Three children in Georgia had a run in with local law enforcement when they were demanded to end the sales of lemonade from a front yard concession stand they built.
The girls were attempting to raise enough money to spend a day at a local water park.
So what’s the problem?
Police say the three young entrepreneurs did not possess the correct permits to run the stand.
I was quite pleased to learn that when the owner of the water park became aware of the girls intentions he invited the three to spend a day at the park, free of charge, and will even host a lemonade stand for the girls to peddle lemonade. The owner will also be allowing the girls to keep the earned proceeds.
Unfortunately, this is not yet a happy ending. A criminal investigation is ongoing in regards to the lemonade stand and the girls now harbor a healthy fear of law enforcement.
As American’s, I feel we are failing ourselves. We’ve become complacent with our own governments and have allowed them to gobble up too much power. Decent American’s are being harassed around the nation for measly offenses which do no harm; in fact, many would argue it’s actually a positive activity.
This is an argument of freedoms vs. liberties. We are no longer free to wave an American flag in some communities, we can’t run neighborhood lemonade stands, don’t even think about planting a veggie garden in your front yard, and if you are a Christian with a cross in your front yard, you’d better be ready to move it.
I can’t help but wonder if our neighborhoods would be a better place had we allowed these activities to continue and spent those officers’ times towards drugs and violent offenses.
Check out the original story here at foxnews.com.
I had not heard about this incident, but sadly, I have heard of similar ones. We've lost sight of what is important, and that's just a sad, sad thing. Kids selling lemonade is an American tradition and asking them to have a permit is insane. Now I do realize our world is a more dangerous place, but for me, let the buyer beware. Most of the buyers are going to be neighborhood people who know the kids. It is ridiculous and just makes me cringe at how we've lost focus. Sadly even more so, I don't think we can get it back.
ReplyDeleteI did not know thigns were this ridiculous. How can you ask little girls to get a permit to sell lemonade. They were raising money to go to a water park. Obviously they did not have enough money in their piggy banks for anything more substantial. Next thing you know we will be heraing about crackdowns on lawn moving and babysitting crime rings. Why are we accepting this?
ReplyDeleteIts so sad when the word of the law trumps the spirit of the law. While I understand the need and the intent of legal systems, it seems all too often that innocent people who are doing no harm to others get in trouble because of a technicality. These kids are one of the most blatant examples of the word of the law screwing over innocents, but this happens with many different laws in many different ways. A parent who figures that their 20 year old child is mature enough to have a glass of wine with dinner can get in trouble for providing them with alcohol. Obviously there is a place for the law, but what should be enforced is the SPIRIT of the law, rather than solely THE WORD.
ReplyDeleteSome parts of this post make me as upset as they make you. Certainly, the police can better spend their time cracking down on violent crime or working to prevent domestic abuse. The image of young children selling lemonade in the summertime is quite iconic, and the fact that the police are worried about the legal procedures of such an operation marks a step that is well beyond the reasonable scope of law enforcement. I would like to say, however, incidents like this are undoubtedly quite isolated. When one looks at them all at one time, as you did when listing the vegetable garden incident, it may seem like this is a nationwide problem. However, I think that these stories grab our attention because they're out of the ordinary and outrageous, not because they're a sign of the times and of government encroaching to ridiculous levels. I think it is somewhat disingenuous to extrapolate a breakdown in American freedom from these isolated, albeit outrageous, incidents. One cannot conclude that the times are changing from a handful of very bizarre, very isolated incidents.
ReplyDeleteThese are all recent events within the Midwest of the United States. The truth of the matter is these occurances are becoming more and more prevelant.
ReplyDeleteThis is a nationwide problem. If you search news sources from across the country you will see plenty of examples.
And also, its not just local governments: Look at the shinanigans going on in many HOA's across the country.
The purpose of bringing more attention to these occurances is that when people are more aware of not only their rights but the trends of the United States they are better able to protect themselves and their communities from being slighted. When people become complacent, they allow unfair laws and practices to exist within their communities.
You misused the word disingenuous:
dis·in·gen·u·ous/ˌdisinˈjenyo͞oəs/Adjective: Not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
A.) I never pretended to know less about something then I actually do.
B.) I am very candid and sincere.
does this agancy, supported by local and/or federal taxpayer money, not have anything better to do? There has to be a store selling tobacco to minors, something that would better benefit society than going after children selling lemonade. I know were in debt as a country, but C'mon people. THis is stupid.
ReplyDeleteThe most offensive thing is when these same people want to celebrate "the troops" for keeping America free. While the troops are dying overseas for freedom, these would-be dictators are busy taking it away.
ReplyDelete