When Capitalism and Patriotism are combined with Laziness

Earlier in my blogging career, I did a post talking about patriotism, and what this country means to me.  In it, I mentioned the fact that all my neighbors had flags posted in their yards for President's Day.  This was also true during Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or any other holiday that could be deemed patriotic.

It wasn't until Independence Day when I found out why.

A group of us were sitting around on the 4th, doing a little in-home celebrating instead of the Melaleuca-sponsored "Worship Us" fireworks show.  I watched as this pickup truck drove down the street, scooping up each and every flag on this street.  An older gentleman would hop out of his truck, wearing overalls with no shirt, and a ratty old cowboy hat.  He'd take each flag, roll it up, and toss it into the back of his truck before driving down to the next one.

I asked one of my houseguests "What the heck is he doing?" and was told about the local 'Rent-a-Flag' service in town.  Apparently, for a price, you can pay someone to come to your house and plant a flag in your yard, making it look like you're patriotic.

I was stunned.

Yes, for only $5 you can show how
much you love your country...

I mean, I know Old Navy has been profiting on people's sense of USA Pride for years, but paying someone to post a flag in your yard?  That just seems absurd.

Yet, it's a perfect example of capitalism.  Someone saw a market for lazy people wanting to show their pride, and capitalized on it.  It takes this guy 15 seconds to unfurl a flag and put it in your yard.  Another 15 seconds that evening to take it down.  And HOW MUCH is he charging??  When you can get 5-10 people per block, and x amount of blocks, I could see the windfall profits.

What amuses me is this:  I was actually considering buying a flag, getting a bracket to mount it on the side of my house, and showing my patriotism like a good little citizen.  I would be a little different, since most people have the ground stakes around here and mine would be on the side of the house.  Now I'm not sure if I want to, because this fool will drive down the street, think my flag is one of his, and drive off with it.

Then again, I'd get it back on the next holiday, wouldn't I?

Now don't get me wrong, I believe in capitalism, and support entrepreneurship as much as the next guy.  Yet, marketing against someone to be as lazy as possible seems a little... I dunno... immoral.  It doesn't seem as bad as fast food chains cutting costs by frying everything in cheap, fatty oils, but at the same time it's promoting the notion of "You don't need to do it.  Here, let me do it for you."

Something like letting me build you a website because you don't understand?  Ok.  Taking a car to a mechanic because they're too complicated to fix yourself?  I get that.  Paying a guy to take out a flag and put it in your yard, and remove it before sunset?  My 4-year old nephew could easily do that.  Why am I going to pay someone else to do it??

And why didn't I think of it first??

America... F**k Yeah... (yeah right)

To the 74% of my followers from the US, happy President's Day.  To the remaining 26%, happy Monday.  (And happy Tuesday to my Aussies, New Zealanders, and Eastasian fanbase)

This is my first President's Day in Idaho, and wasn't surprised to see an american flag planted in every yard on almost every street this morning.

Well, every yard but mine.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not unpatriotic, I'm just poor.  I don't have a flag.  But even if I did, would I hoist it up like the rest of the masses?

I'm not exactly sure if, based on this century so far, I am necessarily 'proud' of my country.

It seems that, over the past 10 or so years, the pride (as well as ignorance) of the US has escalated beyond belief.  We truly believe, no, we KNOW we are the central hub of this Earth, and other countries look up to us.

The title speaks for itself

Meanwhile, our country's debt has escalated more and more since GW Bush took office, and it's not really getting better under Obama.  It's hard to tell if he is trying to push back and stop the financial avalanche, or if he's just riding the wave and hoping we all survive when the rocks stop falling.

Then again, depending on who you ask, the financial problems of the last 8-10years are all Obama's fault.

Like I said, it depends on who you ask:

I think, as a nation, we need to put down the apple pie and take a big swallow of some humble pie.  Stop thinking we are the World Police, and become one of the many world leaders, instead of the self-appointed world leader.  

For a country that was founded in democracy, it makes me ill when I hear so many people in grocery stores, on the radio, or just chatting in the mall saying which world leaders we should throw out, which countries are the next big threat, and then complain about our government's financial crisis.  People tend to forget that wars are expensive, and our defense spending is still a MAJOR chunk of our upside-down budget.

And the budget talk around the water cooler makes me laugh even more.  It shows me how many people didn't do very well in Math and Economics in school.  Raising taxes is not an option, because people don't want to give the government any more of their money.  Spending cuts aren't an option, because our population is growing too fast to absorb cuts in health care, social services, education, road upkeep, etc.  So... what IS the option?  Complaining, it seems...

I'll end on this note.  The last time our country was truly booming was the Eisenhower era.  Education levels were on-par with the rest of the world, we were expanding our roadways to counter the rising populations, and our hospitals, police staff, and social services were well taken care of.  The income tax rate for the median household was 48.23%.  Now, in the 21st century, roads are cracking.  Hospitals are overcrowded.  Social Security is failing.  Our national debt has risen more in these past 10 years than at any other point in history.  The income tax rate for the median household is about 25%.

Let it sink in a bit...  Happy President's Day, my fellow Americans.