There Oughta Be a Law

Radley Balko | March 9, 2008

In a new report for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Eli Lehrer looks at a series of dumb products and activities that the various states have banned. Here's a little taste:

Louisiana's unique-in-the nation florist licensing statute makes it illegal for anybody to arrange two or more types of flowers without passing a largely subjective state licensing exam. In theory, a child could face a fine for picking a bouquet of flowers and selling it at a roadside stand.

Whole thing here.

Comments

|3.9.08 @ 5:45PM|#

Is this example "liberalism" or corporatism?

As for me, I didn't know I was a "liberal" until the George W. Bush administration.

|3.9.08 @ 5:56PM|#

...proud to be a Virginian. For what it is worth, there are a lot of Virginians who realize the ban is absurd but, as with most public choice problems, not enough who care to overcome the inertia.

Daniel Reeves|3.9.08 @ 5:59PM|#

Semi-relevant:

http://reverent.org/an_artist_or_an_ape.html

LarryA|3.9.08 @ 6:11PM|#

Gun control is replete with examples.

I was on CheaperThanDirt.com recently looking to replace a belt pouch. It's marked "Restricted" because Los Angeles restricts sales of "Any holster for a handgun that is less than 6.75" long." That led me to the CheaperThanDirt restricted products list.

Turns out it's illegal to sell surplus fuel cans in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Arlington County VA, Fairfax County VA, Loudoun County VA, Prince William County VA, and Stanford County VA.

|3.9.08 @ 6:32PM|#

BEWARE ***The WEAPONS of MASS DECEPTION***

WMD's =
NBC, MSNBC - owned by GE
CBS - owned by Westinghouse
CNN - owned by AOL Time Warner
Most of "the Mainstream Media"

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT - 29 NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS (Big MONEY)
Aka: Dick Cheney's NEXT Big ENERGY MONOPOLY RIPOFF ... ( Plan)....

Whether Cheney's PLAN succeeds ....OR NOT.... is UP to ALL of YOU.

We all know CORPORATE POWER is in control of our government and ROBBING us every way they can. The "NEWS" media is NOW nearly totally under the control of Corporate interests.

The Corporate-Controlled "news" media have interlocking Boards of Directors (same member serves on multiple boards) and all of them serve to enrich their CONGLOMERATED Corporate Masters. (*see F.A.I.R. website link at the end of this post.)

(YOU can HELP Get the Word Out: Please post this NEWS thruout the Blogsphere; in any NEWS media you can find; and send it to every one on your Email List.)

*******************REAL News you won't see on TV***********************************

Obama is the pre-packaged "New & Improved Chocolate Flavor" Presidential candidate being Marketed like a PRODUCT - hyped & PUSHED by GE and its WHOLLY-Owned subsidiaries NBC & MSNBC...along with Westinghouse & its subsidiary CBS...while slamming the Clintons all day every day. (Assisted by...CNN/FOX/ and a lot of newspaper & radio media dependent on advertising $$$.) GE is the 2nd largest corporation on the planet.

Obama is IN with the Nuclear Industry: Excelon Corp of Illinois has been one of his largest contributors from his entry into politics to the present. Excelon is the largest nuke operator on the planet;owns Con-Ed of NY; more nukes in Illinois than any other state.

GE, Westinghouse, Excelon & 3 consortiums of other companies are planning to build 29 new nuclear power plants. Their Wholly-Owned & Wholly Influenced "News" media are selling the Obama Product because Obama is in favor of Nukes.

In 2005 Obama Voted FOR the Cheney Energy Bill (H.R.6) which ENABLED the nuke industry to make its Plans to build 29 new nukes-by Guaranteeing Taxpayer Payback of any nuke loans that default. (No nukes were built for the past 30 years because the banks wouldn't loan the money - too risky)

Obama Voted FOR the Cheney Energy Bill-despite the fact the Congressional Budget Office rated the risk of default on the nuke loans at 50% or greater. (Does that sound like...GOOD...JUDGMENT to You?)

[NY Times has several articles about the nuke plans & a map showing all 29 locations; Wikipedia covers the subject]

Clinton Voted AGAINST the Cheney Energy Bill and said her Energy Plan does not include nuclear.

? "Its about the FUTURE ...... Turn The PAGE" ?

Nope. Its about Turning the PAGE BACK to the PAST: Obsloete 50 yr old nuke power plants-the dirtiest most expensive kind/centrally-controlled MONOPOLY POWER-instead of deploying New, Clean, Green De-Centralized Inexpensive Energy.

