Call me old-fashioned or even a Grumpy Old Man, but I really object to thinly-veiled commercials in recent U.S. stamps: Issues that celebrate a product or company, without actually admitting it.
Granted, the latest U.S. Postal Service selection criteria, which you can see here, do not rule out commercial commemorations. It just seems wrong and demeaning to stamp 
issuance.
The latest is Espresso Drinks. It is being issued within a month of the 50th anniversary of Starbucks, in the city (Seattle) where it is founded and still has its headquarters. Also coming up this year: Star Wars Droids. It’s not until the seventh paragraph (of 10) in the announcement that the alleged justification is mentioned: “Lucasfilm, the studio that created the Star Wars franchise, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021.”
Last year, it was Bugs Bunny, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the cartoon character’s introduction. Even if I were to concede that the Wascally Wabbit is one of the 
“extraordinary and enduring contributions to American society, history, culture or environment,” the USPS criteria also states “Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.” That was the reason given why the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II was not honored.
Before that, it was Scooby-Doo (another cartoon character, 49 years old at the time), Sparkling Holidays (using easily recognizable Coca-Cola advertising images), Hot Wheels and all sorts of Disney issues, including 2017’s Disney Villains. “Negative occurrences and disasters will not be commemorated,” but bad guys are all right, huh?
In 2013, the U.S. issued 20 Harry Potter stamps, but none for the 150th anniversary of one of the greatest speeches in American history, the Gettysburg Address. (To add insult to injury, the Potter stamps were issued on the Gettysburg Address anniversary date.) Don’t get me wrong: I love the Harry Potter stories, I read all the books when they first were published, saw all the movies, and I marvel at how it got schoolchildren to read books. But no Gettysburg Address stamp?
It’s not just the U.S., either. Royal Mail in Britain must have staffers 
working full-time on reasons to issue new Harry Potter, Star Wars or Star Trek stamps. Part of the justification for honoring the latter last year was especially laughable: Some of the actors who starred or were featured in Trek were British!
Yes, postal agencies make money on pop culture stamps: It costs a fraction of the face value to print them, not much more to market and sell them. The postal people can also 
make money from related products, like coffee mugs, sweatshirts and framed prints.
However, I think these stunt stamps are more of a cry for attention: “Hey, look at us! Look at us! Stamps are still relevant! This postal agency is still relevant! Pay attention to us!” People and the press will pay more attention to pop culture subjects than an award-winning playwright (August Wilson, U.S., 2021), a country’s strengths and accomplishments (Britain, 2021), or its medical discoveries (Insulin, Canada, 2021). Getting such attention may be necessary for continued funding or even continued existence. But so is denoting important facets of a country’s heritage.
Of course, I am free not to buy Hot Wheels or Scooby-Doo, and I didn’t. I am free to obtain postmarks commemorating historical events that USPS Stamp Services didn’t. And, now that I am officially an Old Man (retired, collecting pensions) and was always Grumpy, I am free to be a Grumpy Old Man.
The US Stamp program is embarrassing. Look at what they have missed over the past few years:
-500th Anniversary of the Reformation;
-250th Anniversary of the French & Indian War;
-100th Anniversary of the US entry into WWI (and only one measly stamp for WWI);
-50th Anniversary of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon.
-75th Anniversaries of Pearl Harbor; D-Day; V-E Day, and V-J Day
-100th Birthday of author Ray Bradbury
Additionally:
-They have yet to announce a stamp for the 100th birthday of John Glenn.
-They have not yet issued a stamp for Neil Armstrong.
It’s a sickening, embarrassing clown show. All involved in the US Stamp program should be ashamed of themselves.
Why should “denoting facets of a country’s heritage” be the responsibility of the postal system? If the problem is people and the press not paying attention to things you find important, why not contribute to a solution by becoming a history teacher, or writing ✍️ a blog promoting whatever you wish?
You’re reading my blog now. Some of its entries have attempted to enlighten others about history. For example, I have written here and/or elsewhere about why commemorating the U.S. participation in World War I was historically important not just militarily, but sociologically: It marked the emergence of the United States as a world power, and flipped the U.S./Britain relationship to Britain becoming a client nation of the U.S.
I also produce combination first day covers from time to time that expand about an aspect of history. Most recent is a 9-stamp combo for August Wilson of American Playwrights, which left out T.S. Eliot: He only began writing plays after the renounced his U.S. citizenship and became a Brit. For Gwen Ifill, one of my combos for that first African-American woman network newscast anchor included a “cinderella” I creaed for the Max Robinson, the first African-American male network newscast anchor. My 6-stamp USS Missouri combo included Gens. Nimitz and MacArthur, aboard for the signing of the Japanese surrender, and stamps for the Battle of Okinawa and Desert Storm/Desert Shield, in both of which the Missouri participated.
I agree with much of what you’ve said in this post but would note that as a grumpy old man myself, I would likely complain about the choices being made on largely different grounds. I welcome themes emphasizing where we are going or should be going over commemorating military events. I cringe at the embarrassing political figures whose integrity emerges over time as badly tarnished. I seldom post on this point of view because I suspect I am greatly in the minority in my point of view. Nonetheless, I welcome developing your points on the dubious commercialization of USPS. Like yourself I collect more along my interests and try to just ignore the rest as unfortunate dribble.
I wholeheartedly agree with the points made by VSC.While we are all free to collect what we wish, why should we be forced to do so. Ben Franklin must be turning in his grave upon seeing the garbage being generated by the USPS. Now it has evolved into gimmicks . Our culture as americans is closely tied to our history and prominent americans who rightfully slould be recognized. What relevant role did Bugs Bunny or Disney’s villans play in the development of our country? One of the things that drew me into stamp collecting was the intricate engraving and art. Gimmicks are now in play with three dimensional dionsaurs etc. Please Mr Postmaster give these revelation some serious thought and restore sanity to the stamp issueing process.