Why do the US States have state rocks and birds and fishes and flowers etc.?

[jacartamonkey]

Do the Congresses just get bored with their overpaid jobs?

[billy]

Because brave men fought and died to give us the ability to govern ourselves, and enough free time to make ourselves look like asses.

[Jesi]

They to it to appease the people. You think they're working and don't mind that they are taking away your personal freedoms and raising your taxes because you can hold your head high that granite is the official state rock.

In NJ a few years ago they were looking for a state fruit... it was supposed to be a school kid contest but the blueberry and cranberry consortiums got involved and started throwing money around to lobbyists. So instead of a statewide runoff in elementary schools the legislature was swarmed with lobbyists and blueberry pies.