Once upon a time, a caveman decided to become a farmer. He rounded up the local bison and kept them close to his cave, so he did not have to go hunting every day and had more time for cave painting. To ensure other cavemen knew that they were his bison, he marked them on their rumps with a hot stone from his fire pit and branding was invented. The caveman loved branding. The other cavemen respected branding. Understandably so.
We still love branding. Oh yes, it has evolved. No more hot searing stones on bison rear ends. Manufacturers have created painless branding with little logos and emotive advertising. Keeps the herd together. What’s not to love? No need to think for yourself; the branders have done the thinking on your behalf. Take their word for it. Who has all the bison now?