An ad campaign has already begun on the TV media to re-package & re-name nuclear power plants as: GREEN & CLEAN -for- everybody too young to remember the 1970's anti-nuke movement and all the Bad News about nuclear energy.

Don't be taken in by the ad campaigns - Google:'nuclear waste dumps' & read about the hundreds of BILLIONS of gallons of nuke waste at the Hanford Washington dump; 14 tons of plutonium stored at Rocky Flats, Colorado; Barnwell, South Carolina; leaking into groundwater and rivers; plutonium released into the air around Denver from 500 instances of fires at Rocky Flats; nuke waste stored ON-SITE at every nuke reactor in America...presenting hundreds of potential "dirty bomb" targets for terrorists.

Is it true that Obama takes No Contributions/ NO MONEY from Registered Federal Lobbyists?

Yes. It's a LawyerSpeak/Trick of: Speaking a Small truth covering up a Big Lie.

Nope, doesn't take money from REGISTERED FEDERAL Lobbyists.

DOES take money from STATE Lobbyists, Not Registered Lobbyists, AND the wives, husbands, law partners,
...of REGISTERED FEDERAL Lobbyists. Gets money from the same big corporate donors as any other candidate.

Obama's campaign finances are involved in the prosecution (by Patrick Fitzgerald) and trial of his friend of 20 years Antoin Rezko. Some of the funds... allegedly...extorted by Rezko went into Obama's campaign coffers.

Curiously, Iraqi Power Plants and fraud are also involved in Rezko's trial. (Google: Obama -Rezko- Alsammarae-Auichi- IRAQ POWER PLANTS). With the Rezko trial looming over his head Obama, in all good conscience, should not have run for the Presidency - given all the unanswered questions about his involvement with Rezko; including Obama's meeting with Rezko and Rezko's friend Iraqi Billionaire Auichi. Obama's LACK of good conscience in running for President - given the very high risk that the Rezko trial will result in the election of a Republican - reveals Obama's lack of good conscience and his lack of any regard for his party, his country, or its people. Obama should withdraw from the race.

At the beginning of this campaign season a large majority of voters were looking forward to electing Clinton. Then Obama stepped in and started the dirty campaigning that has created the DIVISION he so hypocritically decries. Obama played "the race card" so he could win in South Carolina. He was caught red-handed playing that race card-but the media blamed it on Clinton -even though they all knew they were pushing THE BIG LIE..

With nearly ALL "the mainstream media" pimping for Obama & slamming, smearing, and lying about the Clintons-it is truly amazing enough voters have seen thru the Media-Created Obama "movement"-for Clinton to STILL be in the race.

The only way a very small minority can CONTROL a very large Majority is: DIVIDE & CONQUER -Exactly the same Republican Strategy/Deception they have successfully pulled for most of the last century And ALL of this century, so far. . .

GE, the nuke industry/wealthy have hedged their bets & they will get 29 new nukes IF either Obama or McCain is elected.

Ladies & Gentlemen, Dads & Moms buy nothing GE & Westinghouse are selling - not Obama, not a washing machine, a dishwasher, 29 nuke power plants, or a garbage disposer .... because there is no garbage disposer for Radioactive Nuke Waste. Do not allow them to poison the earth and your children anymore.

For further Info see Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting website:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3258

|3.9.08 @ 6:39PM|#

A question for the Reason monitors - why is shit like "elme's" post allowed to get through? Doesn't this website have any spam filters?

Jennifer|3.9.08 @ 6:48PM|#

Connecticut's talking about licensing interior decorators. You can't give good advice on wallpaper patterns and paint colors without governmental oversight, you know!

Ramsey|3.9.08 @ 6:56PM|#

elme's post is definitely the product of a free mind. As such I say let it stand. If he ever posts something that is borderline batshit crazy, we can just look at this post and know who we are dealing with.

Just like the skinheads, nascar fans, and socialists, let them have their flags. Let's me know who not to talk to.

tarran|3.9.08 @ 6:57PM|#

Man, I didn't know GE had 29 nuclear power plants for sale.

What are they asking for them?

