It's all spelled out in Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1 (see http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode04/usc_sup_01_4_10_1.html).. (By the way, that's former President Bush desecrating a flag in that photo). This morning, in the neighborhood park where there was a fireworks display last night, dozens of rumpled flags were everywhere - on the ground, in trash cans, along with flag-imprinted paper plates, napkins and other such stuff. Take a look at one photographer's view of how the flag is respected at http://www.sethbutler.com/tattered/.

Fortunately for the armchair patriots and chickenhawk generals, there are no criminal penalties associated with Title 4 USC1. If congress were to enact some stiff fines for violations, the federal defecit would disappear overnight.

The full statute, also known as the Flag Code, can be found at http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode04/usc_sup_01_4_10_1.html.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20945041@N06/2833591179/

No one seemed to mind when Obama refused to wear his flag pin. Or is this sudden interest in patriotism now cause for panic now that about.politicalhumor.com has weighed in on the issue?

I wouldn't know about wht's on about.politicalhumor.com because I've never been to the site. What I do know is that there's this body of law that I was taught before my age was in double digits, and what I see is a bunch of fake patriots who are totally ignorant of it and violate it at every turn while thinking they're being the only "real" Americans and assume an air of smug superiority over people who are no less passionate about their country but don't wear it on their sleeves. It's not what you wear that makes you patriotic, it's what you do. If you think all it takes to qualify one for public office is wearing a pin that was probably made in China, you don't deserve to vote.

No one seemed to mind when Obama refused to wear his flag pin

You're kidding, right? The GOP tried to make it front page news.