Lillian Bachmeier, Mandan

In human evolution, anthropologists postulate that 500,000 years ago, the brain tripled in size increasing the neocortex which predisposes us toward mystic or spiritual experiences and the desire to believe in a supreme being or the supernatural.

Through eons of time, this alleged MATZ2 gene, (God gene) has given hope, structure, and security to mankind.

But it also has been weaponized. Historians believe that 90% of religious wars are based on economics.

The Old Testament is basically the story of the Israelites taking and defending land with God assisting and ordaining it. The Crusades were motivated by the knights plundering and stealing. Slavery was given God’s blessing from the Old testament, westward expansion included Christianizing the natives, particularly the children, and as we slaughtered the Filipinos in the Spanish American War, the military cry was, “We must Christianize those little niggers.”

Nothing has changed, just become more sophisticated. This is why the Republican Party is concentrated on cultural/religious issues such as abortion, woke, and gays. They envelop their message with religiosity while stealing.

Examples: The Republicans plan to raise Medicare to age 67, social security to age 70, while refusing to tax the corporations. With Senate control, they have tabled the global 15% tax on corporations that 136 countries have signed on. They attempted to privatize the social security system in 1994, putting it at risk, and want to privatize the post office, where all salaries would go to top CEO’s with little benefits for workers.

Today, there is a better way to gain power and control than bloodshed and that is through the court system such as the formation of the United Nations. Nationally, the shrewd Republicans have understood the importance of these crucial legal bodies and have successfully gained control of the Supreme Court and are working to control the lower courts. This has caused the erosion of democracy by rulings such as Citizens/United and gerrymandering.

Using the courts, religion, and legislation, the Republicans have successfully placed the wealth of our nation in the hands of the 2%, all accomplished with the blessing of their constituents believing their party represents almighty God.