SS,

I don't believe that humans, on average, are any more or less intelligent than in the past 2 or 3 millenia. This is in terms of cognitive, or critical thinking, or analytical thinking skills. The primary difference regarding intelligence is the vast increase in information and access to it. But the ability to cognitively process information seems to evolve rather slowly in comparison to the increasing amount of information.

Intelligent men wrote the Constitution and created a representative democracy, which is unfortunately contingent on an informed and participating electorate. I say unfortunate because of the great many who choose to not participate by voting, or not be informed enough to understand issues critical to their well being.

Intelligence comparable to what exists today must have been around for a long time now. Ancient Greeks and Incas, for example, independently discovered complex mathematics. Probably Egyptians too, given their major engineering works.

I suppose some folks simply lack analytical ability, but I think the majority have the potential, but it never gets cultivated or developed enough for them to express it.

KK,

Ties to the White House? Oh, well now the deal at least makes sense. People important to Bush will make money on the deal. Bush may not be very bright, but at least he doesn't sell out his nation for no reason.

Papaslap,

Your point about being at war isn't relevant to the topic. The problem is that the Prez is hired to work for the national interest, not his family and friends' interests. Fortunately, some congressional Republicans are showing some spine, instead of being unthinking cheerleaders for the administration, and properly questioning stupid decision-making by Bush. The highest priority national interest is security. Outsourcing action that is directly related to national security to an entity that doesn't have the security of the U.S. as its highest priority is illogical by any measure. Outsourcing it to an entity that by many estimates is directly contrary to U.S. security interests may be treasonable. As problems go, does that work for ya'?

If TK/KT were here, he would tell you that all Muslims are fundamentally at odds with, and perhaps at holy war with, the entire Western world, and that we are in a fight to the death with them, like it or realize it or not. In which case, even a neocon like him would by logic alone, be opposed to this outsourcing security action.

Sardonicus,

Welcome aboard. See, it really isn't so much about liberalism and conservatism here. Many of us with a liberal bent are pretty tolerant of mainstream conservatism. It's the whack job of a Prez you and the fundy conservatives elected that has us concerned to the point of outrage.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.