[OPE-L] The role of irrational beliefs

[Jurriaan Bendien <adsl675281@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The Bush regime seems to be quite successful in whipping up xenophobic hate
and fear in the US population. Mark Weisbrot notes that a recent poll showed
80 percent of Americans now believe that if Iran had a nuclear weapon they
would give it to terrorists to use against the United States.
http://www.cepr.net/columns/weisbrot/2006_04_11.htm A report on this poll is
here: http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/13/poll.iran/ or alternatively
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-13-usat-poll_x.htm

Yet, as I mentioned, a 2002 National Geographic Society survey found, that
only about one in seven of Americans between the age of 18 and 24, the prime
age for military recruits, could find Iraq or Iran on a map.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geosurvey/download/RoperSurvey.pdf .

Meanwhile,

Roughly half of Americans report economizing in order to compensate for the
increase in gas prices over the past year. About half say they have cut back
significantly on the amount they drive. Separately, a slim majority (54%)
say they have reduced their household spending on other items. Most
Americans say they would consider buying a hybrid car when making their next
car purchase. http://poll.gallup.com/content/default.aspx?ci=22303

J.