Ramsey|3.9.08 @ 6:57PM|#

And I hope that those 29 new nuclear plants produce 1000s of megawatts of electricity, and continue to uphold the standards of safety and reliability established by their predecessors.

|3.9.08 @ 6:58PM|#

I suspect that florists are tired of the big box stores getting the business florists normally get. My wife works for a florist here and business was down by more than half this year at valentines day. Walmart on the other hand was standing room only while associates that usually run the registers or stock produce were throwing together arrangements for people standing 10 deep in 3 lines.
I would be curious to know how walmart and others are dealing with such a law.

BTW, while mrs. brotherben has taken some classes on arranging flowers, she is not licensed as it isn't a requirement.

|3.9.08 @ 7:00PM|#

Mayhaps they are selling the nuke plants because of the dramatic decline in electrical usage due to the CFLs they talked the gubmint into requiring.

|3.9.08 @ 7:08PM|#

Fleur-de-lis is now fleur-de-license?

hke|3.9.08 @ 7:21PM|#

Does the feather restriction apply to pillows and comforters? These items might be around during sexual activity. I want to see TX and LA ban pillows.

|3.9.08 @ 7:35PM|#

more nuclear? thanks elme, you're giving me reasons to vote FOR obama! loans for nuke plants risky? you think maybe that has something to do with the wacky fear-mongering of people like you? we should have been on 80% nuclear for decades now, a cheap, clean + safe way to dispose of / store the waste would have emerged long ago.

|3.9.08 @ 7:48PM|#

Ramsey | March 9, 2008, 6:56pm | #

elme's post is definitely the product of a free mind.


I'd refer to it as "free speech."

The "mind" part is a little more iffy.

Maybe we should give him the link to LGF.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad|3.9.08 @ 8:04PM|#

Man, I didn't know GE had 29 nuclear power plants for sale.

Time to break out the credit card!

|3.9.08 @ 8:05PM|#

With nearly ALL "the mainstream media" pimping for Obama & slamming, smearing, and lying about the Clintons-it is truly amazing enough voters have seen thru the Media-Created Obama "movement"-for Clinton to STILL be in the race.

You are obviously misinformed. Regular readers of H&R KNOW that the MSM has been too busy "slamming, smearing, and lying about" Ron Paul, elme. This is the wrong site to promote your somewhat unhinged conspiracy theories. We dabble in anti-Ron Paul conspiracies around here. However, in the spirit of conspiracy whacko brotherhood, may I recommend Balloon Juice? They should be more receptive to your harangues.

R/
J sub D

|3.9.08 @ 8:08PM|#

Thanks for that "provide a link" hint Aresen.
Why should we have all of the fun? Share and share alike, I always say.

Brandybuck|3.9.08 @ 8:13PM|#

Elme may have free speech, but this site is still private property. Reason has the right to filter out crap like his post. I really really wish they would.

Righteous Libertarian Brotha|3.9.08 @ 8:23PM|#

Don't let the "Man" fool you into thinking Obama is one of us.Hillary is a Sistuh and with her old man, the Real Black President she will assure we get our slavery reperations and not 29 GE Corporate Nuclear Plants.

|3.9.08 @ 8:25PM|#

Brandybuck -

This site tolerates Lonwhacko, Donderooooooooooo and and the both of us.
Discriminating they ain't.
;-)

|3.9.08 @ 8:32PM|#

Where have all the whackos gone?
long time passing
Where have all the whackos gone?
long time ago
Where have all the whackos gone?
gone to H&R every one
When will they ever filter?
Oh, when will they ever filter?

Other Matt|3.9.08 @ 8:44PM|#

Turns out it's illegal to sell surplus fuel cans in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Arlington County VA, Fairfax County VA, Loudoun County VA, Prince William County VA, and Stanford County VA.

It's due to VOC regulations. You have to have a can which isn't open to the air, it's a pain in the butt. I have four of them, wish I never bought them, they have a piece of plastic on top which catches on the inside of the fuel door on the vehicle.

|3.9.08 @ 9:38PM|#

Brandybuck,

I think Reason is attempting to foster a culture of free expression here, even though they're not legally bound to do so. Censoring based on content (beyond libel/fraud/threats) would seem contrary to the libertarian view that the solution to bad speech is more speech, right?

|3.9.08 @ 9:43PM|#

Ayyy, those gas cans are the worst. It's nearly impossible to fill a lawnmower with those things if they're full, because the gas comes out of the spout sideways. I keep forgetting to get an old-fashioned gas container when I'm traveling; I doubt Gov. Spitzer has PIs canvassing gas stations in other states for illegal gas can purchases by NYS residents, but you never know.

