My Uncle Bob had a collection in his garage and when I was a wee one I loved to go out there look at them all lined up the wall.

License plates from all 50 states.

50 states. 50 plates.

Simple, unadorned with slogans. The License Number, state name, and a single color plate with seperate colored lettering. Once you knew what each state plate looked like you could tell in an instant where a car was coming from.

But now every state has a dozen plates. Slogans and special plates for every special interest group. Nice way to raise money for the state--special plates cost extra cash. Harder for the law to keep track of.

West Virginia already has too many. But I was pleased to see the legisalture decided against adding new ones--"In God We Trust" and "Friends of Coal" among them. I don't object to the message. I just to go back to the days of a simple plate.