Those who want "In God We Trust" on coins and bills, spending of public monies to erect creches and other religious symbols, etc. argue that the First Amendment only precludes government aiding one denomination against another. This, they say, implicitly does not bar government promoting religious belief in general against non-believers.

If that argument were historically accurate (it is not!) consider some of its further policy implications: It might (or might not) allow the state to expend public funds in supporting Catholic and other parochial schools. But what the state definitely could do under the theory that it can support religion in general, is make all children attend public schools where they would be systematically inculcated to believe in God. There might be an exemption for parents who want to send their children to Catholic or other schools run by specific religions. But there would be none for atheists; they could be required to send their children to religious or public schools to be taught that what their parents believe are lies.

Is all the concern about these things just paranoia? Well, it may be instructive to recall something that occurred in N CA a couple of decades ago. Pac Tel employees carrying out routine service checks on phone lines overheard a very intimate conversation. So they recorded it and played it for fellow employees’ amusement. Eventually they were "disciplined" for this but not until the matter became public and recordings had been played numerous times in PacTel offices all over the state.