US Flag + Made in China = CRIMINAL
So it’s come to this: a bill passed by the legislature and awaiting Governor Pawlenty’s signature in Minnesota reads as follows:
[325E.65] SALE OF AMERICAN FLAGS.
No person may sell or offer for sale in this state an American flag or a novelty or other item containing a representation of the American flag unless the flag or item was manufactured in the United States of America.
That’s right, in a few days, barring an unlikely veto, it will be illegal to sell a US flag in Minnesota unless it was made in America. But wait… the bill doesn’t limit itself to traditional cloth flags. As worded, every “item containing a representation of the American flag” and sold in the state must be American-made. Does this count for electronic items? Aren’t digital images “representations”? I think so! How stupid.
I tell you what: let’s test it out. I got one of my Canadian friends to draw a picture of the American flag. I will sell you the Canadian-manufactured representation (digital image) of an American flag for the low price of $1. What a bargain!
I think they have a good idea. Rather than have Americans buy flags made in China (by communists; what was once a long time enemy) have them made in the US, providing the Mexicans with jobs! Woohoo!
The Patriot, you’re an asshole. A really stupid dimwitted asshole.
Why is Patriot an asshole? Although a joke, he does have a point.
Although I completely disagree with this ruling. It basically means that you cannot buy anything at all with an american flag image the was made outside of the US. Absolutely ludicris.
They want all profits for any representation of the country to circulate directly within its economy. It’s not really that bad of a concept, but still ridiculous that they would try to enforce it. It seems more like a personal agenda rather than a real issue that should actually be pursued.
If they are going to do this, they should enforce the same rule for all other flags representing other countries. Make sure it’s made in THAT country! Haha
so – does this mean Minnesotans won’t be able to buy some authentic Olympic apparels?
i wonder what the motivation of this bill is – because all i see is bland stupidity. what is gained on it? what will it enforce? talk about a way for a state to potentially put a national image at edge…
i personally would love to see chiquita [or equivalent company] send in a batch of bananas with the flag posted on the label “oops – no bananas for MN…”
Correction – you missed a couple of amendments that were made en route to the governor’s desk.
Here’s that obnoxious sentence, in final form:
Sec. 2. [325E.65] SALE OF AMERICAN FLAGS.
No person in the business of offering goods at retail may sell or offer for sale in this state an American flag unless the flag was manufactured in the United States of America.
Mea culpa. I didn’t notice the “as introduced” tag on the text. The final version that was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor on May 25th reads:
Sec. 2. [325E.65] SALE OF AMERICAN FLAGS.
No person in the business of offering goods at retail may sell or offer for sale in this state an American flag unless the flag was manufactured in the United States of America. EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective January 1, 2008.
[ref1]
[ref2]
“NO PERSON in the business of offering goods at retail may sell or offer for sale in this state an American flag unless the flag was manufactured in the United States of America.”
So they’re basically saying you’re still allowed to sell American flags that’ve
been made in other countries just as long as you’re not a person…and they didn’t seem to elaborate on what they define as being a person so I suppose you just have to guess. I guess now if you still want some you’ll be buying them from vampires, half vampires, reptilians, draconians, and others who are not persons by my definition. I suppose someone with a human’s full dna can claim under freedom of religion that they’re a Satanist
and that they do not see themselves as being a person which would enable them to legally continue to sell Chinese-made American flags.
Stop blaming other countries, this is the fault of capitalism and greed. It is the fault the businesses that choose to invest in China and the fault of the ethics of capitalism, which favors competition and riches over morality and patriotism. Should the government take action? Or is that too communist, socialist, or un-capitalistic. After all, the government isn’t supposed to interfere. Where’s Adam Smith’s “invisible hand”?