We Need to Fully Populate FTC Leadership – to Stop Residual Obama Awfulness

Now as anyone who knows me knows – I am not one to lightly call for more government in any way, shape matter or form.

And I am a HUGE fan of President Donald Trump’s approach to Executive Branch staffing.

Trump: No Plans to Fill ‘Unnecessary’ Appointed Positions: “‘I look at some of the jobs and it’s people over people over people. I say, “What do all these people do?” You don’t need all those jobs.’”

Trump is absolutely, 100% correct. And has been absolutely, 100% consistent.

Here Are the Federal Agencies Trump Plans to Cut as President

To wit:

EPA Staff to Get Cut in Half

Amen and Hallelujah.

But some gigs – need to be filled. If for no other reason – than to stop the advancement of big government and its very terrible policies.

This is Washington, D.C. A $4-trillion-a-year nightmare mess that for decades has for decades lurched horribly forward under the inertia of its own immenseness.

And in some of these instances – only certain, specific, well-deployed, excellent personnel can stop it.

To wit:

U.S. Antitrust Agency Sues Qualcomm Over Patent Licensing: “The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm on Tuesday, accusing the company of antitrust violations in its patent licensing business….

“The complaint is likely the agency’s last major action under current Democratic Chairwoman Edith Ramirez, who will step down Feb. 10, and comes just days before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Friday.”

Did you get all of this insane, obnoxious, abusive nonsense?

First – what is a patent?:

“A government authority or license conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention.”

“The sole right” – means exclusivity. Qualcomm has the sole right to exclusive use of its patents. The Obama government sued Qualcomm – for exercising its sole right to exclusive use of its patents.

This is egregious and pernicious. It threatens the very precept of patents and intellectual property (IP). Not just here – but all over the world.

Which is devastating in the midst of our 21st Century, global Information Economy. Especially so when we in the US want to continue to be the ones leading it.

If you want to turn the future of the global economy over to China – this is a fantastic way to do it.

The Barack Obama Administration filed this insane, obnoxious, abusive lawsuit – on January 17, 2017.

AFTER Obama’s Party – and its huge government vision – had lost the presidential election. And just three days before he was to be sworn out of office.

It is insane, obnoxious and abusive to initiate major new ideological initiatives like this – when you are just days away from someone of the other Party replacing you.

It tends to undermine the whole peaceful transition of power thing. Much more substantively than stealing White House furniture or vandalizing the offices.

The incoming gets to set his policy – not be forced to continue the policies of the outgoing.

And continue the policies of the outgoing – is exactly what Trump was forced to do here. (Which I would bet all the money in my pockets Obama knew Trump would have to do.)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is – when its leadership is full populated – is made up of five voting Commissioners, one of whom also serves as Chair. Three of the President’s Party – two of the other.

President Trump inherited an FTC – that isn’t fully populated. There are two Commissioners – one of each Party.

So the Trump FTC – can not vote to stop the Obama FTC’s insane, obnoxious, abusive lawsuit.

So the Leviathan’s FTC tentacle continues to flail around Obama-style – beating about the head and shoulders our IP security.

Still – now almost exactly a year after we rid ourselves of Obama.

How do we stop it? We fully populate the FTC with Trump-appointee Commissioners.

President Trump Names Nominees to the FTC: “President Trump has announced his nominee for Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, naming Joseph Simon to the position. The President has also announced two additional nominees to fill seats on the Commission, Rohit Chopra and Noah Phillips. If confirmed, Simon, Chopra, and Phillips will join current Commissioner and acting Chair, Maureen Ohlhausen.”

Now Trump doesn’t get off scott-free here. This article published – on October 24, 2017.

That’s nine months later than these appointees should have been named. That’s nine months of Obama’s obnoxiousness continuing unabated.

But it is now January 16, 2018. That’s nearly three months that the Republican Senate has had to confirm these eminently qualified nominees.

How about…now, please?

The sooner – the better.

All the better to restore sanity to our IP system – here and all around the world.

All the better to ensure our continued leadership in the 21st Century, global Information Economy.

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