Why are US state flags so terrible?

[Indy Texas]

"Guess we'd better design a flag for our new state, guys. How 'bout since we already designed a state seal, we use that on the flag? And let's make the flag blue. And in case people don't know where they are, we'll put our state's name on it too. And in case people don't know when we became a state, we'll put the year we joined the union on it too. Good thing nobody else thought of this."

                   

[Indy Texas]

Most of them are artificial territorial constructions with no historical basis. It's not surprising that their symbols would suck.

Nike, as a corporation, is also an artificial construction with no historical basis. But its logo is one of the most iconic in history. If companies can design meaningful, memorable logos, I don't see why states can't do so with flags.

[Indy Texas]

It could have been worse:

The fact that they initially replaced that flag with this thing



Rather than their former flag, which is simple, recognizable and obeys all the rules of good flag design



is what I mean when I talk about the awful flag design that dominates our country.

[Indy Texas]

At least none of us live in whatever state the Simpsons do.



Such a Freedom Episode.