The Maine state Senate voted 20-13 in favor of L.D. 471, a bill that would delay a referendum to change Maine's state flag. This bill delays the referendum from being on the ballot in November 2024 to 2026 and proposes a five-person committee that could cost an additional $266,000 to make a decision on an official state flag…

How did we get here?

Let's not try and dive into the insanity of 20 of 33 state senators thinking a committee and a quarter-million dollars is needed to let the public make a decision on their flag. But into this dubious design dispute to begin with. Well, that, my friends, would take us back to 1909 when the flag was originally changed from the simpler star and pine to the much more elaborate flag. One that features: a farmer, a sailor, a star, a moose lounging under a pine tree, and the word "Dirigo" (Latin for "I lead" or "I direct") – on a blue background. The blue background was important to the Maine Legislature as 80% were Civil War veterans or sons of Civil War veterans.

(Bonus: Ballad of the 20th Maine)

So why change back?

Well, the current Maine flag looks almost identical to 20 other state flags, making it indistinguishable and not very popular with Mainers themselves.

In 2017, The Maine Flag Co. started to individually sew the original 1901 flag and has since sold 9,000 flags, hats, pillows, and bags. Skowhegan-based Maine Stitching Specialties began making flags as well in 2018 and have sold over 10,000. The popularity of the previous state flag prompted two bills that made their way through committee review: L.D. 86 and L.D. 1069. The number of sales and the desire to set the state apart at least warrant the public's perspective on the matter. Which is why this would have made it to the ballot in November.

Are there people who even oppose the possibility of change?

Of course, there are; this is still America, and goddamn if we don't disagree with each other with the best of them. Critics of the change have cited tradition and a "woke" agenda. I could not find anything from these critics, but Rep. Eric Brakey was quoted in August with some insight: "People are saying it's a woke effort to take the farmer and the sailor off the flag and make it gender-neutral," Brakey disagrees with that sentiment. But, "people are saying" and "woke agenda" are not uncommon statements when it comes to meaningless political issues like updating a state flag. They are the most popular dog whistles for someone who would like to be a big dumb, hateful idiot who fears progress in any form.

Since I could not find what the people who are saying or even really who these people are, let's imagine what "the people are saying..." who are saying for a moment:

"By removing two white males from the flag, one a farmer, the other a sailor, Maine's agricultural industry and fishing industry will fall. Without having these fellas on the flag, how the hell will young Mainers even know that these careers are possibilities?! Furthermore, for those people suffering from the woke mind virus, does representation no longer matter? Maine is currently home to the highest moose population in the lower 48 states. We take the moose off the flag, they are going to be up and out of here real quick! Making the flag just a pine tree and the north star. How about we just update it to 'gender-affirming care welcome here,' goddammit!" - A “person who was saying”.

To be clear, this flag change would not come with an obligation to fly the new flag or any flag for that matter. It is a simple, straightforward ballot measure that lets us participate in the representation of our state. And it certainly does not require two more years, five other people, and a fourth of a Regis Philbin Prize for us to decide.