You learn something new everyday, as the old adage goes. My boss – who recently traveled to Rhode Island this past week – was relating accounts of her journey. Suddenly she came to the part of the story where she started talking about the incongruity and randomness of Rhode Island license plates. Some were incredibly short with just a letter and a few numbers while others had the more traditional 6 to 7 spread. My boss mentioned that the license plates serve as a symbol of status with the lower the number you have on your license plate the higher status you hold within Rhode Island. Just when we had believed that 21^st century American would result in the end of class divided systems, we find thriving caste systems in Rhode Island. License plates hold such a high value in the state that family members will often bequeath their license plates to their children.

“Thanks Dad, I could have really used your old car, or some inheritance money to pay off my student loans, but I appreciate the license plate. Now I will be able to drive down the streets of Providence with my head held high”

Apparently this is such huge concern for the great state of Rhode Island that the current governor – Govenor Donald L. Carcieri – included fighting plate-number corruption in his platform. It’s good to know that with a crumbling economy, increases in harassment and bullying in the schools, and health care that our elected officials are really tackling the issues that matter most to our society – high society license plates for uppity yuppies.

So now a new goal of mine on the road toward international fame and stardom is to own my very own Rhode Island license plate. Perhaps I could convince some gentlemen caller to leave it to me in my will :)