Baggy pants that give the rest of the world access to your nether regions are offensive. Period. No one should have to look at anyone else?s underwear or private parts.
But, we do not need a law about it. What we need is public condemnation of poor taste and better parental control of children?s clothing choices.
That is not the solution Baltimore City Council members Helen L. Holton (D-8) and Bernard C. “Jack” Young (D-12) propose. They want to hold a hearing to “explore the historical and social implications of such (baggy pants) practices,” among other issues, as a possible stepping stone to enacting legislation to ban them.
The whole idea is fatally flawed. First, how baggy is baggy? Does the City Council plan to draw a visual aid for police or ask them to carry rulers so that officers can see how far people?s pants hang below their waist?
Second, do the police really have time to act like Catholic nuns enforcing skirt lengths? Police officials say they do not have the manpower to enforce existing laws. If enacted, you can bet a baggy pants law would not be enforced.
And third, does the City Council intend to ban other offensive practices, like swearing or picking your nose in public? How about too much cleavage? Those things are gross too. Society would be a better place if people were more civil, practiced better hygiene and were more modest.
But legislating taste doesn?t work much better than morals. Examples of why not abound, including Prohibition.
Not passing a law in no way means schools and other public and private groups should not or cannot enforce dress codes, however.
Family members and those groups are the best places to monitor clothing choices, not law enforcement.
Ms. Holton and Mr. Young should focus their time on issues that fall within their purview, like helping to lower Baltimore?s ludicrous property tax rate ? twice that of surrounding jurisdictions.
