Thank God, the Motto Still Stands
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This past Tuesday, the United States economy was still fragile. A looming Greek debt crisis threatened to make things worse. Perhaps most tragically (judging from the wall-to-wall press coverage), someone named Kim Kardashian had just filed for divorce.
Beset by crises, it was hard to know which way to turn, which of our nation's many problems must be addressed first. But one man could see clearly what needed to be done. One man knew what required immediate action. That man was Speaker of the House John Boehner. With seconds ticking away, he and his fellow Republicans seized the moment and used it to its greatest advantage.
What step did these brave visionaries, these giants in the land, take? They boldly introduced legislation to have "In God We Trust" declared the motto of the United States.
This lightning stroke of legislative genius no doubt confused many people who thought that "In God We Trust" was already the national motto. Well, yes, it is. In fact, it's been declared the National Motto three times before: originally in 1956, then again in 2002, and once again in 2006.
The Supreme Court has upheld its use and insisted it's not an endorsement of religion. President Obama, much to the disgust of secularists, has also confirmed his support of using "In God We Trust" on our currency. The motto even hangs on the wall of the House chamber.
But apparently the Republicans in Congress have a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, like one of those people who have to keep going back and back and back again to confirm that the stove is off and the doors are locked, so that they end up being late for everything.
"If we don't vote again for 'In God We Trust,'" they must have been thinking, "something terrible could happen. I don't know what, but ... it'd be just terrible!"
Listen, for example, to the words of Rep. Trent Franks of the great (and apparently totally crazy) state of Arizona, who asserted that without affirming our faith in God yet again, "we should just let anarchy prevail because, after all, we are just worm food." Texas Rep. Lamar Smith agreed: "There are few things Congress could do that would be more important than passing this resolution."
That last statement recalled for me the rhetoric thrown about by the movement here in North Carolina for a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, even though it's already explicitly illegal here.
One proponent of the amendment went on the radio and said, with what sounded like a straight face, that this was "the most important issue facing North Carolina right now." This, in a state in the throes of a massive budget crisis, still rebuilding from hurricane Irene's damage, with a 10.1 percent jobless rate.
Which led a good friend of mine to observe: "I woke up this morning to a fulfilling, full-time job, my wife's health costs are completely covered, the education system is so good that our dogs speak English and Spanish, the cat does calculus and we have a unicorn pooping Skittles in the front yard. So yes, let's go after gay marriage because everything else is 100 percent A-OK."
Anyway, the bill, to the surprise of absolutely no one, passed overwhelmingly, 396-9. And a new day dawned in America. Unfortunately, it looked just like the old day.
When the Republicans took control of the House, Majority Leader Eric Cantor declared, "Each day, we will hold ourselves accountable by asking the following questions: Are our efforts addressing job creation and the economy; are they cutting spending; and are they shrinking the size of the federal government while protecting and expanding individual liberty? If not, why are we doing it?"
Why, indeed. Maybe it's because the only "jobs bills" the Republicans can come up with are just tax cuts and more tax cuts - "solutions" which have been proven to have no effect on the jobless rate. We've had 10 years of tax cuts now, thanks to Dubbya Bush, and the economy's still struggling.
So in order to distract us from the fact that the Republican solution is to do more of the same and hope for a different result - the very definition of insanity - they spend time on easy-to-pass legislation that's already passed repeatedly. It makes them feel all righteous and panders to the religious right, but it does exactly nothing to help America.
Dusty Rhoades lives, writes and practices law in Carthage. Contact him at dustyr@nc.rr.com.
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Comments
bigD 1 year, 6 months ago
Yes a total waste of time to vote on this but i guess Obama didn't get the memo
Obama Motto by thebcast
dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago
Yes a total waste of time to vote on this
Yep. That's really all you needed to say.
bigD 1 year, 6 months ago
The President was probably just joking
OldPilot 1 year, 6 months ago
The adoption and use of the motto "E pluribus unum" (out of many one) dates back to 1776. It appears on the Seal of the United States as well as the seals of the three branches of the Federal government and most US currency. It was the de facto motto of the United States until the adoption of "In God We trust" as the "official" motto of the United States 180 years later. Strikes me Obama got it right.
