I'd almost be ok with this if we used the original pledge.

Because nothing exemplifies freedom like forcing citizens to mindlessly recite a loyalty oath every single day.

Can't we just pass a law that requires Rep. Esquivel to recite "I will not be a pandering jackass" every day?

Sweet Baby Jesus. Pledging "allegiance" (What are we, in colonial Virginia?) to the flag in this day and age sounds about as relevant and sensible as does worrying about witches haunting our dreams and thunderclaps being evidence of angry gods.

Compelling children to recite this sort of thing daily (or even monthly) is absolutely absurd and smacks of holier-than-thou nationalism. Just look at us -- It's 2013, and we're still prancing around like peruke models with (un)healthy fears of red-shaded coats.

(Yes, the kids can opt-out, but how many 3rd graders do you know that want to be the center of attention via being the only one in the room sitting out because his/her parents happen to think that such a pledge helps to sow the seeds of xenophobia and ethnocentrism?)

I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT HOURLY, IN ALL SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES. FOLLOWED BY MASTURBATION, THEN SNACK, THEN NAP.

What about the ability of teachers to opt out? That's a little hard when you're in charge of a room of kindergartners who are expecting you to lead them everyday. Understandably, it would get easier the older the students, since we all eventually learn to recite it on our own. As a person who tends to work on the edges of the classroom I've had the privilege of not putting my hand over my heart or reciting the pledge for many years without having anybody question it, I just can't see teachers getting away with that as often. Ideally it would bring up discussions with students about personal choice/freedom and WHY certain individuals don't wish to recite it, but I just don't see that happening in our current school system. Oh it's also a big fat waste of time in the already dwindling school year.

The Cascadian pledge of allegiance, right?

I think it goes something like this:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the Cascadian Communal Provinces
And to the people's republics, to which it stands
One nation, fucking awesome,
With sex, booze, coffee, pot, and whatever for all."

If it's the boring American one that keeps getting changed in order to alienate the largest number of Americans possible—culminating in explaining to God what side of the Cold War he was supposed to be on—then I think this is a shit idea.