After a half drunken political debate with friends this weekend, the Willie concert, and a bumper sticker I read this morning.....

In times of political debate, football, and the energy crisis, I implore all to use the word "need" with caution as it is frequently used in a powerful manner. Whether the topic is energy, politics, healthcare, your team or a sales pitch you are making at work, try to refrain from using the word need unless you are prepared to take the weight of the problem on your shoulders. Try and count how many times it is used. People use the word to gain followers, ratings, buy ins, whatever and most times the word is meant to give people a sense of hope of what is coming regardless if the individual that originally declared that something was needed ever follows through.

People really need very few things as you should have learned in the 1st grade so if you think someone needs something outside of what we would call basic needs (food, water, shelter, etc) that bad, all you have to do is pull out your check book and satisfy the need yourself. If you don't have the skill, power, or means to satisfy this need then you really don't need it. Don't confuse "nice to have" with "must have".

Now I am not that political of a person as I try not swing too far left or right but what brought this on is a bumper sticker that I saw on the back of a Ford this morning that said "America NEEDS America's energy." This guy works in the oil industry and most people in the industry are soooo pro oil because they are desperatley trying to validate their paycheck while the getting is good. Makes sense, don't blame the guy. So  since we really don't need to use our reserves yet, why would someone make the bumper sticker? They try and state like you are not patriotic if you don't believe this way and now it is a marketing tool. Besides, I thought hardcore liberals were the only ones that market their ideas on the back of their cars. it was a sweet truck and no truck like that should be littered with a bumper sticker. Furthermore, the most bush league thing that one can do use our flag and an eagle to market something for personal gain. The only time I think you should use these things is when we really need it because if it is used too often in a marketing sense, the true meaning of our symbols lose appeal, focus, and respect from the rest of the world.

I drive a big truck and get 14 miles to the gallon but all I need outside of basic needs, family, and friends is a sat. afternoon college football game and maybe a duck blind. The truck, my PC, and my phone are nice to have but I am sure I would somehow manage to survive and provide for my family without them.

 I am gonna shut up now as you probably haven't learned anything you didn't already know by reading this and you definitely aren't getting that 30 seconds of your life back but my Talledega Nights avatar is pretty sweet huh?