What's On Your Plate?

Andy Rooney Takes A Closer Look At State Slogans

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney. It originally aired Sept. 30, 2007.

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We are always going places we really don't have to get to.

When I was a kid taking a long trip with my father and mother, I'd amuse myself by naming cars and keeping track of which ones I saw the most of. Ford and Chevrolet were usually the winners. Buick and Packards were easy to spot. There were a lot of those. Pierce Arrow was the easiest to see.

Now, I think there are more Hondas and Toyotas on our roads. It's harder to identify cars than it used to be, though.

I read license plates now. Some of the state slogans are so dumb, I think I'd move if I lived there. Wisconsin's plate reads "Endangered Resources." What in the world does that mean, Wisconsin? Wisconsin also has another plate that says it's "America's Dairyland."

Ohio says "Birthplace Of Aviation," but if you're from Ohio, don't park your car next to anyone from North Carolina. Their plate reads "First In Flight."

"Stars Fell On Alabama." Please, Alabama.

Michigan says it's "World's Motor Capital." Why "Motor"? How about "The World's Car Capital"?

Nevada says it's "Rich In Art." Well, maybe. "Rich In Gambling Casinos," certainly.

Some states have the good taste not to put anything on their license plates except numbers and letters. Maryland, Texas, Oregon, California and Colorado don't have anything.

New Hampshire says "Live Free Or Die." A little heavy-handed. How about "Live Free Or Get A Job?"

New Jersey calls itself the "Garden State." How about changing that to "The Oil Refinery State?" North Dakota says it's "The Peace Garden State;" there is no "War Garden State."

Florida's smart. It calls itself just "The Sunshine State." Hot, too, though and Florida doesn't mention that on its license plate.

Rhode Island calls itself the "Ocean State." I don't know. It doesn't even look like an island to me, and I don't know who "Rhode" was.

I recognize my license plate number when I see my car but I couldn't tell you what it is if I wasn't looking at it. I like an anonymous license plate. I don't want a license plate to have Andy on it.

[busterc4]

Hey Andy, for your information most of New Jersey is farmland, not oil refineries. You should be ashamed of yourself for foisting such moronic stereotypes on an entire state! Are you so old that you no longer have a grip on reality???

[wvmomkathy]

Hey Andy.. have enjoyed most of your comments all these years, but when was the last time you drove through New Jersey?? There are more gardens/farms in the State then oil refineries..
Stop and smell the corn and tomatoes !!

[juliepmurray]

Loved the piece about tags. I pretty much agree with your opinions on this. Many of the slogans are silly. I agree that Alabama''s tag with "Stars Fell on Alabama" is silly. It makes no sense to me. However, Alabama does offer everyone the choice of either this or "God Bless America" I am proud that my car carries this one!

[extremophil]

Hey Andy.....Do a commentary about laxatives, cause most of these posts need a dose.

[fullski1]

Andy I thought journalist did investigating before they made a fool of themselves. WI has Americas Dairy land on the plate because i used to produce most of the U.S. dairy products. Try getting out of your air conditioned building and see what is going on around you. not every state is all cement buildings and black top.

[lizandro-2009]

If anyone here don''t like to hear the truth get a grip.
some people don''t see it that way, some people don''t even go far beyond their own corner, stuck in one place, I''ll stop here, you probably know where I''m heading. (if smart enough,if not try this.(shake your dendrites)
Andy sos uno de los mejores.
warm regards to you.

[sow2323]

Anndy Rooney Needs th shut up! What a stupid story like all his coments. What a waste of time and efort to put on the air. Get Rid of Rooney! No one cares what Rooney Thinks!

[goodmedicine]

I watched 60 Minutes tonight for the first time in many years, and couldn''t believe how inappropriate Andy Rooney''s segment was on a intelligent news show. If it''s meant to be humor, either satire or irony, it isn''t. And, I certainly hope it''s not any attempt at journalism. If I didn''t know better, it appeared to be a senile, arrogant older man ranting about the "good old days". It was not entertaining, not educational, and not something I will be watching again.

[ksd2c]

Andy you inspire me. I love your reporting. You are the main reason I watch 60 minutes. Your tell it like it is style should be the template for good reporting. I hope you get well soon!!

[vivian37-2009]

Die or retire old fool, You and Paul Harvey need to get off your ego trip. Let the next generation make a living.

[laa39]

Oh come on people, lighten up, and get over it!

Andy Rooney is hilarious, and if you don''t think so then your own sense of humor sucks! Or maybe the problem is that you just don''t have a sense of humor.

[sjw1253]

Okay - Colette alias colettecp - You have now posted your STUPID message 4 times!!!

If I were to have posted something that attacks a person''s intelligence and calling them an "idiot" - who clearly has earned a lot more respect in this world - than you could ever imagine earning for yourself - I would have at the very least checked it for misuse of words before posting it additional times...

