A big waste of time
There, according to an Associated Press account published in this newspaper, public schools and colleges now must be equipped with American flags, and those flags have to have been made in the United States. In Minnesota, anyone selling a foreign-made version of the Stars and Stripes can be jailed for up to 90 days and fined up to $1,000.
The irony in all of this is too stark to miss. The United States is the world's strongest economy today precisely because it has embraced economic freedom. Whoever can appeal to consumers using the best price, superior quality, advertising or any other tactic that works will make the most money. In more recent times, the United States has worked hard to push this principle internationally, entering free-trade agreements and reducing barriers to competition.
Imprisoning people who try to give customers the best deal on a flag sounds immoral on its face. It also is evidence of a complete lack of trust in the principles of freedom and enterprise.
A number of flag-shop owners, interviewed in recent days, have said they voluntarily impose rules requiring all their U.S. flags to be domestically made. This is, at its heart, an emotional issue. No one wants to unfurl a flag on the Fourth of July and see a "Made in China" sticker attached. So good business people will buy locally made flags and make a point of advertising that fact.
They certainly don't need the state government to threaten them with jail time if they do otherwise. That sounds a lot more like something one of those un-American, totalitarian countries would do.
Unfortunately, emotions carry a lot of weight in political circles. It's hard to campaign against a domestic flag bill. But then, a lot of the principles behind freedom whether they involve speech, religion or the need to obtain a warrant before conducting a search can be made unpopular in the wrong emotional context.
We're glad Utah has stayed above this foreign-flag nonsense. We hope that record continues.
Comments
- Canal breaks, causes landslide in Logan 3:58 p.m.
- Man's body found 3:47 p.m.
- 'Love advocates' plan 'kiss-in' 3:46 p.m.
- Many-splendored container garden 3:29 p.m.
- California's $26B deficit 3:25 p.m.
- Eat your squash and blossoms 3:21 p.m.
- Searchers shovel seeking giant worm 3:18 p.m.
- Crash kills Arizona woman 3:13 p.m.
- Lost crab pots 2:56 p.m.
- Lightning delays shuttle launch 2:54 p.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- 10 years after the flood
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- LDS seminary principal arrested
284 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
181 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
99 - Fairness of BCS debated
82 - Letters: Single-payer system best
76 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
I forgot what I was going to say. Let's go ride bikes!
Who says they're harmless??? I had someone start feeling all over my head,...
I'm sorry, but heroes should be at minimum a good family man, and I'm not...
If I could do it all over again, I would like to be a software engineer and...
This article helps clarify the some problems in education. Hats off to Mr....
It's funny that people on these boards accuse Obama of practically being the...
maybe if his wife paid more attention to him he wouldn't be tempted to go...
Tragic, end. Compassion for the wife & sons. Condolences to the remaining...
The Sutherland Institute is absolutely wrong when if it says that 96% of...
He was murdered by his mistress, not by terrorists while he was trying to...



You can be the first to comment on this story.