The District of Columbia is trying to fix its image. Thus, it is spending $150,000 to choose a new motto for the city. The Washington Post reports, “Civic leaders say they are looking for more than just a snappy line.”
The Post notes that other states and cities are seeking to rebrand themselves with slogan. The state government of New Jersey “recently embraced — and just as quickly abandoned — two new slogans: ‘We’ll Win You Over’ and ‘Come See for Yourself.'”
Likewise, “Baltimore recently spent 18 months and about $500,000 on a campaign that resulted in, among other things, a new logo (a sailboat) and a new tag line, ‘Get in on It’ — as in ‘get in on a city that has a lot going for it,’ said Nancy Hinds of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association.” Hinds’s explanation is helpful, less people assume that the ‘it’ referred to a drug deal or drive-by shooting.
But – back to DC.
It pains me deeply but some people doubt my patriotism. I see this DC slogan contest as a chance for me to help my country by helping the nation’s capital boost its image.
Here are some of the suggestions readers have already posted on the Washington Post website:
*Where Some Tourists Come to Die
*Zimbabwe Without the Passport
*Eat here and get shot
*The Most Self-Important City in the World
*Criminals without Prosecution
*Come to DC…we’ll build you a stadium
*Leave your guns at home and let our criminals take
care of you
*Wee Kan Reed
***
Of course, not everyone on the Washington Post website favored such slogans. One person lamented, “There is a lot of hatred on this site. To all you haters, know that we consider the source. Your messages speak about you, not to us.”
I guess not everyone likes political humor.
What other suggestions do people have for a new motto for DC?
Not quite a motto, but I believe it was Joe Sobran who proposed this bumper sticker:
“Statehood for DC? Be ambitious! Go for nationhood!”
Moscow for the 21st Century
“Washington – Where the rich and brainless dictate to the ‘unwashed masses’.
FOR SALE
DC- Land of 10,000 Lobbyists
Washington, D.C.: Our slogan cost the taxpayers $150,000!
HELP US… HELP US
WHERE IT’S ALWAYS 1984
WHERE “HUMAN SEE, HUMAN DO”
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CREDULOUS
I’ll stop. But it’s hard.
Now I know we’ve been admonished against potentially inflammatory ethnic slurs but …How about:
1. Arbeit Macht Frei
2. Geneva Conventions? We don’t need no stinkin Geneva Conventions.
3. Resistance is Futile
4. So Much Money, So Little Time
5. If you Gotta Ask, you can’t Afford It.
Cheat & Deceit Capital of the World
I’d vote for the Brian Wilson one:
“A perfectly good swamp turned into a sewer.”
“Zimbabawe without the passport?”
You’re kidding right? When has the DC city government not had open elections?
Apply the slogan to Florida and Ohio you might have something.
Hey, I was merely quoting the thoughtful comments of readers of the Washington Post.
Maybe it is an unfair comparison to Washington. Marion Barry was only elected mayor four times, and he did not hold office nearly as long as Zimbabwe’s current leader.
“Mordor-on-the-Potomac”
Heh. “Where it’s always 1984” was a good one. How about “Where unarmed citizens make compliant subjects”
Her’s a slogan…
“I did not have sex with that woman.”
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
Washington, District of Columbine.
“Waste not, want not. NOT!” 😉
“Never before have so many done so little for so few for so much.”
DC: Drive-by and C
DC: Free toe-tag with every visit
Darfur on the Potomac
Washington D.C.: Bill of Rights Free Zone
Gosh, you can almost feel the hatred. It’s just ….chilling. These slogans are just too negative. I would go with happy positive slogans to attract folks.
DC – The Shining Brothel On The Hill
Happy Boots For Every Neck!
We’re Here To Help You!
Let Your Inner War Pimp Run Wild!
The Party Gulag That Never Sleeps
What Happens In DC Stays Classified In DC
America’s Playground For Special People
Remove Your Shoes and Stay Awhile!
There should be a national porkfest at the Lincoln Memorial on the Fourth of July where they roll out the barrels of raw pork and cheap booze. Everyone could wear togas and there would be tents set up in the mall where you can have sex with pages and interns, bribe politicians, torture foreign detainees, etc. – fun stuff for the whole family!
I don’t mean to nitpick, but what about having pig roasts instead of raw pork?
That might better symbolize the treatment taxpayers receive.
‘Course, I would be naive if I expected the feds to choose good BBQ sauce.
DC: Come visit your tax dollars before they disappear into some officials’ pockets.
DC: Death Cult
That’s simple. The Eagle’s Nest.
DC! Where sh*t happens!
