The government should make it a legal requirement to wear flip-flops.

1. Public SafetyIt may be a constitutional right to express oneself, but there is no constitutional right to put other people or yourself in danger.Enclosed shoes have the potential to create a breeding ground for bacterial infections of the foot. People typically wear only one pair of shoes for years at a time without ever cleaning them, making enclosed shoes even more of a health hazard. Taking off these shoes inside of the home of a neighbor's house also exposes that neighbor and that neighbor's children to whatever bacteria or fungi may be festering inside of the enclosed shoe. This is incredibly irresponsible of the person wearing the enclosed shoe to begin with.This is your foot on enclosed shoes; which is what can happen when the foot is exposed to copious amounts of bacteria: Furthermore, enclosed shoes encourage running, while flip flops discourage running. Running is also dangerous to both the runner and others around the runner.In a recent study, running has been shown to possibly cause irreversable heart damage.[1]That's not all, there is also this story:"There was that tense moment last November when Ryan Hall faced the press after his magnificent victory in the USA Men's Olympic Marathon Trials in Central Park. "This was a dream come true for me, but first I want to offer my thoughts and prayers to Ryan Shay's family," he said. Moments later New York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg stepped to the microphone, her face pale: "We have absolutely tragic news-Ryan Shay passed away this morning." Shay, just 28, was the first world-class marathoner to die from a heart attack while competing."[2] Furthermore, running in public spaces presents a hazard to other passersby and children in the event that the runner is not looking and runs into them. The impact of the runner plus the fall itself can cause serious physical damage and could cause fractures.Traditional enclosed shoes designed for running allow runners to get away with this not only in biohazardous apparel, but also, while running comfortably in light shoes providing arch support. If these people were wearing flip flops, things would be different.Flip flops would discourage running as a result of their design. According to fixflatfeet.com, "a study [found that] people walking in flip flops take shorter steps and strike the ground with less vertical force." In this way, flip flops could discourage running.Only a heartless person could possibly desire people to suffer from public safety hazards. There are children in this society. We need to be thinking about the safety precautions we can take to preserve the public health, and the well being of those younger, littler americans.2. Safely improves foot health.People could walk barefoot in order to improve their health, but this would also be unsafe. Without flip flops, one would be subject to litter, broken glass, and nails which might be found on the ground. These can cause cuts, abrasions, and serious injury to the foot, which can lead to disease that can spread up the leg and to the body. With flip flops, the foot is protected from these foreign objects while still applying a flat surface so that the foot is capable of being excersized the way it should be, naturally. There are plenty of health benefits to wearing flip flops. One of which found that children wearing flip flops were significantly less likely to suffer from fallen arches, which damages the skeletal structure and disalign the body's joints[3][4]."With a fallen arch, your tendons and ligaments weaken and cause intense pain throughout your feet, ankles, and lower leg muscles, especially in the region of your arch and heel. Flat feet can also cause a weakened posture and discomfort through your hips and lower back."[4]Just imagine children being forced to live like this - in this country. It's as if this is third world africa or something. With flip flops, the children would be less exposed to the dangers of skeletal damage and dislocated joints.The wearing of flip flops may even be therepeutic to arthritis [5], and inferredly even prevent it.3. A Government's ResponsibilityPublic health and safety is the government's responsibility. The government needs to enforce legislation making it a legal requirement to wear flip flops because the government has the power and the resources to do this. We need to make change now for the good of the public, and only the government can create change the fastest.[1] - http://www.outsideonline.com...[2] - http://www.runnersworld.com...[3] - http://www.bjj.boneandjoint.org.uk...[4] - http://www.footsmart.com...[5] - http://throughthesole.blogspot.com...