Will reason be left behind by us also? Al Gore, "the enemy of reason is fear"

I just started reading Gore's book "Assault On Reason". Of course when I think of those he is talking about who do not use reason to make decisions anymore I think of right wingers. But as I think of what he is saying and read some threads here at DU, it seems to me that fear has become part of our lives and reason has left our thinking also to some extent.

The attack on the Dems for not just cutting the funding of the war even thought they hold the Senate by only one seat seems to me to be unreasonable. Likewise the support of Hugo Chavez's shutting down opposition television seems to me to be going against everything we seem to stand for when we defend our First Amendment rights.

Many of us would limit the choices Americans have in the vehicles they drive or the places they shop because of their deep commitment to a cause. Although I agree with most of the causes I disagree with many of the tactics of those supporting them.

In the sixties when we marched in opposition to many of the things we saw as evils in society, I don't think we advocated taking away people's rights to implement our way. So I am contributing much of what I read here at DU and don't like to the fact that it was posted by younger people than I am who have lived in an age where principals matter less than the cause we are fighting for.

I'd hate to see a progressive movement in this country that is based on coercion and limited rights as much as I'd hate to see a conservative movement based on coercion and limited rights.

I'm beginning to think that we may lose our sense of reason in our decision making as much as the right has if we abandon the principals this country was founded on. I beginning to think that our fear that we will not be able to make the world we want will contribute to our making decisions based on that fear rather than reason.

and Chairman Mao were heroes to some. Rich Republicans are not voluntarily going to quit screwing the poor, driving Hummers and Escalades to their country clubs, etc. The poor of the religious right are not going to voluntarily stop letting the rich Republicans screw them over while they foolishly vote contrary to their own best interests. Some degree of coercion is going to be needed to restore the separation of church and state and the destruction of the planet for profit.

agree with Al Gore that fear is an enemy of reason. I would add, however, that reasoning can be faulty, often based on incomplete, biased, or otherwise faulty information. Yet it is the best grounding that we have to try to discern reality. I think our great danger - repeatedly demonstrated by Bush and his minions - is the human tendency to prefer illusion over reality.

Reason tells me if we have simple majorities in congress and if everyone of the democratic party voted to de-authorize the war and then deauthorize the funding, the Iraq occupation would wind up and our troops and national guard could come home or be redeployed. Congress can do this WITHOUT sending a bill to the president for veto. So I ask is it reasonable that all democrats could vote against extending the occupation, or maybe not? Some aren't ready for it to be over I guess and thus not. Is it reasonable for me to keep trying to get them to end it? I think so since I cannot influence republicans.

If you don't like the answer, you will seek another, because that's what you want.

is DECEPTION. Fear is a symptom.