Awfully arrogant "fixing" the flags of other states, don'tcha think?

We in the United States have a long and proud tradition of making horrible flags. Don't get me started on city flags, but the state of state flags is downright shameful. Roughly half of them are nothing more than the state seal on a blue background, meaning that you can scarcely tell one flag from another.

The North American Vexillogical Association has come up with five basic guidelines to follow for flag design. To wit:

• Keep It Simple. The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.
• Use Meaningful Symbolism.  The flag’s images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
• Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors. Limit the number of colors on the flag to three which contrast well and come from the standard color set.
• No Lettering or Seals. Never use writing on any kind or an organization’s seal.
• Be Distinctive or Be Related. Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections.