Perhaps, but that’s not my experience. I’ve spent a lot of time in the south and met many people who had the flag on stuff, I knew them quite well and didn’t think they were dog whistling.

The flag, as far as I understood it, was about being a rebel, “don’t tell me what to do” anti-authority.

Maybe my experience is quite different from yours. I never saw a klan rally or anything like that.

I did only buy a “git ‘er done” lighter from a gas station for its redneck kitsch. I didn’t intend to be a racist signal. Comically it’s stuck somewhere and I suspect should my grandkids ever find it in my estate it will be revered as some nazi memorabilia, incorrectly based on my intent.