Forget The Consumer (Federal Trade Commission or FTC nickname)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was formed in 1914 to act against trusts. The FTC’s mission is to protect the consumer and to ensure fair business practices. The FTC has on its website and printed materials a backronym of the initials FTC—“For The Consumer.” Some FTC critics have believed that the Commission has worked too closely with businesses and has not protected the consumer.
 
The FTC nickname “Forget The Consumer” has been cited in print since at least 1989, but has been infrequently used. The FTC nickname “Fuck The Consumer” has been cited in print since at least 2008, but also has been infrequently used.
   
   
Wikipedia: Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act. Its principal mission is the promotion of consumer protection and the elimination and prevention of what regulators perceive to be harmfully anti-competitive business practices, such as coercive monopoly. Many critics state that though the mission is in fact sound, the actions of the FTC are coercive and actually increase regulators that are harmful to consumers and business.
 
The Federal Trade Commission Act was one of President Wilson’s major acts against trusts. Trusts and trust-busting were significant political concerns during the Progressive Era. Since its inception, the FTC has enforced the provisions of the Clayton Act, a key antitrust statute, as well as the provisions of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 41 et seq. Over time, the FTC has been delegated the enforcement of additional business regulation statutes and has promulgated a number of regulations (codified in Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations).
 
Federal Trade Commission
Welcome to the Bureau of Consumer Protection
Who We Are
The Federal Trade Commission is the nation’s consumer protection agency. The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection works For The Consumer to prevent fraud, deception, and unfair business practices in the marketplace.
   
Google Books
Automotive Executive
Volume 61, Issues 1-6
1989
Pg. 65:
The FTC, says one attorney general, is so passive that within NAAG (National Association of Attorneys General—ed.) it is known as “forget the consumer.”
 
3 November 1992, Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer “Rooting the ‘buy green’ campaign in reality,” Features Magazine, pg. F1:
Some tossed around terms like “end use markets” and “pelletizing” while others wisecracked about whether FTC is a gasoline additive whether it stands for “Forget the Consumer,” or more correctly—well, at least officially—the Federal Trade Commission.
       
Get Real News
Thursday, May 25, 2006
The Memorial Day Dividend For Big Oil
Oil companies contributed $2.6 milion to President George Bush’s reelection campaign and this Memorial Day the dividend will be billions in added profits with the blessing of Bush’s Federal Trade Commission.
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Whatever new laws might pass, the FTC should not have any enforcement authority. Its recent report shows the FTC stands for Forget the Consumer.
 
Techno World Inc. Forum
Daniel Franklin
Who Does Over Disclosure Really Hurt In Franchising?
Posted: September 08, 2007, 12:34:51 AM
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If franchise buyers (consumers) are damaged in the market place due to burdensome over disclosure and costs being passed onto them at the time of sale or thru less assistance down the road during the franchise relationship, then no one is well served and the increased rules have hurt the consumer. The new name for the Federal Trade Commission’s franchise rule department will be “Forget the Consumer” or MUD.
 
Ezine
Identity Theft and the FTC
By Lance Winslow
Article Submitted On: December 23, 2007
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What if the government regulators at places like the FTC simply went away? The government gives away more personal information on citizens causing more problems than any other group. If they are so incompetent, why do we even bother to listen to them? The FTC - Forget the Consumer.
 
Rachael Rennie’s Blog
Federal Trade Commission- What Good are They?
Posted: 6/15/2010
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So the FTC thinks it is the only agency then with jurisdiction to “enhance consumer welfare” well since when is “enhance” a job of the government? And I beg to differ with their abilities to “protect competition in broad sectors of the economy” as history has shown us that the FTC ought to be called the “Forget The Consumer” and trample the competition.