I admit it - I was far too easily distracted by news of veteran actor Randy Quaid’s arrest today on charges of intent to defraud.  I was conducting research for the topic of this blog and was hoping to find something that hadn’t already been “done to death” by the media regarding the G 20 summit that’s currently in full swing.  I realized how frustrated I was over the same old, same old “he said, she said” accusations that rule today’s political headlines.  I realized I was burned out.  Then it occurred to me the dangers of being burned out. 

If our collective society realizes it’s burned out, sick of the bickering and accusations between this country’s leaders, we run the risk of losing what little control we have over important issues that affect not only us, but our children and grandchildren too.  By allowing ourselves to become non-plussed, we’re basically throwing our hands up and declaring an “Ugh! Fight it out on Capital Hill!  I’m going on a Starbucks run!”  And it’s when we leave these elected officials, many of whom are clearly lacking in any sense of self-decorum, self-respect and self-restraint, to do as they will with their very selfish motives.  It’s almost as though the political machine has become too big to rein in - and that’s dangerous too. 

It’s not as though John Q. Citizen is asleep at the wheel, he’s just tired.  He’s tired of sixteen sentence replies to questions that simply require a “yes” or “no” answer.  He’s sick of the very real issues that demand solutions being strong-armed onto the back burner so that room’s made for accusations of everything from racism to media-inspired political brawls.  Whether or not he’s Republican, Democrat or something in between just doesn’t matter anymore - and that is yet another danger.  This country’s built on freedoms - the freedom to proudly declare one’s political views, the freedom to demand changes and expect not only those demands be heard, but be addressed with real solutions and the freedom to kick political butt when the leaders become worse than two and three year old siblings fighting for the last Yoo Hoo in the fridge.

As my Grandma used to say, “Someone’s gotten a bit too big for her britches”.  I think I learned my lesson after the first couple times of being on the receiving end of her evil eye and fair warning of noticing my britches.  Maybe it’s time for a few evil eyes and declarations of my own towards those who have clearly outgrown their political britches.

I’m trying to figure out which brilliant ad exec come up with McDonald’s latest slogan, “Four Bucks is Dumb”.  There are approximately 140 billboards in Washington State alone displaying this new message.  It’s no mistake Washington   is home to Starbucks’ corporate headquarters.  I could be wrong, but that is an incredibly risky move for McDonald’s.  In a time when consumer confidence is

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way down, approval ratings of every politician is in the basement and more Americans are carefully considering how their money is spent, insulting the competition just doesn’t seem wise.  The fact that Starbucks has chosen not to fire back has me jonesin’ for a caramel macchiato right now.  The hamburger giant is picking a fight that it most likely won’t win.  Who goes to war with Starbucks over coffee!?

Granted, they’re not breaking any laws, but they’re not doing themselves any favors either.  Starbuck’s isn’t even a company anymore, it’s a way of life….with its very own cult following.  Starbucks went the way of wi-fi years ago and offered its customers wireless internet, McDonalds followed suit a couple years ago, but it hasn’t built the same image it was hoping for.  It might have something to do with the birthday parties that interrupt concentration of those wishing to keep up with the stock markets on their lunch breaks. 

Starbucks has hinted at fighting this war on a “higher level”, but it refuses to fire back with websites such as the one McDonald’s has had up for a year, along with the most recent billboard campaign.  The other billboard says, “Large is the new Grande”.   One owner in the Seattle area says the signs were designed to point out that ordering an espresso at McDonald’s is quick and simple…small, medium and large.  Doesn’t he realize how much fun it is to say the word, “grande”?  It’s like impressing a first date with big words.  OK, I’m kidding on that point, but it just seems insane for this to even be an issue for McDonald’s.  Their logo is, “I’m lovin’ it’, but if they’re not careful, they’re going to be lovin’ it right out of the coffee business. 

The one brilliant move they’ve made so far is one that they’ve not made in that they haven’t named Starbucks in any of its ads.  There’d definitely be fine lines to walk should they choose to do that since they certainly don’t want to do anything that could be construed as false, misleading, fraudulent or defamatory.  There are advertising guidelines that if not followed, could result in legal actions and are standard in all advertising forms. 

I’m interested to see what Starbucks ultimately does - or better still, what it doesn’t do.  This is one of those times when “being your own worst enemy” might hold true, provided Starbucks continues to not take the bait.

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