There’s about as much reason for us marketers to ignore political trends as there is for ignoring social or fashion trends. And the political trend du jour is liberal, liberal, liberal.
     What is liberal? Who knows? But one thing is sure, it’s got more to do with Democrats than Republicans.

A liberal sea-change?
     Nope. Don’t expect much change politically. Big money will continue to erode American freedoms and American jobs. The Middle East conflict will continue to destroy young Americans and small business investment. Corruption will reemerge in places we hadn’t thought of yet as well as places we’ve forgotten about. Public education will continue to get more expensive and less effective. University students and athletes will continue to be slaves to national research and fundraising, graduating sooner or later to professional slavery.

Freedom’s just another word...
     Of course we marketing slaves will go on searching for new consumption trends, popular clichés and new ways to help our associates and clients kill the competition.
     But it would be wise to realize that people are getting tired of that nagging guilt when they hear about more people dying and loosing limbs to quench our thirst for oil...or our need for convenient food.
     Yes, it’s finally going to make some economic sense to reduce all energy costs, to save vital natural resources and spend more of our disposable income on the safety of the food we

Former president dons orange tie for Democrat
Leadership Convention in Nashville, Tennessee
Photo: The Commercial Appeal, July 31, 2007

consume. While these issues will be upper most in the minds of the public, our newly elected Democratic leadership will be putting forth more and more excuses as to why the Republicans have made it impossible for government to do anything.

Posturing for Green.
     Companies will claim to be pro- tectors of the environment, or animals, children, wetlands, coastal waters, etc..  while they continue to use up this country’s natural resources at an ever increasing rate.
     Whenever some lost soul happens to notice that commutes have gotten even longer and gasoline even higher, while our soldiers continue to die, the Democrats will march out Al Gore and say “I told you so, now we’re stuck.”

Conservative Backlash
     Dissidents in the Republican camp will get even more ostentatious with their purchases of Hummers, 5 bathroom houses, hunting and safety weaponry, private clubs and schools, ect. They will attempt to totally isolate themselves from government.e