Fines for 'droopy drawers' backed

[emad]

BBC

US politicians fed up with catching an eyeful of underwear want to fine those who won't hitch up their trousers.

The Virginia state house has voted to outlaw the trend of wearing trousers so low that underwear hangs over the top.

Delegates said the habit, popular across the US and in other Western countries, was "coarsening" society.

But others hit back, urging legislators to remember their own "fashion follies" and saying the law would be used mostly against black people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4249831.stm

[illflem]

1. Don't these fools have something better to do

than make laws about the way people dress?

[LeftCoast]

2. More Republican hypocrisy

According to them, we live in the Land of the Free (tm), but they're going to tell you how to wear your pants? Mmm...gimmme some o' that freedom. :)

[bowens43]

5. It was a Democrat who introduced this bill.

[LeftCoast]

8. Oh great!

Another Faux Democrat drinks the Republican KoolAid.

Thanks for the info.

[bowens43]

10. I was amazed.......

[Richardo]

3. I think it should be made legal for anyone...

...to 'pants' someone wearing their trousers like that.

If fact there should be tax credits for it.

[InternalDialogue]

23. Faith-based pants-ing

I think you can get a grant, if the pants-ing is done in the name of the lord.

[bowens43]

4. It shames me that it was a Democrat

who instigated this lunacy. I hope to see the ACLU step in and squash this nonsense very quickly.

[Warpy]

6. Virginia legislators need to get their water checked

for hallucinogens. They seem to be spending a tremendous amount of time and energy on utter idiocy like this and that bill to criminalize miscarriages.

[TXlib]

32. bill to criminalise miscarriages?! Here's a link:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/6/194434/1328

[atommom]

7. Someone needs to boot these buffoons out of office, if they

truly think this is a good way to spend the taxpayers' money. I suspect there are a lot of important issues they could be addressing, instead of pouting about exposed undies. :eyes: Of course, that would be hard work.

[rodeodance]

9. bet the Brits are having a good chuckle (at our morals) te he

[atommom]

16. At least we're good for comic relief!

[emad]

11. Hope they don't try this on in the UK - the building industry would

collapse if they legistlated on these lines...

[emad]

12. $50 fines and "the coarsening of society"

If the state senate also approves, youngsters in Virginia showing too much of their boxer shorts or G-strings could be fined $50 (£26).

...

Democrat Delegate Algie T Howell proposed the bill. "It's not an attack on baggy pants. It's not about Janet Jackson. It's not about Randy Moss," he said, referring to the American footballer recently fined for pretending to "moon" opposing fans.

"To vote for this bill would be a vote for character, to uplift your community and to do something good not only for the state of Virginia, but for this entire country," he added.


"Most of us would identify this as the coarsening of society," said Delegate John Reid, a Republican.

EDIT: did he mean "uplift" your visible bodyparts?

[rodeodance]

14. "To vote for this bill would be a vote for character, to uplift your

community"...

it is that 'character'rhetoric that we need to watch out for!!

......"To vote for this bill would be a vote for character, to uplift your community and to do something good not only for the state of Virginia, but for this entire country," he added

[moggie]

19. Doesn't go far enough

I wonder whether the word "burka" means anything to these clowns?

[Zuni]

34. to 'uplift' society or to 'uplift' pants?

one and the same?

[Up2Late]

13. What's next? Skirt length?

Do we really want to go there?:mad:

I think some of these people REALLY do want to move America back to the 1950's (or earlier)

I have an idea, Let's make a law (that's retro-active) to arrest and fine anyone that ever wore "Flair" jeans or "Leisure Suits" back in the 1960 and 70's!

Oh, Heck, they could probably balance the budget with all that money.

[dbt]

15. Louisiana tried a similar move recently.

The whole thing died because nobody could figure out how to pay for enforcing a law like this. Perhaps Virginia will come through and this movement of righteousness can go nationwide!

:eyes:
dbt

[SpiralHawk]

17. We need a fine for red "power" ties

Which politicians and others use to advertise their shortcomings.

[Bethany Rockafella]

18. I don't know if this should be outlawed but

I wish that fashion trend go away real fast. These guys look like a bunch of idiots with their drawers hanging out like that.

[ProgressiveConn]

21. I think it is absurd as well.

But then again I think the necktie is just as absurd. For us to attempt to make one illegal while everyone in the room doing so is wearing a necktie shows me the complete and utter hypocrisy of the American south. If I was a VA Dem I'd be on the phone with this so called Democrat immediately.

[Dark]

20. These politicians are as dumb as those who wear their pants like that. n/t

[kcass1954]

22. OMG... It's the fashion police!

It's not a look that I like, even though I let my kid wear it. (Pick your battles - choose wisely! )

Underwear is just that - it's supposed to be UNDER your clothes.

But no way in hell would I want this look to be outlawed!

I would not be the person I am today had I not worn bell-bottoms in the 60's and platform shoes in the 70's. Who remembers tube tops?!?


edited for grammar

[MissMarple]

24. LOL! "droopy drawers" when I was young it meant the baby needs changing.

That was back when the cloth diapers on a toddler would almost drag the floor. I still get that mental image when I see those baggy pants. But I don't say anything, and my son and his friends do seem to be wearing pants that aren't quite so baggy these days.

And why do these idiots masquerading as lawmakers think that just passing a law against something will make problems just go away?

[Up2Late]

25. I don't know if anyone else saw this, but...

about a year ago, or so, I was in a store, (I think it was a Surf Shop or one like "GadZooks") and they actually sold "Young Man's" pants and shorts, that were made that way.

In other words, they had about 4 inches of underwear sown into the pants, so that they didn't even have to ware attractive underwear, to sport that look.

I'm pretty sure that, if designer cloths corporations would stop selling $30-$50 dollar underwear, with giant logos on them , like "Joe Boxer" this trend would end. Boys wouldn't feel the need to say to the world, "Look at me, I'm wearing $50 dollar Underwear!"

[Jacobin]

26. In retaliation

it would be great if young folks would start hiking their pants up to their chests with suspenders and belts, kinda like some old folks with big bellies do.

That would be so awful looking that maybe they would back off on this silliness.

[Hardrada]

27. Is that still a fad??

Or is VA merely behind the times. I haven't seen much of that around here for the last several years. But perhaps some version of it is timeless. I remember a high school principal in 1958 threatening to yank down the low-slung jeans some of the "hoody" guys were wearing.

[AlCzervik]

28. Crack is whack!

[jswordy]

29. Yeah it was on NPR this morning too and...

...it has not yet passed the Senate there...snore...

[Blue-Jay]

30. A fine is a bit much to say the least.

I'd prefer a swift kick in the baggy ass.

[name not needed]

31. This is one of the most asinine laws I've seen in a while

I have a new calling, to jog around the Virginia State House with my pants around my ankles.

[Orsino]

33. VA has officially jumped the shark.

I'd like to meet the politician who's spending his days investigating underpants and rallying support for this bill--while Rome burns.