Keep social agendas off license plates

Abortion is perhaps the single most divisive issue in America today. As such, it inflames passions and polarizes foes, discouraging thoughtful discussion or consideration of qualifying or mitigating events.

Abortion foes in Illinois again are seeking to introduce legislation that would allow motorists to purchase license plates with the "Choose Life" message for a $25 fee. A portion of that fee would be deposited each year in the Choose Life Fund to be distributed to all non-governmental, nonprofit agencies that counsel and assist pregnant women who plan to place their child up for adoption.

Organizations involved or associated with any abortion activities, including counseling or referrals to abortion clinics, would of course not be eligible for any of the funding.

State Sen. Chris Lauzen, whose district covers a portion of the Elgin area, was a co-sponsor of the legislation when it was introduced but not acted upon in 2003. Lauzen has indicated his willingness to sponsor the legislation again.

But a complication has arisen. A federal appeals court ruled that a similar program in South Carolina violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because it did not also allow abortion-rights messages to be printed on the plates. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, meaning the lower court ruling will stand.

This creates an awkward issue best avoided with a very simple solution: stop using state license plates to sponsor social agendas.

Whether abortion is right or wrong is an individual decision. Selling advertising space on a license plate to promote one's own personal beliefs is a stark departure from the purpose of those plates, which is to register vehicles as a uniform method of identification and to raise tax revenue to support state operations.

Those who want to advertise their political preference, sexual orientation, abortion stance or any other personal and private information can find some other method without using the machinery of taxpayer-supported government.

Those who wish to make a donation to Choose Life or an abortion-rights group should feel free to do that, but without the greed and implicit sanction of the state government.

 

01/28/05             (from Elgin The Courier News Online Opinions)

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/opinions/e28edit.htm