Slouching Towards Oblivion

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Government As Usual

Another step towards "making government run more like a business":


To amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to provide for the registration of marks consisting of a flag, coat of arms, or other official insignia of the United States or of any State or local government, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN MARKS OF THE UNITED STATES AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 

Section 2(b) of the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the registration and protection of trademarks used in commerce, to carry out the provisions of certain international conventions, and for other purposes'', approved July 6, 1946 (commonly referred to as the ``Trademark Act of 1946''; 15 U.S.C. 1052(b)) is amended by inserting after ``simulation thereof'' the following: ``, except that this subsection shall not prevent the United States, or any State, municipality, county, political subdivision, or other governmental authority in the United States, from obtaining registration under this Act of any mark that consists of or comprises its own flag, coat of arms, or other official insignia''.

Designated HR3713, introduced by Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY08), and cosponsored by Ted Poe (R-TX02).

Cuz that's exactly what we need to spend tax dollars on - Gubmint Watchdogs to protect the viability of The Government Brand; to decide who does and who doesn't get to use Ol' Glory and in what way.  There's a fortune to be made by USAmerica Inc, simply by extracting licensing fees and royalties from anybody who wants to use anything "government-related" for any commercial purpose.  

This avid corporatizing is a sickness.  And it's especially offensive when we're ready to apply the empty and meaningless bullshit of Brand Value Marketing to government.

Here's a quick tho't - maybe we could concentrate on the substance of government, and stop obsessing over the fucking style.

hat tip = Irregular Times

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