September 17, 2007
A Nation In Crisis Needs You Now, Sisqo
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Some regulations by a government make sense. For example, we have building codes so we don't all drive our cars into a new barn on Walnut Street. (Or something like that.) We have seatbelt laws because we're too dumb to wear seatbelts. We have drug laws so the government can oppress us. But sometimes the laws seem to go too far, depriving us of our American right to eat ourselves into a 500-pound ball of fat and die of heart disease at 45. (I think that's how Patrick Henry died.)
There is an interesting debate to be had, though; if making things like smoking a minor inconvenience actually saves peoples' lives, does the government have a moral obligation (for lack of a better term) of enforcing these laws? Or does this encroach too much on our own liberty?
Yes, there is an interesting debate to be had, but not here. That's because this new law is about banning thongs and baggy pants in Trenton.
Yes, a movement to ban visible underwear has already sprung up in Atlanta and some Louisiana town, but now it's moved to places people care about, too. Well, okay, it's spread to Trenton, which is sorta close to places people care about.
Trenton Councilwoman Annette Lartigue is drafting a law that not only would ban saggy pants and fine those wearing them, but it would also allow a caseworker to question you for not having a high school diploma.
Saggy pants began as a fashion statement from those too poor to buy belts, and also from people in prison. So instead of stopping people from going into prison or realizing that loose clothing has long ago deviated from the original connotation of "prison jumpsuits," if that's even true at all.
"Are they employed? Do they have a high school diploma? It's a wonderful way to redirect at that point," said Trenton Councilwoman Annette Lartigue, who is drafting a law to outlaw saggy pants. "The message is clear: We don't want to see your backside."
After banning saggy pants, Councilwoman Lartigue is going to draft a law banning that sweet hat Al Capone wore, due to its association with Prohibition-era gangsters.
Pull 'em up: U.S. cities starting crackdowns on pants saggers [AP/Philly.com]
Posted by D-Mac on September 17, 2007 02:00 PM
Posted to Band-Aid Solutions To Non-Problems
, Idiots
, New Jersey
, Saggy Pants
, Trenton
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Comments
i know
Posted by: fabian at September 25, 2007 04:12 PM
Here here! Creating a law to regulate what we wear is an outrage! To make it sound like its for the good of the community is even worse! I recall reading something in an Atlanta publication that said something along the lines of it being a way to improve the community...and I thought: really? The ONLY problem the entire City of Atlanta has is saggy pants? That's it? No gangs, drugs, shootings, robberies, corupt businessmen and politicians, pedofilic religious leaders, wife beaters, homeless, jobless, forclosures - they have NONE of that? Their only problem is the saggy pants? Well well well...I think we need to take a look at what Atlanta has done to make such a Utopian Paradise and imitate them. After all, if the ONLY thing they are concerned with - if the ONLY thing that will make them a better community is pulling up pants then the rest of this country is doing something seriously wrong.
Maybe next Councilwoman Lartigue can put that law back on the books that says that women can't wear pants at all.
I hate the saggy pants look, but now I want to wear it just to protest ONE more freedom being taken away from us.
Posted by: Yoshimi at September 19, 2007 05:31 PM