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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Welcome to the Age of Endarkenment

By Dan Hagen
I think what is really under assault in the U.S. these days is the philosophical and scientific superstructure of the Enlightenment.
The only part of that American right wingers don’t want to scrap is advanced weapons technology, which they plan to use to smite their millions of enemies.
Republicans may sneer at science in general, but they always remain eager to deploy its latest advances in service of those activities they truly value: Killing, torture, invasion, police intimidation and the mass surveillance of American citizens.
First, the Tea Party wanted to go back to before Obama. Then back to before FDR. Then back to Dickensian England with its prisons and workhouses. Now, back before the Enlightenment, for pity’s sake. They’re on the Stone Age Express.
Their enemies are democracy and civilization itself, although they haven’t quite worked up the nerve to admit that yet. Just give them time.
And unfortunately, we have.

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