The Great Baggy Pant Debate

An amendment to the city indecency ordinance was introduced in Atlanta this week to ban baggy pants in the city of Atlanta. City Councilman C. T. Martin, the sponsor of the bill calls it an "epidemic" causing "major concern" around the country. Here is the Fox 5 News report on this story and a brief (no pun intended) excerpt:

Martin says he doesn't want young people thinking that being half-dressed is the way to go.

The proposed ordinance would also bar women from showing the strap of a thong beneath their pants. The proposed ordinance states that "the indecent exposure of his or her undergarments" would be unlawful in a public place. It would go in the same portion of the city code that outlaws sex in public.

Martin says the penalty would be a fine.

As you can imagine, this has caused quite a bit of controversy. Some are saying the style is a disgrace and should be banned, others are saying it's not the city's choice what they can and can't wear.

The ACLU is even getting in on the action saying it's racial profiling as it was originated "by black youth culture." Martin, who is black is standing by his amendment.

While, I would prefer when contractors show up at my house they are dressed appropriately (oh yes, did I not mention that the satellite installers showed up with his underpants hanging out?), and I abhor the look, I also think this is a ridiculous law.

This is nothing more than a government enforced dress code. I mean, what's next? Are we going to be forced to have our shorts and skirts at or below the knee? Will tank tops, t-shirts with certain slogans be banned?

Why would we allow the State to dictate what we can and can't wear?

But, on the other hand, being a non-smoker, I'm all in favor of smoking bans and isn't this just the same thing? The State moving in and telling us where we can smoke and what we can wear? It's all dictating our behavior. Although, as far as I know, baggy pants never caused cancer, asthma, or emphysema.

So, what do you think? Good law that is needed or bad law that forces us to conform? Am I missing something and is it racial profiling? And is it the same as smoking bans or something completely different all together?