Starbucks *officially* supports Social Security cuts. Huge cuts.

[MannyGoldstein]

Last edited Sat May 4, 2013, 01:40 PM - Edit history (1)

I vaguely knew something about this, but looked it up tonight. Nasty, nasty, nasty.

On Starbucks' web page, their fantastically-rich CEO Howard Schultz writes:

Let's Come Together, America

As many of you know, our elected officials in Washington D.C. have been unable to come together and compromise to solve the tremendously important, time-sensitive issue to fix the national debt. You can learn more about this impending crisis at www.fixthedebt.org

Fix the Debt, the organization that Schultz refers his readers to, is of course the far-right fringe group of uber-wealthy CEOs who want to become uber-wealthier through further federally-sanctioned pillaging of the 99%. They have proposed that Social Security payments be reduced by 22% to the average recipient over time.

22%.

22%.

Makes The Sequester look like a flea fart in comparison.

FTD's two leaders, Captain Bullshit and his young ward Darth Bowles, are shown below in my sig below paling around with their buddy, Middle Man.

Over the winter holidays, Schultz even asked his Washington DC area employees to lobby the locals to "fix the debt". Marvelous.

I guess Schultz figures his vast wealth is more important than seniors experiencing little joys in life, like "eating enough" and "not freezing". Perhaps they've run the numbers, and he'll make even more moolah if oldsters can't afford to visit his stores, the aging process might scare off the hip young people with more disposable income.

In any case, I think this sucks and I wanted DUers to know about it if they don't already. Think about it when you think Starbucks: because Starbucks is thinking about *you*, and they're not thinking nice thoughts.

[MotherPetrie]

1. I didn't drink his shitty coffee before; I sure won't drink it now!

[XanaDUer]

66. Seriously. Worst tasting/smelling shit offee. Nt

[hobbit709]

94. +1000

[Le Taz Hot]

95. THANK you!

The few times I've tasted their overpriced, over rated coffee I thought it tasted burnt. I take a couple of sips and throw the rest out. And I know people who LOVE the stuff. Yuck! Give me San Francisco Bay Coffee anytime (sold at Costco and Save Mart on the Left Coast).

[Tippy]

127. Same here but I tried it several times thinking I did something to make it taste that bad...

[Xipe Totec]

2. Austerity means less Starbucks and more Folger's

Think about that, dickweeds...

[LAGC]

15. No shit.

I wonder how many seniors buy their coffee?

If S.S. gets gutted, that means more younger folks saving that disposable income for retirement and not indulging in eating out or frequenting places like Starbucks as often.

I don't think that CEO has really thought things through...

[enlightenment]

42. Folger's tastes

infinitely better than the crap Starbucks sells. Especially in an old-fashioned percolator.

7-11 coffee tastes better than Starbucks . . . hell, activated charcoal tastes better.

[tblue]

61. Folgers is good!

That's what we buy. Did not know Starbucks was run by a rightie. I thought it was a good corporate citizen. Oh well. We do go to Starbucks now and then when we are away from home. I will certainly keep this news in mind and look for other options.

[Lionel Mandrake]

157. I remember percolators.

Percolators were popular in the 1950s. The way they work is by boiling a little bit of whatever is in the pot to pump more of it upward, and passing it through the coffee grounds over and over again. It starts out as water and ends up as coffee.

A modern coffeemaker is similar, except that the water, some of which is boiled, is passed over the grounds only once, and emerges as coffee. None of the coffee is ever boiled.

The two kinds of coffee taste quite different. I prefer the modern kind, but that's just me. I make my own at a fraction of the cost at Starbucks.

[enlightenment]

160. I have a percolator in my kitchen.

It's a myth that percolators boil - the stove-top kind will reach boiling if you let it, but it's not necessary for percolation. Electric percolators generally do not reach boiling point - they reach a sufficient temperature to create the pumping action. They do send the water over the grounds repeatedly and do give coffee more of a "cooked" taste, which I prefer.

To each their own, though, and I'm not a snob about it (hell, I drink Folgers - how could I be a snob?)
I used a drip coffee maker for years; I still have a cafetiere (press) in the cupboard- but now I'm happily back to the percolator.

In the end, the method matters but the beans matter more . . . and Starbucks apparently uses charcoal briquets.

[Lionel Mandrake]

161. I agree with everything you said except ...

"It's a myth that percolators boil".

Thinking like a physicist, I can imagine two methods by which localized heating at the bottom of a column of water could produce pumping action

1. Convection. This would be a slow, steady motion. You wouldn't hear it.

2. Boiling. This would take a while. Nothing would seem to be happening at first, although in fact the water temperature at the bottom of the column would be rising. Eventually a bubble of steam would form at the bottom of the column and push the rest of the water upward quickly. This would look and sound like the percolators I recall from years ago.