Washington D.C.: We’ll Catch Your Smiles (on Red-Light Cameras)
“The Lies Start Here”
Washington D.C.:Our Buses Are A Big Hit
Or: “So Bad It Makes Sanjaya Sound Good”
On the “Our Buses are a Big Hit” proposal –
For those lucky enough not to live in this area – Metro Bus has been having PR problems lately because its drivers have been killing more than 2 pedestrians a week. This has generated some hand-writing editorials.
The Metro transit authority plans to respond to the problem with a $5 million ad campaign hyping the fact that taking a Metro bus is safer than being a pedestrian.
D.C. — The New Green Zone!
The home of the Military Incestuous Complex
Born to Lobby
All they want to do is graft.
What’s taxed by DC stays in DC.
DC- Money for nothing and your page for free
DC- Land of Embattlement
Beltway. Eat Pork
Washington D.C.: Where liberty and decency come to die.
Washington D.C.: The best little whorehouse on the Atlantic
Washington D.C.: Bringing you needless wars since 1812
Washington D.C.: If we didn’t spend your money, you’d probably just do something productive with it anyway.
Washington D.C.: Try and stop us.
(From the Simpsons)
**Sorry for the double post. Forgot one:
Washington DC: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany
DC: Lying means never having to say you’re sorry.
DC- We can’t handle the truth
Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son, unless you’re a politician. (from Animal House)
I love the smell of corruption in the morning.
What we’ve got here is failure to legislate. (from Cool Hand Luke)
Show US the money
D.C.: The Root Of Many Evils
D.C.: Home of The Galactic Emperor
D.C.: Enough To Make The Barbary Pirates Envious
D.C.: Plunder,Inc.
D.C.: Egregious Beyond Belief
I think I like nomad’s suggestion:
WHERE IT’S ALWAYS 1984
That pretty much sums it up on a number of levels. I urge all good citizens to take the initiative and start putting up the signs themselves immediately!
By the way, nobody can say the folks in the Metro Bus PR Dept don’t have a sense of humor. Ride on the bus or die under the bus.
Jim, are you kidding? Vampires and zombies hate cooked meat. They wouldn’t eat roast pork – maybe singed by bomb blasts, but not barbequed.
Tom, I wasn’t thinking about whether they liked it.
I was figured, in case I was bicycling by, I might be able to purloin a few slices. But perhaps that is my usual optimistic naivete.
**That’s a great slogan for Metrobus. If I hear about them hiring PR contractors, I’ll forward the notice your way.
D.C. = Ottowa + Brasilia
D.C. – *Disenfranchised underclass & *Clandestine bureaucrats traffiking in advanced weaponry & refined opiates. Call 1-800-CocoPop for our brochure. ‘Afgan’ Ollie North & Marion ‘Columbo’ Barry, spokesmen. Agent: Cartels International Associated.
Washington D.C. – Visit the National Homeland Security Utopia of Tomorrow, Today!
…Moto of Las Vegas: “What happens here, stays here.”
…New Moto for DC: “What happens here, is monitored by video surveillance.”
Washington D.C. — “Welcome to the Theives’ Forest”
Don’t tread on my reality
DC- Oligarchy at work
We’re not in Kansas anymore
Round up the ususal suspects
Well, nobobdy’s perfect.
With God as my witness, I’ll never be hungry for campaign contributions again.
Mr. Lobyist, you’re trying to seduce me, aren’t you?
Washington DC – Home Of The Liar’s Den
Here’s my contribution: “Washington, D.C.: Where politicians travel with armed law enforcement bodyguards carrying automatic weapons but where you are denied the ability to defend yourself from jackals wishing to kill, rape, and strip your body of valuables (in that order). Too wordy?
Nah, it’s not too wordy.
The Internet Service Provider that hosts this blog doesn’t charge me by the word, so it’s fine.
Nice contrast about the automatic weapons & the disarmed citizens.
D.C. – Don’t Come.
Washington, DC 2007 – It’s not just for Republicans anymore.
“–Bring ’em on!”
Where Dreams and Memories Pave the Way
Inside The D.C. Beltway “Where you’ll say: It doesn’t get any better than this!”
Y’all should check out the similar (though less, ummm, vicious) thread on Matthew Yglesias’s blog:
http://www.matthewyglesias.com/archives/2007/03/more_appeal_needed/
Some of the best from the Yglesias thread:
Washington DC: Where your interests are…special!
Washington DC: This slogan cost $8 million of your tax money
Washington DC: Where Big Brother is at least nice enough to pay you
Washington DC: You voted for ’em!
“Vicious”?
This site?
Hey – it is now officially high-toned.
Yglesias has an excellent blog – he has hit quite a few nails on the head.
OK!
Bush Warrin’ Policy Capital of the World.
Washington DC: “Intrigue Wonderland”
DC- Direct Connect to History
“What happens there starts here”
a good D.C. Slogan
THE PLACE TO BE,WASHINGTON D.C.
