I’m watching the telly and there are these ads on there to “Be Patriotic” “Buy our American Flags” etc…
These companies seem to think that selling red, white and blue gear suddenly makes them patriotic instead of just plain oportunistic. I’m sure that these are the same companies that sold ‘Pet Rocks’ and ‘Shit Happens t-shirts’ when those were hot. But today, there isn’t much hotter than patriotism.
It’d be different if these people were giving their proceeds to the American Red Cross, or the disaster relief fund or to the FDNY Fund or what not. Hell, even that place that sells silver dollars with some paint on them for $40 is giving some of their profits to these causes. How much does it cost to make an american flag on a fuqing magnet anyhow?
'Course, for that matter how much does it cost to allocate a penny on the dollar to relief efforts or the Red Cross? I don’t think the companies that are clamoring about giving a “portion of their proceeds” are any more partiotic nor less opportunistic then the rest.
These flag guys have been operating for some time.
You just don’t get the right magazines to see them.
Try any of the right wing glossies, or the hunter/ gun sales / motorcycle / he-man weight lifter rags.
Last week in the parking lot at Wal-Mart, a nice (sarcastic tone),sweaty ,dirty tweaker came up asking if I wanted to buy some red,white and blue ribbons. He’s even tie them on my antenna for me for no EXTRA CHARGE. I told him to leave me alone and that I didn’t need no piddly little ribbons to show my love for my country. My boyfriend then asked him if he was up tweaking all night making those. Guy wasn’t too happy and walked away grumbling. He did happen to catch a shmuck who bought some. As we drove by them, I yelled “Buy a ribbon!! Contribute to the tweaker fund!!”
I don’t really like the sudden interest in selling patriotic themes either, but people would bitch if nobody were selling flags. How else are flags to be distributed? Someone has to sell them and have to make a profit to sell more. I bought my flag years ago and have flown it everyday, so nothing has changed and I do not plan to buy another because of war. I love my country and I don’t need 50 flags and stickers to prove it…IMHO. To answer your question on how much it costs to make a flag, well my guess is about $.10 in ink, and about the same in material (add in labor and shipping too). That’s buying in mass bulk, and stamping out flags (your standard cheap flag) not embroidering them.
The flag sellers are filling a need. They aren’t patriotic angels, but they’re not child crack-head porn dealers either.
I invite everyone who complains that they should give them away for free to take your own damn money, buy flags and give them away for free. Where do you get off suggesting that someone else isn’t giving enough?
I’m not the one wrapping myself up in the flag and declaring that it is MORE than supply/demand economics that dictates what I sell. My beef isnt’ against companies that make flags. My beef is against those that try and say that making/selling flags somehow makes them patriotic.
My personal favorite is the convenience store near my workplace. They have these things- picture this.
Looks like it used to be a “patriotic” shoelace. Said shoelace is cut and folded over itself, like a ribbon. There is a little gold angel pin holding it together.