Outing Uniformity
Lest we forget Paul Mero, formerly of Sutherland Institute infamy, he's alive and kicking the common wisdom on Utah Politico Hub, self-described as a collective effort to examine and yes, gossip about politics. In his latest screed, Mero takes on his beloved LDS Church and its penchant for uniformity. He talks about Mormons trying to out-righteous one another, and being overzealous about stuff like food storage and cola drinks. But then he talks about the way they dress—pretty much the same. You know, the dark suits, white shirts, clean-shaven look. Utah County's the worst, he says. "Republican candidates ... run on ideological platforms, not policy platforms," like they're the purest or know the Constitution best. Mero bemoans the loss of individuality. In fact, he once had a beard he was asked to shave. We'll believe he's a nonconformist when he grows it back.
Mormons for Trump
And speaking of uniformity, let's talk about voting in Utah. Just check "R" and you're done. Done with voting, done with choosing, done with thinking. A recent New York Times op-ed by McKay Coppins, a BYU journalism graduate, talks candidly about why Mormons are worried about Donald Trump. He wonders if Utahns will succumb to the "pull of partisanship" even though Trump's anti-immigrant stance is reminiscent of Mormon travails. You know—attempts to exterminate the Mormons, and in 1879 to restrict Mormon immigrants from overseas. And there are plenty of other reasons for religious Mormons to dislike Trump—philandering, for instance. Coppins, however, concludes that conservative Mormons will still pull the lever for Trump. That they consider him the lesser of two evils is ponderous. But this is life in Utah.
Park City, Patent Pending
What's with the penchant to trademark city names? Vail Resorts is trying to trademark "Park City" ostensibly to protect Park City Mountain Resort. But OMG, petitions opposing the trademark have been flooding the patent office, according to the Park Record. It wasn't just corporations who were worried. Residents of Park City made it known that they don't want to be trademarked. Vail is looking at a memorandum of understanding. In other words, they wouldn't sue businesses using the name Park City. But residents weren't buying that. Trademark law appears to lean against trademarking geographic areas, but apparently there are plenty of places that claim to be trademarked. It's just more of the corporatization of America.
