From the inside flap of "Moral Politics" by George Lakoff

"Lakoff argues, the issues dividing Americans are not mere matters of partisanship, but arise from radically different conceptions of morality and ideal family life-meaning that family and morality are at the heart of American politics."

The election yesterday didn't come down to the state of Ohio as most would like to think. The presidency was decided by religion in this country — the simple fact that millions of Americans feel like they did gods will by voting for George W. Bush. They believe their souls are safe today and they believe that god wanted it to happen this way. In their minds we will go forward now with God's blessing.

What is gods will and who has his phone number?

In my opinion, I highly doubt that anything will be done on abortion over the next four years and stem cell research will continue on — minus big money from the government — these are the facts. The only major statement that was made by the right-wing religious crowd is that the majority of America believes that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Will that decision make us a moral society? When will we address the decay of the American family? Shouldn't we address the real problem of divorce in this country before we tell people that entering into a loving relationship is wrong?

The problem here is that inside the conservative mind it doesn't matter that this believe is based in their own religious teachings. It doesn't matter that they are completely ignoring all the other issues. It doesn't matter that they placed their vote on issues that will neither change or improve over the next four years. It only matters that they have acted in the best interest of their beliefs.

They also are not dealing with the larger problems that we face in this country. Do we still believe in the separation of church and state? Should our leaders advocate for policies based on their own moral upbringing or stand up for the rights of Americans to live their lives as they see fit? The majority of America says "no". Why would we want to let our government tell us what we can do with our bodies, what is right and moral, who can love who, and when it is right to kill and when it is not. (i.e. abortion, stem cell research, gay marriage, and war)

I remember at the beginning of the year, one of my friends said that the election would revolve around the gay marriage issue — it might even decide the election. At the time I just laughed and thought that the American people were smarter than that. There is no way that we would throw aside all our important issues that affect us on a daily basis for something so small and trivial.