Poll: "In God We Trust" on coins?

I agree.

And how should we determine what ought to be ? Majority rule, with the rights of minority opinion protected by Constitutional principles arbited by the courts.

After all the talk is done, two facts tower above all the rhetoric :

The vast majority of people are in favor of "In God We Trust" on our coinage.

The courts have consistently approved it.

These are facts, and they are beyond dispute.

 

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Who here has not accepted the facts that appeals courts have upheld the motto? That still does not answer the question of "ought?". As you said, courts are not infallible. This means that the simple "fact" of which way they rule(d) is not necessarily what ought to be.

Of course I wouldn't challenge them if they ruled the way I want them to! That is a truism.

 

There was never an addendum to the Constitution that read, "as long as at least 51% agree to these terms. Let me ask you this then, because unless I'm wrong it seems to logically follow from what you are saying: if majority opinion flip-flopped, would you be okay with our currency reading "There Is No God"?

 

You really are stuck on the majority rule aspect of this issue. I thought that I aleady debunked that. :computer:

 

Just another little tit-bit to add some fluff to the discussion, when a seal of the United States was proposed one of the entrants to the fray was designed by Jefferson from a suggestion by one of the ages other luminaries, it proposed a scene of Moses with the motto "rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God".

 

This was post #27.....


My new prediction is 275. Anyone predict higher?

 

I think it will be closed before then, someone will lose all self control and decide to pull out the flame thrower

 

What I said was the majority rules aspect of our system is a relatively minor part to focus on especially in relationship to the higher principles of deference to all and YES even the one. You completely focus on the overt aspects of our system as a rationalization for ignoring the more lofty principles that our system embodies.

Sure, we use simple majorities to determine social issues or issues with competing perspectives but as I stated, isn't this an issue of higher philosophical consideration and therefore inappropriate for the capricious winds of public opinion prone to the loudest voices rather than a deep understanding of the issues. There are just questions of right or wrong that shouldn't be left to the masses because they are both too critical to our society and too overwhelmingly complex for the average Joe six-pack to decide. Majority rule is fine in many instance but this issue shouldn't be one of them. And besides, I don't remember voting on this.

 

Amen to that!

The choice is, as I believe the founders intended, to rule by law. Majority rule is mob rule. The Founding Fathers knew that. That's why they, along with many for years after them, viewed democracies as morally reprehensible.

 

Absolutely not! At least not as intended. The Supreme Court is supposed to interpret and apply the law regardless of what the polls say.

 

Getting back to the poll... I say no. Leave it off our currency & coins. Let's update the designs and make coins more aesthetic, with art not words.

Bruce

 

Perhaps Doug was referring to a majority of the judges on the bench.

 

Maybe.

But we're 10 pages in and folks are pretty reasonable and well-behaved.

 

Think you are correct there. I misinterpreted it.

 

First of all, let’s clear up a few misconceptions here. The motto "In God We Trust" is not now nor has it ever been mandated by the Constitution of the United States. The "motto" was adopted by an act of congress during the civil war or in other words an enacted statute which can be undone in the same way. The Supreme Court had nothing to do with it then nor would they be involved in getting rid of it now. It is the job of the Congress to decide these issues not the other branches of our government. Paper money is another issue. As I keep saying, simply because we do use majority rule to decide some things, doesn't mean that is the only or best way to address questions such as whose beliefs does our government represent, the majority or everyone's? Since we can't put everyone's beliefs on our coins, why put anyone's beliefs? How would you even know if the majority of people believe in God? I don’t remember being asked which side I was on so I kind of doubt that there are any hard numbers on the subject.