and unions are popular.

This is the tip off an iceberg that has been forming for a generation, remaining below the surface and out of the sight of Americans who are not exposed to the narratives of fundamentalist culture. Why have large numbers of Americans decided that it is their godly duty to attack labor unions, the regulatory system, social safety nets, public education and public space? Clues can be found in the textbooks surveyed below.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/2/18/171319/545/Front_Page/The_War_on_Unions_Regulatory_System_and_Social_Safety_Net_Examples_from_Fundamentalist_Textbooks

And this is why most of those teabaggers in Madison yesterday were Christian fundamentalists. The American Taliban has captured the Tea Party!

They have a SECRET plan to overthrow the government, repeal the Constitution and replace it with 'biblical law'.

This is the 800 pound elephant in the living room which NO ONE will talk about.

We need to locate their churches and start protesting right out in front of them to call attention to this insidious plot!

It's the only way to get the WORTHLESS media to report this story!

I like the idea of protesting in front of their fucked up religious congregations.

k&r

his African Investments in the Diamond Industry.

of the Bible belt,your way off the map. If this Biblical transformation is coming why are churches and non-profits out of so much cash? They are so religous that they don't throw a few coins in the collection on Sunday?

I hear what you're saying, but mixed metaphors aside, this isn't on most peoples radar, and as such is not like a pink elephant or an 800 pound gorilla in the room. It's more like a deadly snake hiding and waiting to strike.

Picketing churches is a hard sell, but I agree something must be done.

-Hoot