On July 30, 1956, a conservative coalition replaced the U.S.’s original motto “E pluribus unum” with “In God we trust.” Since our British founders used, and still use, the phrase “Dei gratia” on their coins to inform the 99% that the existing social structure is the will of God and cannot be changed, I think it’s obvious what conservatives were doing. They were following their British forebears defining themselves as divinely better than the 99% below them. It shows.

Jim Perry ’57
Tampa, Fla.