religion and politics

Their opinions of themselves. People are more than willing to tell you what is the "right or wrong" thing to do. They have no trouble giving advice. The hypocracy occurs when they rationalize following a different path for themselves. But don't think you can enlighten them. We see in the mirror only what we choose.

Honesty, ethics, sexual mores,

I don't believe hypocrisy can be categorized into subjects. Hypocrisy is professing to others how to behave, then not behaving that way yourself. That kind of behavior spans all categories. Hypocrites are hypocrites. It's not something that can be isolated to a single category.

Religion and morality

Politics. Perhaps it has always been so, but it seems in my lifetime that politicians and associated people (staffers, fund-raisers, lobbyists, interest groups, etc.) have corrupted to the point where they will speak any lie, pass any law, pull any procedural 'lever' or hire any crony with no regard to what's legal, ethical or right. This has even trickled down to the voters. In a recent Associated Press poll, people claimed that 'personal character' was more important to them in a candidate than policy positions. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070311/ap_on_el_pr/ap_poll2008_traits_7 This is utter BS...as evidenced by the last two men the voters elected president. What is most likely happening is that voters are cognitively tricking themselves into thinking ideological agreement is equivalent to 'good character'. All considerations pale to 'winning' the Power Game.

"This has even trickled down to the voters. In a recent Associated Press poll, people claimed that 'personal character' was more important to them in a candidate than policy positions. " There's an interesting documentary called "So goes the nation". You should check it out. It compares the way the two campaigns (Kerry and Bush) were run. There are many well known commentators in this, including Paul Begala. He makes a point that the democrats ran a lousy campaign and they were idiotic and naive in believing what people were telling them in polls, because regardless of whether it's by phone or in person, people tend to answers questions in a way that makes them look good. He cites one question on the poll asking people how they feel about negative campaigning. Of course, everyone said they hated it. But the fact is- as Begala points out - people like all that mud-slinging and they are definitely persuaded by it. The Dems chose, based on this poll, to stay away from negative campaigning. The Republicans came out like an attack dog. This - according to Begala and several other prominent democrats- might have cost them the election.

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ignore. I keep answering where I mean to post a comment. arrggh