Reach for the Stars
Where the spirit of freedom thrives
DC-America’s Centerpiece
Wake Up to the Extraordinary
Live Our Legacy
DC-Speaks to the Soul
DC, Of The, For The, and By The People
Washington DC… Not just any district!
DC… Who’s district is it anyway?
Visit Washington DC and have a capital time!
See History Being Made Today
MOTTO
Your Buck Stops Here
or
Your Buck Stays Here
Washington DC: “Come visit your money.”
Washington DC: “Your tax dollars hard at work! (said with straight face if possible)”
Sorry…forgot one.
DC – Where they can make and take your money at the same time
DC-Live Our Legacy
Washington D.C.- The focal point of the world.
I heard Washington DC is looking for a new slogan on the local radio in Chicago WLS 890 radio. Since most schools schedule an Eight grade field trip to the capital, Also Washington DC has a high number of college graduates in the city, and the city has a lot of history. I wish to submit this slogan:
Washington DC, Not just for 8th graders.
“The Marble Column Capitol”
Where Justice is a joke!!
Come to Washington DC the seat of power and feel the energy.
“History in the making”
I have been to DC on multiple occasions. I truley enjoyed the many different museums and things to do and see. I’m not very political but the history and monuments are very interesting. I know I still know very little about this state especially after reading some of the violent motto’s. But I still think that this state has many different things to offer it’s visitors. I like, “Washington Dare to Compare”. The D and C being bold print. What other states have this much to do and see in just one state.
Hmmm….
It appears that idealists have discovered this blog.
AC,DC it’s Electric!!!!!!!
America’s Capitol, DC it’s Electrlc!!!!
D.C.”THE NATIONS CAPITOL SECRET” OR
D.C.”THE NATIONS TOP SECRET” OR
EVERYTHINGS TOP SECRET IN D.C.,OR HOW ABOUT?,ACCESS IS GRANTED IN D.C.
To Davita Simons:
DC is NOT a state. It is a District. I guess I still agree with the “Taxation Without Representation” slogan that is on their registration plates now.
“Washigton D.C., an electrifing experience.”
How does this sound: Ah DC You look so good to me!
“Washington D.C, a Capitol idea!”
Washington D.C. The Historical playground of the World
“where democracy speaks “
Washington D. C., the hub of the wheel of democracy. I think that would be a good motto,. It is a goal anyway, and the way we would like to think we are to the world. Isn’t a motto something that makes a comment about the very best we hope to be? thanks
How about,
DC The Heartbeat of America.
Bill
Washington DC, where Dreams Come & Dreams Can!!!
Washington DC, Heritage is our foundation
Try this “Me and DC”
Washington,DC motto contest
“Foundation of our Free Nation”
“Washington DC, Living History” I think this has a double meaning.
Washington D.C.: The core of our government – The heart of our nation!
Washington D.C.: Where the Eagle flies
Washington D.C.: It started here – it ends here.
Washington D.C.: A monumetal place.
I am from Omaha, NE but went to DC a few years ago and spent some very memorable moments on the mall, so I think it should be: Washington, DC: Monumentally Memorable
1)Come See DC
2)Do See DC
3) DC A place of the American Experience
How about:
Washington DC
SEE it NOW!
Washington, D.C.
Reflections on Democracy
Reflections can be perceived as good or bad- one’s viewpoint when looking at the White House, Lincoln, street life etc.
Where no citizen gets left behind!
WASHINGTON D.C. WERE HISTORY BECOMES ALIVE!!!!!! OR
WASHINGTON D.C.ALIVE WITH HISTORY!!!!
Washington D.C. – Where the World looks for leadership.
DC – It’s everything you thought it’d be!
come and see the fun in washington D.C.
Washington D.C. –
“Heartbeat of the Nation”
Wonder Lust.
DC – a must see
Slogan 1: Washington DC, The buck starts here
Slogan2: Washington DC, Where it all begans
Slogan 3: Washington DC, Live the Dream
Slogan 4: Washington DC, A place to Live and Learn
Slogan 5: Washington DC is the palce to be
Correction on Slogan 5:
Washington DC is the place to be
Washington, DC: For the People, by the People
I’d like to submit a slogan: D.C., See and Be a Part of History
Slogan for Washington, D.C.: See Liberty and Justice on vacation.
WASHINGTON, DC
The HEART-string of AMERICA
My motto idea for Washington, D.C.:
Washington, D.C., Democracy’s Cornerstone, or Cornerstone of Democracy.
Washington DC: Why your vote counts!
take serious the effort to find a new motto for DC its the pride of the home land,
“DC its a kaleidoscope experience”
Where the President presides
Where Monuments are made
“DC, where the money goes”
Deficit Capitalism