Ethics

Moratorium on New Displays in Washington

By Ed Brayton

Another new development in the controversy over holiday displays in the Washington capitol rotunda. After receiving a flood of applications for more displays, the state has declared a moratorium on new displays being added while it figures out what the heck to do.

On Friday the Department of General Administration declared a moratorium for exhibits and displays in the Legislative Building.

As a result, all pending applications - including one for a Festivus pole - an homage to the made-up holiday featured in the comedy series "Seinfeld" - have been put on hold until the department completes a review of the current policy for exhibits and displays in the Legislative Building.

In a statement the department said it made the decision after receiving more applications than anticipated and can be "reasonably accommodated" in the building's display area.

The solution seems obvious: don't put up any displays at all. Let people put up their displays on their own property and leave the government out of it.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on December 14, 2008 (boomark / email).