Sam Harris author of the book "The End of Faith" takes on American politics.

President Bush has now endorsed the pseudo-scientific notion of "intelligent design" (ID) and declared it to be a legitimate alternative to the theory of evolution. This is not surprising, as he has always maintained that "the jury is still out" on the question of evolution. But the jury is not out -- indeed it was well in before President Bush was even born -- and anyone familiar with modern biology knows that ID is nothing more than a program of political and religious advocacy masquerading as science.

Because it is taboo to criticize a personÂ’s religious beliefs, political debate over questions of public policy (stem-cell research, the ethics of assisted suicide and euthanasia, obscenity and free speech, gay marriage, etc.) generally gets framed in terms appropriate to a theocracy. Unreason is now ascendant in the United States -- in our schools, in our courts, and in each branch of the federal government. Only 28 percent of Americans believe in evolution; 68 percent believe in Satan. Ignorance in this degree, concentrated in both the head and belly of a lumbering superpower, is now a problem for the entire world.

The above is a powerful statement! Our anti-intellectual stance has an effect on the rest of the world and it is not apositivee one. We continue to ignore global warming regardless of the reams of informationsupportingg it and we treat Evolution as if it is religious dogma rather then scientific fact. We are shooting ourselves in the foot!

PsS. I read his book and I must say whether you are a believer or not he makes some very astute observations. I loved it!