As you decided to post it a 4th time after I drew attention to your "idiotic" behavior - I finally decided to draw attention to your obvious ignorance in the word "USE"... ("I don''''t care how funny or entertaining you USE to be.")

Look up the word USE and then realize that you are speaking in the past tense - as it should have read "used"... (not to mention the fact that you USED 2 apostrophes when you spelled the word "don''t" in the same sentence...)

Now I say that is not only stupid but also idiotic ;-)

[michellem99-2009]

I love to hears our seniors share their day. The stories they tell. I would sit for hours listening to them. Andy is in that class. I like the young person who learns from their elders. I am 53. Andy Dear we all have our good and bad days don''t we. I like you tho yer like a grandfather I see ye as such. Yer subject matter is what yer wish to share.

[quatrops]

Wow! You folks with your tribal mentality about your little pieces of territory have really crawled out of the woodwork! Research? Research a fluff piece of whimsical satire? If you are that sensitive about a little touch of perceived criticism, I''m beginning to wonder if, deep inside, you imagine there is some truth to these barbs!

[colettecp]

Hey Andy-
You are a fool for not looking into what the license plates mean...as for Wisconsin and its Endangered Resources Plates....these are special plates that a person pays extra for as a donation to animals that are endangered in the state of WI...one of which is the Wolf (which is printed on the license plate). Not to mention that Wisconsin holds over 15,000 fresh water lakes that are in danger of over population by people building along them and also endangering the animal habitats within the area around them. You have NO right speaking of things you don''t research. I don''t care how funny or entertaining you USE to be. Fame means nothing...intelligence (of which you have little) means alot.
Colette (Thank God most actors hold little credibilty)

[kathmo-2009]

I%u2019ve lived in New Jersey my entire life & have put up with my fair share of Jersey bashing jokes but enough is enough. I took particular offense to the comment Mr. Rooney made about the slogan on the state license plate, that it should be changed from "Garden State" to "Oil-Refinery State." All most people know of New Jersey is flying into Newark airport, the small section or urban ports, or the images they%u2019ve watched on the opening credits of "The Sopranos," none of which represent the rest of the state. New Jersey is called the Garden State for a reason: more than half of the state is either farm or woodland; one is more likely to encounter any number of wildlife species on a drive through the northern part of the state than a gas station; and some of the major state exports that go to grocery stores along the east coast & across the country include corn, tomatoes, cranberries, blueberries, eggplants, & dairy products. In some sections of the state, livestock out number humans & New Jersey boasts more horses per capita than many western states. New Jersey is a garden state; just because you are too ignorant or too lazy, Mr. Rooney, to actually travel through more of the state than just the Turnpike or the airport to get to New York City to know any better. Have your crew of writers and fact finders do the research for you. And if you have such a problem with the New Jersey, then don''t ever claim any pride in the Statue of Liberty or what it represents. That is ours too.

[stopdawar]

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[quatrops]

Right on, SJW1253! Lighten up, GrammaWhamma. Considering the horrific adjectives that apply to the current administration, we could use a few more grumpy, old men in our lives.

So Goofkicks9 wants to replace the "old" folks with his cadre of bright, young professionals willing to do research? Maybe they will even proofread before they publish, Goofkicks, and not make themselves look ridiculous by publishing such words as "RICICULOUS".
"Research" on a light piece of tongue-in-cheek satire? C''mon, dude!

So many of you sound so bloody tribal! All those words and effort to protect and defend your little piece of territory!! Andy''s piece was (as it often is) intended to help us sit back and, if not laugh, at least smile or chuckle at ourselves. No wonder the neo-cons could so easily lie us into a war.

[sjw1253]

To Anyone who wants to use this section to insult Andy...

First - I hope you realize how ridiculous you are for insulting someone because they are still interacting with the world at a more mature age... I wonder if you can see how special someone is to age and continue to interact with the world... If you can''t - I doubt you will make much out of the last years of your lives...

There are many types of reporters - we understand you don''t care for Andy''s style - but I believe you are in the minority.

Using personal attacks against Andy and saying he is an "idiot" and degrading his intelligence is really low and ignorant. You appear to see the world in a manner that you are the only one in the audience.

And how idiotic is it to post the same reply 3 times (colettecp - yes - I am addressing this to you)...

I am a fan of Andy and will be happy to see him continue for as long as he can...

I happen to like to see anyone continue with their life as long as possible and not looking at their age and saying it is "time to hang it up"...

Andy reserves so much respect and has my deepest respect and admiration...

[sjw1253]

Hey GrammaWhamma -
Why don''t you hang up your computer and just sit in your rocking chair if you think that is something someone should do at any age?

No... I am not Andy - but I admire and respect him. Let me tell you that you are only one person...

Please just keep your nasty comments to yourself and stop personally attacking Andy for his age...

I find this extremely insulting and no - I am not a senior citizen yet - but I hope to be lucky enough to live that long and still be able to keep going at any age...