Keep your government hands in our business

[kinvore.livejournal.com]

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend in the States, where we honor the men and women who died in military service. You'll see all kinds of patriotic fervor during this time, hell even PBS gets involved, but I'm not by any means complaining. Then we get stuff like this:

A property management company is under hot water for telling a tenant that after Memorial Day he has to take down an American Flag that he has on display in his window.

Here's what gets me:

Dawn Price said she now works to amend the federal Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, which states no "condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association" may stop someone from flying the American flag. The law, however, does not apply to renters.

First I'm amazed we even have such a law to begin with, and I'm even more amazed that they want it even more intrusive. I thought conservatives didn't want government telling business what to do? Did these tenants not read their contract before signing it? Shouldn't we let the market decide if this is a good business practice?

It just seems like an example of glaring hypocrisy. Freedom is a double-edged sword, and sometimes it means having to tolerate things you don't agree with.

Comments

[rasilio.livejournal.com]

The government should pass no such law and especially not the Federal Government.

Absolutely this should be a market solution and frankly it would be far more powerful if public demand caused the apartment complex to change their policy than a special interest group convincing a senator to get this bill tacked on to some otherwise irrelevant legislation so he can claim what a patriot he is during his next election.

[rasilio.livejournal.com]

Oh as far as conservatives go, no they do not want government to stop interfering in the market, they as a general rule have no greater love for the Free Market than progressives do, they merely seek to regulate and control it in different ways

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

'Freedom is a double-edged sword, and sometimes it means having to tolerate things you don't agree with.'

Tolerance is passe. Acceptance or else.

[tridus.livejournal.com]

"Freedom is a double-edged sword, and sometimes it means having to tolerate things you don't agree with."

Right, like tolerating that someone renting an apartment might want to have a flag. Why should the landlord have any right to influence if I do or don't put a flag up in a property I'm paying to use?

[debergerac.livejournal.com]

freedom to fly a flag is intrusive?

[dwer.livejournal.com]

this is a clear example of political speech, protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution, and therefore, wholly within the control of the Federal government.

Conservatives are perfectly happy with having the federal government telling businesses and people what to do, just as long as they agree with it.

And yes, I know you know that... :D

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Clearly you are also unfamiliar with the quasi-fascist institutions called HOA's in America.

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

Freedom is a double-edged sword, and sometimes it means having to tolerate things you don't agree with.

Like Jim Crow, for example.

[rev-proffessor.livejournal.com]

I suggest protesting the restrictions on flag flying by lighting said flag on fire.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of Get Your War On: New World Order.

There are gonna be some changes now that Obama won. "America's new flag is just a white flag, but there's a picture of a burning American flag on it."

[readherring.livejournal.com]

When I lived in Irvine, CA, the township dictated what color drapes you could hang in your window, (provided they could be seen from outside) what kind of flowers you could grow, and how long you could leave your garage door open.

As dumb as that all was, they had property rights for that area that every house owner bought into. So long as those rules didn't cause any detriment to anyone, I see absolutely no reason why the government should even think of sticking their nose into this.

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

If the rules say they can't display flags, banners, political or religious materials outside ONLY, I would have no problem abiding by that. If this was part of their lease, then they need to abide by it. We pay our rent to a realty management service, and luckily they're pretty lax on what we can and can't do. However, if they're trying to tell them they can't have anything hanging up within their residence, that's B.S. and I'd consult a lawyer. If she's trying to amend a law that's already on the books, I see nothing wrong with that, either.