Federal Judiciary

Retarded state legislation: Pennsylvania edition

Justice Brandeis once called state legislatures "laboratories of democracy." Well occasionally a good laboratory can produce a Frankenstein's monster. Check out this special holiday edition from Pennsylvania (with a few additions suggested):

HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 529 Session of 2007

Requesting citizens to honor the workers of this Commonwealth by buying American-made products.

WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has a long and proud some might say anachronistic tradition of manufacturing; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's workers have produced steel for the tallest buildings and the mightiest warships and for innovative toys, such as the Slinky (that is actually in the resolution); and

WHEREAS, These jobs were family-building and family-sustaining, allowing generations of Pennsylvanians to prosper in the 19th century; and

WHEREAS, Manufacturing has steadily declined in this Commonwealth and the United States, due in part to less costly imported products; and

WHEREAS, The decline of manufacturing has led to many fewer family-sustaining jobs and attendant hardships for those families and the communities in which they live and work (Well we're living here in Allentown, And they're closing all the factories down) ; and

WHEREAS, There are still manufacturers of high-quality products which are made by American workers working for profitable companies like GM and Ford; and

WHEREAS, Citizens of this Commonwealth have within their power the ability to affect the viability of these products by making a conscious effort to "Buy American" so long as it doesn't cost more and it can be found at Wal-Mart; and

WHEREAS, We are entering the season of giving; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives implore the government and the citizens of this Commonwealth to give the workers of this Commonwealth and this country a holiday present by making a conscious effort to put Pennsylvania first and buy American-made products. Please, we have no better ideas for economic development in this state. Seriously.

Full post as published by Supreme Dicta on December 10, 2007 (boomark / email).