What is it that makes the Oak Tree Theory useful? Ideally, it has some predictive value: as things contract, you may assume that at some point they will again expand.
Probably more relevant is the implied availability of competitive genetic material. Once the world boils down to Miller vs. Bud, the two main antagonists are competing with each other for resources, measuring themselves against each other, and starting to look more and more like each other. But when those new acorns at the edges start to sprout, when some new mutations have a fighting chance, then more diversity enters the biosphere/marketplace. We see Bud using Michelob as a craft-brewing label, buying a stake in Redhook, bringing out Bud Select (they can't all be gems) and American Ale (but some of them can be gems). Miller wisely uses its subsidiary Leinenkugel's as its craft brewery.
It's kind of fun to make up rules about life.
Today's news: Paul Harvey died. Paul Harvey Aurandt. 90 years young. I met him: he came to autograph books at Conkey's in Appleton. A line had developed; people wanted to see the famous man. He came in the back door of the store, eyed up the crowd. He walked forward until he could just be seen, said in his trademark voice, "Oh, my," very carefully polished the toes of his shoes on the back of his pantlegs (a lost art; I can show you someday if you need to know), and strode toward the signing table with a hearty "Hello, Americans." It was hokey as hell, and perfect.
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