I remember when I was a young boy the old guard that ruled professional golf criticized the new up and coming golfer Jack Nicklaus because he wore a logo—a “Golden Bear” on his golf shirt. He also signed a contract that year with Hart Schaffner and Marks and started his own clothing line. The old school purists said it was “advertising” and “unbecoming”.
The next year every tour player was wearing golf apparel and using equipment that became a model for product placement and advertising in other industries. Arnold Palmer signed a Penns Oil contract that paid him more than he made playing golf. Remember “take care of the equipment”. NASCAR racing not only advertised on their cars, but their drivers and pit crews “rode for the brand” and carried the colors of any advertiser that would pay them a few bucks to use their bodies as a billboard.
I was thinking that this could be a good way for our State Legislators, City Fathers, and other elected officials to make a few extra bucks by simply sporting the logos of their campaign benefactors and those lobbyists who pay for lunch “at the club” or for a pass to the Governor’s Cup. Instead of identifying as Dems, Progressives, RINOs, and Freedom “Caucetts” they could be for example the IACI, Dairymen’s, Hospital Association/Medical Association, Idaho Education Association Senator or Representative from District 19—for example. Full transparency I say with a capitalistic twist. Product placement for the politician!
Like NASCAR or the PGA Tour, identifying with a sponsor could help both the sponsor and the player—elected official. I would also suggest that like NASCAR or PGA caddies, the legislators could wear “spiffy” outfits with space for advertising, and “bibs” over top with their names and Freedom Index number. By just looking at the elected official, you could marry the benefactor lobbyist with a vote. These outfits would of course be “gender neutral”. I think white bib overalls with a tucked in blue shirt would be perfect. Working class outfits for working class legislators representing working class constituent’s—how egalitarian! Even the lawyer legislators would have to conform to the dress code. Democrats would look like Republicans and all Republicans would look alike—kumbaya! Confirmation bias and a fashion statement all in one. The People’s Republic of Idaho! Take Back Idaho (TBI) would even endorse the project.
One other thing. I think some of the lobbyists could wear similar outfits identifying who they actually represent. For example, the Idaho Medical Association could wear an outfit with Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, and NIH/CDC emblems. Some of the other lobbyists like the IEA could wear a special thank you patch that says, “there is such a thing as a free lunch”.
I will discuss in future articles how Name Image and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal (TP) that have so improved college athletics, could be applied to all elected officials.
“Ride for the brand” or letting the “brand ride you” are not what representative government should be about. Our elected officials should only ride for the people that elected them. Many of our “minor magistrates” have forgotten who they work for.
Remember Property tax relief? Remember grocery tax repeal?
