The IBJ's Chris O'Malley says the sales of specialty license plates benefitting colleges and nonprofit organizations plunged nearly a third this past year after the BMV introduced the "In God We Trust" license plate as an alternative to the standard issue license plate. To a lesser degree, the Indianapolis Colts plate ate into the sales of other specialty plates. At the same time specialty plate sales were plummeting, more than 1.5 million of the IGWT plates were issued.
The sponsor of the IGWT legislation, Rep. Woody Burton, tries to shift blame to the ACLU. "Burton noted that the plate came out around the time the Indiana Civil Liberties Union filed suit against the Indiana General Assembly to ban explicitly Christian references in prayers held in the Legislature," O'Malley writes. "U.S. District Judge David Hamilton ruled that lawmakers must refrain from using the name of Christ. Many Christians were outraged and wanted to show it." Burton acknowledged that “IGWT” plates had an effect on specialty plate sales, but, “I don’t think it’s the effect,” he said. “There’s just a large group of organizations now vying for that money” from plate sales, he added. “That’s gotten to be very competitive.”
10 comments:
Woody Burton is as clueless as Dan. They pass these laws without any thought except playing to the extremes of their parties. The plate is a bad idea and unconstitutional. Now the state and charities will loose money because he wants to prove he is a christian I would guess. Maybe the way he leads his life is not enough. The state will end up paying legal fees and possibly damages due to this plate. The reason for so many of them is the BMV employees try to force people to take the "god" plates. Why do these christians think they need to tell everyone they are a christian? PS lower case intentional.
"The reason for so many of them is the BMV employees try to force people to take the "god" plates."
Nonsense, I'm responsible for the plating of eight different vehicles. Never has an IGWT plate been forced on me. Four trips a year to the BMV at two different branches and not one clerk has pushed the IGWT plate. Five of the vehicles have the IGWT plates and every time I've had to asked for them.
Did anyone stop to think that maybe in the current economy and the economy leading up to the current situation, that people just did not want to dole out the extra money for the specialty plates. I think that is a more plausible reason for the decline in sales of specialty plates vis-a-vis the support of the IGWT plates in general.
When I worked in the Missouri Legislature we had two House Chaplains, one Catholic, one Protestant and then the occasional guest from a members district. All of them had the discretion to pray to a God, not Christ. We had Jews, Muslims, etc even then in the 1970's. When offering a public prayer in a legislative body one should hold their own beliefs to themselves and offer a generic prayer of thanksgiving, blessing etc. But, of course Mr. Bosma and the Burton clan and the rest of the Conservative Right had to have it their way and make sure each prayer was to Jesus, hell and bedamned the nice Jewish people in Indiana. Everyone seems to overlook that nice fact. As for the IGWT Plate, I liked the look of it but then also IndyErnie, I didn't have to ask, she pulled it from the pile and started marking it up without my asking. Nice that you didn't have that experience with your many autos, but I did and I know of others who did who could care less about either party or religion. When a few of them objected the BMV clerks then got them a regular plate. So dont necessarily say it did not happen, when in fact it does happen. But enough of that, I still liked the plate.
I can't see how once can blame the IGWT plate. If the economy really sucks that bad, who is to say that people just decided they were not going to pay for a specialty plate? It seems that some of these plates require a donation to a foundation or something, usually around $15 plus another $10 or so to the BMV. Maybe folks decided they would rather have $35 back into their pockets?
Logical and common sensical.... I think though sense we are fashion conscious, patriotic people most people were like me, they liked the flag on the plate and most of us were raised Christian so expressing a moment of faith on a plate seemed like something ok with us. I liked the plate. But I see the ACLU standpoint about separation of church/state, etc. etc. etc. I bet there would be a whole uproar if Carson were a State Rep and wanted a plate that said "In Allah we Trust"?
Right here is a good example that people are living in a good economy
Those who deals out $40 or $50 to have a specialty plate.
Myself I will put the money into savings and take the one they give me for free.
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Could be...but what I don't understand is how the BMV is able OFFER the ..what have you plates, prior to allowing me the opportunity to ask for whichever plate I want? Last time I renewed, teh nice lady asked me up front "You DO want the "what have you plate" correct, it is of no extra charge". My response, "NO!" Just the normal plate will fit me fine. HOW can they do this?
I ordered my plate online March 6 with an email confirmation that I would receive them in 7 to 10 business days. I have not received them yet. It is April 6. Perhaps the BMV should work on customer service and leave the religious missionary work to the churches. Another Mitch screwup.
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