Department stores like J.C. Penney are taking some major hits as middle class folks cut down on their consumption. While J.C. Penney and friends blame mortgages and higher energy prices for their drops in customers and profits, I’d like to think that energy problems aside, people have finally become hip to the fact that possessions don’t really equal happiness, like the Beatles said, “Can’t Buy Me Love.” However, I should admit that one of my all time favorite songs is actually about finding love at J.C. Penney (although I don’t think Beck actually mentions purchasing anything while at the department store).