Barber poles???

Really, that's what we want to spend our time and effort on at the state capitol?

We want to direct taxpayer money to stop the inappropriate use of red-white-and-blue barber poles?

At least that's what Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City, seems to want to do. According to a recent Associated Press article, Banz filed legislation to establish fines that may be charged against businesses that use the symbol without having a licensed barber working there.

The article goes on to note that Banz's barber Leroy Tucker fully supports the issue.

I know legislators are supposed to be concerned about the issues affecting their constituents, but you've got to be kidding me.

Of all the important issues that legislators are supposed to address, Banz thinks the misuse of barber poles should be included among them?

Fortunately our District 58 Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview, doesn't rank the issue very highly.

Although he noted that Banz's proposal might be "interesting to read," he said it definitely "is not the most important issue we'll discuss at the capitol this year."

As far as Hickman is concerned, the top three issues facing the state legislature this year are the budget, which will have to be cut; trying to preserve road and bridge projects, "especially those in our area;" and protecting the tax cuts that have already been put into place in hopes of helping to stimulate the state economy.

When viewed in comparison to these more pressing issues, policing barber poles seems quite ridiculous.

And not just to me.

"Is that all they have to worry about . . . silly stuff like this?" asked Woodward barber Dean Moore, who's been in the business for "30 some years."

However, his fellow Woodward barbers don't seem to think it's so silly.

"The barber poles have been a traditional symbol of the barber trade ever since barbering started," said Greg Taylor, who has been barbering for 37 years in "the same old spot" next to the Woodward Arts Theater.

Carl Nielsen, who has been a barber for 48 years and who agreed with Taylor about the pole's status, said "the tradition should be protected."

"If they're not a duly licensed barber, they shouldn't be allowed to display a barber pole," Taylor said, noting "they shouldn't put one up for the fun of it."

While maybe the poles shouldn't be put up "for the fun of it," should history be destroyed just to protect a tradition?

Officials in Montana seem to think so, as seen by an article titled "A barber broil: State says Whitefish's Clip Joint not worthy of the pole" posted on the website for the Missoulian, which relates the plight of Melissa Franklin and the historic barber pole that once winded outside the Clip Joint in downtown Whitefish, Montana.

According to the Missoulian's article, the Clip Joint has been the site of a barbershop since 1947 "making it one of the oldest establishments in this fast-changing resort town."

But because Franklin is not a licensed barber, although she "trained under three master barbers and (is a) veteran manager of large barbershops," she is not allowed to use the barber pole symbol.

The Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists forced Franklin to remove the historic pole that once hung outside and also banned her from painting a pole on a window or even displaying a wooden antique pole inside her shop. She was even forced to change her spray bottles, which had been painted to look like barber poles, the Missoulian reported.

This is a prime example of officials taking regulations too far.

According to an article in the Great Falls (Montana) Tribune entitled "Park Hotel barber pole embroiled in controversy" from Nov. 10, 2008, the same regulation could be used to remove "a barber pole mounted on the historic former Park Hotel in downtown Great Falls."

"Removing the barber pole 'would cause considerable damage to the original brick masonry' (Ellen) Sievert (city-county historic preservation officer) said," according to the Tribune article.

In addition, the article implies that the removal of the pole would remove some of the "building's flavor."

But at least the barbering tradition would be protected right?

How much does that pole really hurt the tradition though? And does what would be gained in protection of the barbering tradition make up for what would be lost in historical preservation?

The Missoulian reports that the state barbers board, through its lawyer, Anjeanette Lindle, disputes that a pole displayed by someone other than a licensed barber "represents 'a huge health and safety issue.'"

However, even Taylor admits that simply displaying a barber pole doesn't pose a threat to public health.

Because barber pole or not, and barber license or cosmetology license, Taylor said "if people are willing to give them a chance, their taking their own risks."

All in all, he noted that when people post a barber pole without a barber license it is "just a little bit of false advertisement."

Furthermore, Taylor noted that legislation isn't needed to address the issue, but rather "the licensing board needs to crack down."

Hickman noted that he also isn't sure if legislation is needed.

"It may very well be handled with something less than a new state law," such as the state barber licensing board, he said.

Nevertheless, Hickman is "sure that the process will work" and Banz's bill will either move forward in the House or stop dead in committee.

I can only hope for the latter and hope that our state legislators have more concern for budget cuts than crew cuts.