Our local real estate agent is at it again, peppering the neighborhood with free advertising for her firm by planting flags in everyone’s lawn:

I suppose they’re kinda cute, in a blatant-self-huckstering-at-the-expense-of-the symbol-of-freedom way, but I do wonder if this sort of thing will be permitted if the new flag-protection amendment is passed. After all, here’s the relevant line of the Federal Flag Code [section 4(i)]:

The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

In case you weren’t sure this particular instance was a violation, note the advertisement, clearly fastened to the staff from which this “flag” (if you can call a made-in-China piece of plastic a flag) is flown:

(Again, one year later, our agent has not yet discovered the miracle of permanent ink.)

Noting, with a bit of irony, that the proper method of disposal of said flag is “preferably by burning” [section 4(k)], I wonder what Chinese plastic looks like when it burns….