AMURICA.

When I think of the word "Amurica," several things always come to mind.  Lazy-boys.  The option to have my sub-sandwich toasted at Subway.  Bob Barker.  Fried Snickers bars.  And until recently, the image of a half red, half white can of delicious  Campbell's Soup--which would have easily beaten Bob Barker--would appear, melting the snow from my now-cozy body.  But alas, remnants the economy's bitter winter remain.

Campbell's Soup Company was an easy pick for my stock portfolio.  After all, the savory blends of happiness and flavor were one of the first brand names in American history.  However, the company's stock loss 6.47% this term, costing me $646.00 "Luecke-bucks".  (Un)Luecke-bucks, as it turns out.

So how do I interpret this stock decline?  Although the recession undoubtedly had a direct effect on the stock's failure, the indirect effects are what worry me. 

First, whatever happen to product differentiation by heritage, market leader, category-creator, or just being awesome?  Campbell's has each.  Unfortunately, Campbell's also has tradition.  The country has taken a sharp left towards the future.  Look for some cultural separation from the tradition and routine.

If it's memories and experiences of the past that are holding Campbell's back, perhaps it's the fact that eating  soup requires sitting down.  No one does this anymore...Campbell's only solution is to add caffeine, guarana, and magic to it's already convenient "To-Go Cups".

Finally, Health-crazed trend setters pick a new ingredient (likely found in Campbell's Soup) to be terrified by.  I am willing to bet that any material/chemical contributing to a government-set definition of "any taste or smell of or relating to 'comfort foods'" will be unnecessarily ostracized in the next few years.  This soup has kept America warm for 140 years.  Until some hemp-wearing, toes-showing hippie lives to be 141, I'll take my Cream of Chicken.

Jamie Goodin