Where economics meets religious fundamentalism

David Sirota

Friday, August 11, 2006

SINCE the Sept. 11,2001, terrorist attacks, the world has learned a lot about the dangers of religious fundamentalists. They cannot be reasoned with, bargained with or talked sense to no matter how destructive their actions are. Why? Because they are governed not by fact, but entirely by faith -- a concept the American Heritage dictionary defines as "belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence."

Unfortunately, faith-based fundamentalism is not the exclusive domain of terrorists. Some fundamentalists operate in the legitimate, nonviolent world of American politics where they wear suits, appear on television and are venerated as geniuses. Their religion is called "free" trade, which they zealously insist will lead America to economic nirvana. Yet, like other fundamentalists, their proselytizing does not rest on logical proof or material evidence, and their vision is apocalyptic, at least for most Americans' economic future.