Part II: In the land of the free
Louisiana Fashion Police
1. Two years ago, a town in Louisiana attempted to ban saggy pants, according to the NY Daily News. "The Terrebonne Parish Town Council voted 8 -1 to pass the ordinance, which the parish's president is expected to sign into law, reported WWL-TV."-- MICHAEL WALSH If a person wears baggy trousers, shorts, etc., in Terrebonne Parish, they could be fined "$50 for the first offense, $100 for the second and $100 and 16 hours of public service for each subsequent offence."
The legal trend appears to be catching on in Louisiana. For instance Chad Washington writing for the Daily World, in "Opelousas, police chief asks for saggy pants ban," stated that the police chief was not afraid of backlash from the ACLU for enacting a law, which he feels will "help these young men to be productive citizens," the chief stated according to Chad Washington, "it's just a disrespectful," he continued, "it's about respect." Councilman Marvin Richard implied that baggy pants lead to joblessness. "If they pull their pants up", Richard stated, "they can look for a job." (“Opelousas Police Chief Asks for Saggy Pants Ban.” DailyWorld.com. Accessed June 22, 2015.)
According to Brett Sanders, women in Opelousas may also be fined if caught wearing "Daisy Duke" shorts, the opposite of saggy pants. Fines run up to $200 dollars. Councilmen Tyrone Glover was quick to point out this difference, stating that "women in short shorts is at the other end of the spectrum from saggy pants." Glover continues by stating, "this is so silly and a prime example of how the cities, and states are in regulation mode according to what makes them feel comfortable or uncomfortable." (Andre Gabriel Esparza. “Fashion Police in Louisiana Seek $200 Fine and Jail for Inappropriate Clothing.” BrettSanders.me, n.d. Accessed June 22, 2015.)
Sanders' remarks reflect some of the ironies found in neo-conservativism, but this will be addressed in another piece.
In March 2014, Fox News reported that Louisiana Parish (Lousiana has Parishes not counties) "bans saggy pants." The article reported that "the Jefferson Davies (named after Civil War General) Policy Jury has unanimously passed an ordinance making it illegal to appear in public place wearing pants below the waist and exposing the skin or undergarments." “Louisiana Parish Bans Saggy Pants; $50 Fine for First Offense.” (Text.Article. Associated Press. Last modified March 27, 2014. Accessed June 22, 2015.)
These laws generally target African Americans, hip-hop culture, rave-trands, and other subcultural phenomena that Louisiana officials have fought since at least... well ... probably Reconstruction. It usually comes as no surprise that the same officials seeking to police fashion trends probably "hoot and holler" over American freedom. In the 1960s, the Barry Goldwater conservative movement claimed that the liberals were trying to legislate culture by enforcing integration, LBJ's war on poverty, etc. For awhile, conservatives wanted government to stick to economic affairs and distanced themselves from liberals who tried to manage culture. Now, the roles seem to have switched. The liberals have beaten the conservatives at their own economic games and now the neocon movement has little else to do but legislate culture and moral standards--much like the radical religious groups in the Middle East, which conservatives claim to disparage.
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