Confederate Flags Controversy

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With a culture so deeply rooted in capitalism and prosperity, economic implications have tremendous impact on both political and cultural issues. Although not immediately obvious, the financial implications of the Confederate flag discussion are incredibly significant factors in the heated debate. Any restrictions on Confederate flags within public schools have no immediate, direct economic impact, but the issue affects not only students, but rather extends far beyond school grounds. There are both negative and positive repercussions to the expanding market for Confederate flags, all of which heavily influence the discussion about the emblem, both in the government and in the everyday lives of American citizens. Outside of public school grounds, the sale of Confederate flags …show more content…
This is due to the fact that major manufacturers- including Wal-Mart, eBay, Sears, and Target- stopped selling the flag when it’s controversy grew and multiple tragic events surrounding the flag occurred. According to an eBay spokesperson, they “decided to prohibit Confederate flags, and many items containing this image, because [they] believe it has become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism.” This decision has been shown to have the opposite intended effect: after the removal of the flag from major retail stores, Amazon's sales of Confederate flags skyrocketed by more than 3,000% in 24 hours. The small, independent stores that can still be found selling the flag have reported an increase in their sales. Ackerman, an owner of a store that still sells this controversial item, said, “We need to get more flags,” following the Aug. 12 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ackerman said his store experienced a quadrupled demand for the Confederate flag, an increase he likened to the surge in gun sales that occur whenever new gun control measures are