Ramsey|3.9.08 @ 9:52PM|#

When I said free mind, I meant free from the shackles and controls of sanity.

thoreau|3.9.08 @ 11:08PM|#

Censoring based on content (beyond libel/fraud/threats) would seem contrary to the libertarian view that the solution to bad speech is more speech, right?

I know what you meant, but you know as well as I do that somebody is going to show up and explain that it isn't actually "censoring" if a private organization does it on property/servers/whatever owned by that organization.

Damn we libertarians are a pedantic bunch.

LarryA|3.9.08 @ 11:23PM|#

Does the feather restriction apply to pillows and comforters? These items might be around during sexual activity. I want to see TX and LA ban pillows.

NSFW! I bet these would be illegal. NSFW!

The interesting part of course, is that while advertising toys is verboten, Viagra, etc. and condom ads are everywhere.

An ad campaign has already begun on the TV media to re-package & re-name nuclear power plants as: GREEN & CLEAN -for- everybody too young to remember the 1970's anti-nuke movement and all the Bad News about nuclear energy.

I remember the 1970s "Bad News" about nuclear power plants. Environuts pulled every legal trick in the book, using fearmongering and lawsuits to delay construction until it was impossible for investors to get a decent return.

I also remember Three Mile Island, as we were living thirty miles downwind. It was the only "national disaster" in U.S. history where no private property was damaged and not one person even slightly injured.

The nuclear power plant that supplies part of our power next door in San Antonio has, in the decades since it was built, been the only trouble-free generation station we've had.

As for the spent fuel, if Congress would quit blocking the process we could recycle it like most everyone else in the world does.

I know what you meant, but you know as well as I do that somebody is going to show up and explain that it isn't actually "censoring" if a private organization does it on property/servers/whatever owned by that organization.

m-w.com: Censoring: to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable [censor the news]; also : to suppress or delete as objectionable [censor out indecent passages]

It's still censoring. It's just not unconstitutional and shouldn't be illegal on private sites. However, it does set a bad example. On a libertarian "free minds and free markets" site it carries the stench of hypocrisy.

For libertarians, it's one of those "legal but stupid" ideas.

|3.9.08 @ 11:26PM|#

In theory, a child could face a fine for picking a bouquet of flowers and selling it at a roadside stand.

Thank goodness a child can still sell lemonade at the side of the road without being harassed by the government.....

|3.9.08 @ 11:41PM|#

Where have all the whackos gone?

Half of them are on Daily Kos, and the other half are on LGF.

A plague on both factions.

-jcr

|3.9.08 @ 11:49PM|#

Maybe I'm a cynic, but I would think Wal-Mart draws enough water that they'll pass the "largely subjective test". Esp. when the opposition is a bunch of local florists.

Elemenope|3.10.08 @ 12:17AM|#

NSFW!

Whatcha talkin' about? All the naughty bits are covered.

The Wine Commonsewer|3.10.08 @ 1:29AM|#

IJ took on the flower regs in New Awlins but I believe that it was dismissed as moot after Hurricane Katrina forced us to buy Louisiana for the second time.

miche|3.10.08 @ 2:41AM|#

Small quibble with original article: Sex toys are now ok in TX. And I should know because I'm in the midst of relocating. I packed my favorite one, the doc is already in our new city and I needed some sleep earlier so went and bought one without calling it a personal massager. TMI, I know, but wanted to bridge a guy/gal gap- we all need a good nap here and there.

Mister DNA|3.10.08 @ 5:32AM|#

Does the feather restriction apply to pillows and comforters? These items might be around during sexual activity. I want to see TX and LA ban pillows.

Don't you know that pillows can be bitten?!? Won't somebody please think of the children???

some guy|3.10.08 @ 8:28AM|#

Censoring based on content (beyond libel/fraud/threats)
would seem contrary to the libertarian view...

It's more pragmatic than that. See all those ads? Somebody has to click on them.

Episiarch|3.10.08 @ 8:52AM|#

In Springfield it's illegal for a duck to wear pants, you know.

|3.10.08 @ 9:47AM|#

Why a duck?

Alice Bowie|3.10.08 @ 11:16AM|#

I'm not the least bit suprised that a bounch of BOZOs would pass a law like this

Rhywun|3.10.08 @ 11:43AM|#

Like I needed another reason to avoid Virginia.