Louisville Courier Journal Sees Kentucky Transportation Cabinet "Passing The [In God We Trust] Plate" Over ROCK.
Passing the plate
Kentucky's transportation cabinet has unveiled an “In God We Trust” license plate, and that's unfortunate for several reasons, including that for three years the cabinet denied a faith-based organization permission for a similarly worded specialty plate that the group, “Reclaim Our Culture Kentuckiana,” hoped to use to raise money to fight pornography and the sex industry.
The cabinet decided that it had the authority to issue the plate, spokesman Chuck Wolfe said, even after Kentucky state legislators, who are not always noted for restraint or good judgment in matters of separation of church and state, considered but then declined to pass bills authorizing such a plate.
“The cabinet believes there's a sizeable group of people who would like to have this choice,” Mr. Wolfe said.
Of course, one of the best justifications for church/state separation is that “sizeable” groups have been known to run roughshod over religious or non-religious minorities. Moreover, people of faith were never given the opportunity to support ROCK's efforts because the Transportation Cabinet rejected that group's specialty plate application on the grounds that state law prohibits them on behalf of groups whose “primary purpose (is) the promotion of any specific faith, religion or anti-religion.”
The cabinet, following the lead of other states that issue “In God We Trust” license plates, apparently feels it isn't promoting religion. If so, since specialty plates cost motorists extra money, what we're witnessing in Kentucky is a cheesy money grab.
In the aftermath of Gov. Steve Beshear's endorsement of state tax incentives for a “creationist” theme park — in the name of economic development — it's fair to wonder what will be the next brick removed from the wall that's supposed to separate religion and government.
Editor's comment: it shocks me to find out that the Cabinet "STOLE" ROCK's idea for its own!
Kentucky's transportation cabinet has unveiled an “In God We Trust” license plate, and that's unfortunate for several reasons, including that for three years the cabinet denied a faith-based organization permission for a similarly worded specialty plate that the group, “Reclaim Our Culture Kentuckiana,” hoped to use to raise money to fight pornography and the sex industry.
The cabinet decided that it had the authority to issue the plate, spokesman Chuck Wolfe said, even after Kentucky state legislators, who are not always noted for restraint or good judgment in matters of separation of church and state, considered but then declined to pass bills authorizing such a plate.
“The cabinet believes there's a sizeable group of people who would like to have this choice,” Mr. Wolfe said.
Of course, one of the best justifications for church/state separation is that “sizeable” groups have been known to run roughshod over religious or non-religious minorities. Moreover, people of faith were never given the opportunity to support ROCK's efforts because the Transportation Cabinet rejected that group's specialty plate application on the grounds that state law prohibits them on behalf of groups whose “primary purpose (is) the promotion of any specific faith, religion or anti-religion.”
The cabinet, following the lead of other states that issue “In God We Trust” license plates, apparently feels it isn't promoting religion. If so, since specialty plates cost motorists extra money, what we're witnessing in Kentucky is a cheesy money grab.
In the aftermath of Gov. Steve Beshear's endorsement of state tax incentives for a “creationist” theme park — in the name of economic development — it's fair to wonder what will be the next brick removed from the wall that's supposed to separate religion and government.
Editor's comment: it shocks me to find out that the Cabinet "STOLE" ROCK's idea for its own!
Labels: Keeping them honest
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 5:58 PM
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