To piggy-back on a brief chat I had with Mr. Romanowicz earlier in the week, I really hope that American-branded culture, business and politics are all individually on the cusp of something progressive, innovative, meaningful and memorable. And they better be, as far as we’re all concerned.

Obama’s recent speech on race gave us something very interesting to play with: a brand/person/campaign/message not based on the typical stinky horseshit, but based on a) an informed, moral consciousness, b) a true necessity and c) the goddamn truth. For all of us who already plan to Barack-out with our cocks out this November, it was a reminder why we’re a little more forward-centric than our counterparts. For all of those said counterparts: Now’s the time to ride the snake.

I’m getting one of those “something in the air” feelings that glided through our sad America in the 60’s, a feeling that something could actually happen for once, and it would if we could only get our shit together quickly enough to capitalize on the opportunity of a lifetime. And of course to the legions of non-believers and suspended-motion lovers, we’re all just unrealistic…a bunch of daydreamers floating on yet another raft of sinking ideals. But we can be more than that, and so can the movement.

It’s about time that we start demanding more out of the three things that rule our daily lives: people, products and ideas. If a presidential candidate can’t come out and (in theory) say, “Hey guys, let’s start rethinking our gameplan a bit,” then what hope does that leave for us? How would you like us to make the next from-frog-ponds-to- skyscrapers jump if we aren’t harvesting innovation and concentrated radicalism in our own backyards? Hmm Uncle Sam? I’m all ears love.

If one of the largest soft drink manufacturers in the world can’t make the commitment to use 100% post-consumer plastics in their bottles because it’s “too costly,” then where’s the promised solution we’ve all been waiting for? What’s the goal? Where’s the miraculous hand of capitalism and good will to guide us through the night? The magic of one nation created under the divine isn’t delivering the proverbial payload, and we as a society are slipping because we’ve become far too complacent with things that don’t work.

It is an influential (and widely profitable) brand’s duty to promote social concern and awareness through its advertising and corporate policies. It is also their duty to support change and harvest ideas in a roundtable manner by bringing together brilliant minds to rap about how their brand identity pertains to the world at large and the lives of people who are shelling out their cash on a daily basis.

I believe that forward-thinking brands can truly save the world, or at the very least play an integral part in it. I’m also of the opinion that it could’ve already happened, if we had only been willing to let it.

Here’s to everybody who hopes this wave we’re riding isn’t just going to pull back into the ocean, but that it might overcome the shoreline and implant some much-needed sediments into the bedrock.

Tags: All Ears, Backyards, Campaign Message, Consumer Plastics, Culture Business, Cusp, Daydreamers, Frog Ponds, Gameplan, Hey Guys, Horseshit, Legions, Moral Consciousness, Opportunity Of A Lifetime, Person Campaign, Radicalism, Skyscrapers, Soft Drink Manufacturers, Something In The Air, Temple Of Doom