Fitting Symbol Of A Failed Country

Clearwater ditches flags to save cash

"The city of Clearwater can no longer afford to fly the American flag.
Clearwater's parks and recreation director ordered the removal of 13 flagpoles from across the city this week saying budget cuts have made it impossible to properly care for the flags.
"Over the last three years, the parks and recreation staff has been reduced by 25 percent,'' explained director Kevin Dunbar. "When you have a flagpole, you have certain responsibilities. The flag has to be lit at night, if a flag has a rip in it, it has (to be removed). We don't have the staff to monitor these things anymore.''
So this week, Dunbar had city workers pull the poles out of the ground. The last flagpoles were removed Friday."