DaveyNC 1 year, 6 months ago
Heh--this video was in the group of next videos to view after the video that bigD posted
Easygoing 1 year, 6 months ago
@bigD you need to get some education and listen to the clip you reference.
DaveyNC 1 year, 6 months ago
Urg
link text
OldDave 1 year, 6 months ago
Dusty seems to think that this amendment serves the exact same purpose current NC laws against same-gender marriage do. That is not quite correct. It not only covers recognition of same-gender marriage specifically BY the state (as is the case for current laws), but also prohibits recognition throughout the state including local governments ... including those that currently do offer benefits of marriage to same-gender couples. And it not only applies to marriage, but to even the most minimal forms of recognition ... including civil unions and domestic partnerships ... so NC legislators and citizens will no longer have the ability to pass laws that provide ANY benefits to same-gender couples, even if they want to. I could also mention the belief by some that the amendment will protect NC from activist judges but the reality is that, in the end, legal recognition of same-gender relationships in NC will happen or not based on what the US Supreme Court says ... regardless of the NC amendment vote. But still ... this remains an "opportunity" for the people of NC to strip some same-gender couples of benefits they currently have, and block future NC citizens/legislators from granting even the most minimal rights down the road.
JimHeim 1 year, 6 months ago
It's time for Congress to continue its campaign to waste all of the time possible by spending a few days passing a bill to require that the US flag contains 50 stars until a new state is added. That would be critical to job creation.
And I'm pretty sure E Pluribis Unum is Latin for Governed By Morons.
nothingspecial 1 year, 6 months ago
"Why, indeed. Maybe it's because the only "jobs bills" the Republicans can come up with are just tax cuts and more tax cuts - "solutions" which have been proven to have no effect on the jobless rate."
The Republicans have a ton of ideas about how to help fix the economy. It is the President who is stuck on the same tired ideas. Such as the jobs bill he keeps pushing, which will improve the Gross Domestic Product by an estimated 2%. But cost us EXACTLY 2.9 of our GDP. Now that's new, isn't it?
And his obvious class warfare instigating speeches - no doubt about this rhetoric of his. Which coincidentally comes around the time of Occupy Wall Street unrest - a movement characterized by very little reason but much hatred for the evil rich.
And you want to cherry pick a small portion of Congress' actions lately and focus on it to make out the Republicans as the Boogey Men? Sounds like a better tack than arguing for all the great reasons to espouse Democrat great ideas, I agree.
Easygoing 1 year, 6 months ago
And those "tons of ideas" are ?????
MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago
Some of it is here.... Mike http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?postid=267299
And you can listen the Speaker here.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KnX-E...
skylinefirepest 1 year, 6 months ago
Whooooaa!!! Jim Heim's comment just floored me! "Governed by morons!" Once again, I TOTALLY agree with him. And since two of the three parts are headed by Democrats I'm amazed that the liberal weenies that blog here haven't called for his head! You go, boy!! There may be hope for you after all.
GJohn 1 year, 6 months ago
Dusty, I love it! I agree100% that, with all the problems besetting our state, the only thing our government can think to do is legislate who you can love. Living in such a Republican bastion gets harder every day. Why can't people see that we never live in a vacuum? President Obama did not create the mess we are in - he had it handed to him. And who knows if his ideas will work? When you have a Congress that is committed to negating any idea he has, regardless of whether it will help the American people who put them there, who knows if some of his ideas might have worked? Being able to read your columns and editorials is sort of a dispensation for having The Pilot the only paper in the county. Thanks!
OldSpook 1 year, 6 months ago
Wow, another one sided blame game, the zombies were so much more interesting. Oh and just for the record, I really don't see either party as having a representative worth leading this country.
MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago
It is nice that the motto, "In God We Trust" supposedly still stands; it's too bad that much of our country does not adhere or believe in those words any longer....Mike
JimHeim 1 year, 6 months ago
MikeNC: Remember the the motto has been ruled by the Supreme Court to be purely ceremonial and having no religious meaning.
My view is that both parties are now run by Wall Street and it's our task to wrest control back to the once-great American middle class. Support Occupy Wall Street.
teufelhunden 1 year, 6 months ago
No thank you.
TreadLightly 1 year, 6 months ago
Which party can lead the country? Think about your own situation-- what can someone in Washington do to improve it, short of mailing you someone else's money?
The best thing they could do is protect your borders, convict the criminals and keep the trade routes open. Sadly, most regulation has the effect of giving someone a business advantage (Croney Capitalism), and who knows what was behind the passing of that regulation.
Spending the nation into debt that we can never repay doesn't qualify as "leading the country." And yes, Dubya did his part, as any good progressive would do. Dubya helped launch the tea party, and has the world afraid to elect another Texas president. We don't know if his "big government" in Texas was a tendency toward "big government" in general, or a stand that state government should be larger and federal government should be smaller.
Jack Abramoff''s book on corruption in Washington politicians is raising some eyebrows, but we all know what happens when you concentrate the power in Washington. That is why the Constitution specified that state legislatures appoint the 2 senators from their state. And why that is the first thing that the Wilson progressives had to change (17th Amendment) to launch the progressive agenda to "fundamentally transform the United States."
Now, the Republican house passed 15 jobs bills, and the 17th Amendment transformed and corrupt Senate is sitting on them. I know that raising taxes ("revenue") would give the government more money to mail to people, but how in the world is that improving the economy or making you a job?
Since this is a legally correct column, I will just say, the offense rests.
SH59 1 year, 6 months ago
Ahhh, the Great Wizard has saved us once again casting his magical spell upon this country protecting us from all evil lurking around every corner.
MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago
JimHeim 1 hour, 47 minutes ago ..My view is that both parties are now run by Wall Street and it's our task to wrest control back to the once-great American middle class. Support Occupy Wall Street.
Just what is this administration doing to "wrest control back" to the middle class? What has the OWS (New York and elsewhere) crowd produced for me to "Support"; other than chaos, violence, disrespect and blatant interference with local businesses? I don't support such. I hear today they are getting upset because the homeless folks are eating some of their food. If The TEA crowd would have acted in this way; the media and you would be outraged; and I would have agreed with you.....Mike
JER 1 year, 6 months ago
MikeNC: You'll have to cut the OWS some slack. When you have a movement that involves 99% of the general public, you are going to see some activity that does not represent what the total movement is about. Of course, when you have a movement like the Tea Party, which involves the 1%, then you you get the finest manners money can buy (although their attire sometimes looks silly). I think I saw one of their gatherings where the person holding up a sign had his pinky finger extended just like he does when sipping his favorite brew.
MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago
Represent 99% of the general public...Source please; I guess because they call themselves the 99 percenters LOL Your 1% statement is just as skewed and ridiculous. Thousands of arrests vs no TEA arrests. Millions of dollars of tax payers money wasted. Open violence including rape in which the victims are coerced to handle it amongst "their own" rather than report such violence to the police. Open drug abuse and drunkeness, robberies, beatings, theft, destruction of public and personal property and general mahem. Just the boys and girls having a good old throw down at others expense; so let's cut them some slack. You mention that a TEA person raised his silly pinky while acting 100% in accordance with the law. I'll try to remember this sound logic and advice you give here JER....Mike
JimHeim 1 year, 6 months ago
Does the phrase, 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,' ring a bell?
The violence has been exclusively at demonstrators by police who attack without cause and allow motorists to run demonstrators down without any penalty. Shameful.
MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago
JimHeim 24 minutes ago The violence has been exclusively at demonstrators by police who attack without cause and allow motorists to run demonstrators down without any penalty. Shameful.
It's impossible to debate twisted and deceitful statements such as yours; but that is your norm....Mike
Courseaire 1 year, 6 months ago
"allow motorists to run demonstrators down without any penalty". Really, without penalty? Did they not sustain damage their car? The problem with the OWS is they should be camped out in front of their State Capitals, Congress, Senate & the WH. Wingnut Courseaire
OldSpook 1 year, 6 months ago
The problem with the OWS is they should be camped out in front of their State Capitals, Congress, Senate & the WH.
Ahh HA! Captain Obvious (AKA Courseaire) has stated what should be apparent. Once again, the mighty the brick of logic hits its target. Well done sir.
Courseaire 1 year, 6 months ago
OldSpook or anyone else, if ya drive by one of the encampments, throw the brick at them. WC
JimHeim 1 year, 6 months ago
When the other side has to resort to violence, it's a sign that we're winning.
JER 1 year, 6 months ago
We will continue to have all this right wing discussion about the evils of the OWS movement because they think it deflects attention away from their problem of finding a candidate to run for president. Mike and Diane, who is your current favorite today? First it was Cain, then it was Perry, are you down to Newt yet? Maybe it's back to Cain since he shares some of the same traits that Clinton has. We all saw what a great president Bill was, maybe the same will hold true for Herman.
teufelhunden 1 year, 6 months ago
Ya know what they say about opinions...
nothingspecial 1 year, 6 months ago
Yes the law abiding citizens must always appear so mean and shamefully out of touch in the eyes of their children. :-)
Roorke 1 year, 6 months ago
An interesting short video on the President Obama/Moore County democrat endorsed occupy movement from Brietbart. http://www.breitbart.tv/obamas-occupywallstreet-and-anti-semitism/
OldSpook 1 year, 6 months ago
Okay, I've now watched this twice and 7 minutes, 50 seconds later (3:55x2) I'm really not sure of the purpose of this video. The only thing I got out of it is that according to Brietbart, if you are moderate, liberal, support OWS or Muslim you are anti-Semitic. Other than feeling like I've just been exposed to the Rev. Jessie Jackson’s bigotry (and really, what church is he a reverend to?) what message was the originator trying to get across?
MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago
Hey JimHeim & JER....Feeble diversionary tactic and attempt to switch the topic around. You guys always demand responses to your own drivel (Thanks again JER) but seldom respond sensibly to anyone else. Here's another little tidbit on how yours, Obama's, Pelosi's and the democratic party's little heroes are acting. And to think ALL of the above mentioned support such behavior...Mike
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/occupiers_terrorize_us_eatery_o4dKzxi3n03WyJWAJu4AhO
JimHeim 1 year, 6 months ago
OWS is a terrorist group? Alrighty then...
teufelhunden 1 year, 6 months ago
"Teahadists"? Alrighty then...
MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago
JimHeim 1 hour, 4 minutes ago OWS is a terrorist group?
If you read beyond the headlines of that article and put yourself in the place of that business owner or the many others who are getting the same treatment; they sure fit the title you suggest.....Wallhadist's....Mike
JER 1 year, 6 months ago
MikeNC: I guess you are correct, my asking who you support as candidate for president really is a exercise in "drivel", given your choices. You should know why I use you and Diane as my foils in these discussions. I like to put a "face" on the people who promote positions that are opposite mine and you two best fit the bill for me in these discussions. When I ask questions of you, I am not "demanding" answers, I'm trying to get sense of what your ideas and positions are on specific issues. I believe you are specifically using the OWS thing to divert attention away from the shortcomings of the positions, policies and candidates you support and you'll have to prove me wrong before I change my mind on it. And I do not condone bad behavior by the OWS, Tea Party or any others demonstrating for their causes. Not all the OWS demonstrators act badly, just as not all Tea Party demonstrators carried racially offensive signs during their demonstrations.