In 1970, writer Nora Ephron cleaned up an old quote attributed to writer and social critic H.L. Mencken in 1926…writing that “no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”

These words are as true as words can be. I know this after decades of keen observation of the American public…and what this all-too-ignorant and naive population accepts as truth and fact versus the fantasies foisted on it by – among others – corporations.

American advertisers aren’t inherently evil. But they’re a little like weapon manufacturers after a mass shooting…not exactly squeaky clean.

Unfortunately, advertisers are so good at what they do that they can create a sort of Frankenstein’s monster. That’s the case most recently with Cracker Barrel, a restaurant chain employing more than 70,000 people across America.

A couple weeks ago, Cracker Barrel – in an attempt to be more relevant to younger diners – updated its logo…dropping the coveralled “old timer” named Uncle Herschel sitting in a wooden slat chair leaning on an old oak barrel. The restaurant started back in 1969, and introduced the “old timer” logo in 1977.

The new logo…after millions of dollars and countless hours of meetings around corporate conference tables…lasted one week. That’s how long it took for the latest advertising Frankenstein’s monster to so terrorize the public…that some folks came after the monster with modern-day pitchforks and torches.

First of all…let me set the record straight about Cracker Barrel. It’s not some mom and pop diner along U.S. Interstate Highways. It’s a huge-ass corporation. There is no “old timer” lurking in the kitchen frying up your chicken…not at any of its 660 locations in 44 states.

Secondly, it was a slick advertising pitch appealing to nostalgia. The good old days…that so many who frequent the restaurants would like to think still exists…and most never lived anyway.

The Cracker Barrel demographics…mostly white folks, mostly those who identify as Republicans and “church-goers”, mostly those who buy into another advertising hoax…Make America Great Again.

Finally, those who like what comes out of Cracker Barrel kitchens never had moms who could cook a decent Southern, old-timey, comforting dinner or supper. It’s like school lunch cafeteria fare…with lots of inauthentic food covering your plate.

And if you thought President Donald Trump might be too busy with world affairs to lead the Cracker Barrel “get-rid-of-the-new-woke-logo” campaign…you’d be wrong. Within hours of the chain revealing it’s new logo, Trump took the issue head on with Truth Social.

Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before. They got a Billion Dollars worth of free publicity if they play their cards right. Very tricky to do, but a great opportunity. Have a major News Conference today. Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again. Remember, in just a short period of time I made the United States of America the “HOTTEST” Country anywhere in the World. One year ago, it was “DEAD.” Good luck!

Trump never misses a chance to lie about his own abysmal record.

Again, “no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”

Cracker Barrel stock lost 7 percent of its value in a few days. A few days later – after returning to the old familiar logo – the stock price soared by 9 percent.

Oh, there are plenty more examples of Americans buying into dreams that never existed…and customers disliking a change – not because it might make sense but because it’s “woke”.

Consider Bud Light’s attempt to gain new customers in 2023. Budweiser sent a transgender social media influencer a personalized can of Bud Light to celebrate her first year as a woman.

Ironically, Right Wing Conservative influencers led a boycott of the beer company…accusing it of making a “woke” political statement.

Bud Light lost market share…and like in politics if you expect corporations to take a stand and do the right thing…you’d be wrong.

Budweiser ended up alienating its old customer base – conservative folks – and its potential new customer case…LGBTQ folks. Another case study in how companies can piss off everyone.

American and Canadian consumers buy into corporate fantasies with alarming naïveté. Walmart positions itself as a part of Americana…a flag-waving part of the country’s history…when in reality it is more singularly responsible for the deaths of mom-and-pop businesses across America than any other cause.

Walmart is no less ethical in other countries…bribing its way into the Mexican marketplace 13 years ago. Perhaps it’s easier for shoppers across America to buy into Walmart’s fantasy…an indispensable part of Americana…as long as prices stay low and shoppers perceive that they are saving money.

Almost everything in American culture is divided along political lines…urban bad, rural good…immigrants bad, real Americans good.

Expecting politicians who hold power…or corporations whose primary incentive is enriching shareholders…to do what’s in society’s best interests is foolhardy.

Count on Americans to continue to buy into the craziest political and corporate schemes…and you can take that to the bank. Place your bets. After all, “no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”