OPINION
9
Saggy-Pants Debates Just Hot Air
'Legislative tailors' have their way across America
By Matt Cantor
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Posted Mar 4, 09 1:51 AM CST
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(Newser)
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Legal battles against sagging pants are being waged across the US at an absurd rate, writes Greg Beato in Reason. Detractors argue that exposing large “swathes of underwear” should be banned, particularly because the style emulates prison attire and to wear them is “to embrace criminality.” “I certainly respect the Constitution, but we have some issues that are much bigger than the Constitution,” said a mayor backing a ban.
But enforcement of such laws is rare, and pushing them often amounts to “political theater” on the taxpayers’ dime, notes Beato. Besides, "if saggy pants are such a sure indicator of criminality, why do we want to eliminate this easy identification system?” he asks. And if criminality is cool, then banning the pants makes them cooler. Instead of “clogging our legal system,” why not hire “paunchy, middle-aged white guys to start wearing their slacks shockingly low?” Beato wonders.