[enlightenment]

83. Drat. nt

[hootinholler]

92. How so?

Folgers has been my preferred brand since Katrina.

[Frustratedlady]

131. Absolutely! Starbucks' coffee is awful. Just the aroma of Folgers turns me on. eom

[randome]

133. Well, there's the source of your frustration, then!

Just kidding! Honest!

[madaboutharry]

3. Caribou Coffee is so much better.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Is Caribou a good company?

I used to spend a fair bit of time in MN, enjoyed their coffee.

[madaboutharry]

7. I don't know

I'm sure someone will come along and tell me they suck too. But I love their coffee.

[dflprincess]

35. Their coffee is great - much better than Starbuck's.

Unfortunately they are no longer a Minnesota company having been acquired by some German outfit a year or so ago. Currently they are closing Caribou shops in a number of states and renaming them Peet's Coffee & Tea.

On the up side the stores in the midwest and Colorado will remain Caribous.

[Lordquinton]

49. Peet's is a California based coffee company

They are very good and specialize in coffee, and sell a lot of variety's of beans. If they had to be bought out by someone, be glad it was them, and not Starbucks.

[reformist2]

31. I always found Starbucks to have a 'burnt' taste to it.

I know they offer a so-called 'blonde' roast now, but I don't care. It's all overpriced.

[Lex]

52. they over-roast their beans

their coffee sucks and that's why so many put whipped cream and shit like that in it, to try to make it taste better

[Mr.Bill]

150. It's only tolerable when you add

a lot of sugary flavorings and other junk to it. That's what they are really selling, and they know it.

It's marketing genius, actually. Sell a product that tastes so bad you have to pay extra for additives to make it drinkable.

Privately owned mom & pop coffee shops are always better. So is the coffee I make at home with my $30 "cappucino" maker.

[Skittles]

63. it is gross

it is banned from our work coffee club due to complaints

[hootinholler]

93. Th blonde roast I tried tasted burned as well. n/t

[reformist2]

119. Good to hear. Now I have *no* reason to go Starbucks ever again!

[AgingAmerican]

143. Yep

Had coffee there once. Told the barista that it tasted burnt. She said it's supposed to taste like that.

Once years ago my wife turned on a stove burner with a can of coffee sitting on the heating element. Burnt it, I made some coffee with it anyway. Tasted like shit. Starbucks had the exact same taste. Yuk.

[CrispyQ]

140. Daz Bog's KGBlend here!

An interrogating blend!



Just picture those beer steins with coffee in them.

Fuck Starbucks. I never go there. I for sure will never go there, now! They have so many stores they compete with each other. The little mall I shop at for groceries has a Starbucks store & a Starbucks inside the grocery store.

[DJ13]

4. This needs to go viral

Force the bastard to backtrack on this shit.

[djean111]

112. Doesn't matter if he "backtracks" - he has the ear of those who want to do this

and have paid big bucks for it to happen.
If 22% is the figure he spews, then I would expect to be ordered to eulogize someone who made the
"tough choices" and only cut SS by 10%.
See how that goes? Already I see people here spouting that we had no right to expect Social Security in its current form.
More trial balloons than at a circus-themed birthday party.

[olddots]

6. do a search for how many Starbucks there are near you ......

they have ruined the coffee bizz and now want to ruin our lives .....I bet the scum bag owner doesn't live in this country anymore.

[Le Taz Hot]

102. I have three within a 1/2 mile of my house.

I'm not kidding.

[KoKo]

156. Exactly...those DU'ers telling us to "Get Coffee Local" don't know where some of us Live!

Starbucks drove out the Mom&Pop...so it's what we are stuck with...Suburban from Cities to deal with.

[mick063]

8. Time to boycott Starbucks.

C'mon DUers.

Papa John came to lament his comments (corporations are "people", hence, I refer to the goofy dude's company and not him by name) . Flush Rush is in top gear. JC Penny retains Ellen.

There is more consumer power, that starts here, than you might think.


Spread the word.

NO MORE STARBUCKS!

[HiPointDem]

11. been boycotting it for years.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. Now that I rediscovered rootbeer, this one will be easy to drop.

Stupid move on his part.

[HiPointDem]

10. schultz is a paid-up member of the gates mafia. fuck him, fuck gates, fuck the entire boatload

of assholes that ruined seattle.

[RKP5637]

12. Starbucks serving Soylent Green can't be far off. I always thought their crap sold was toxic

enough to bring on death.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green

[Honeycombe8]

13. Once I used my Starbucks gift cards (already paid for)...I'll never step in there again.

Outrageous. Social Security isn't even part of the national debt. Con artists speaking to idiots.

[CurtEastPoint]

14. I am on their site. Where is this reference? I don't see it. Not doubting but...

[Bolo Boffin]

16. It's the blog post "Let's Come Together, America." n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

17. OOOOPS, my bad. Here it is:

http://www.starbucks.com/promo/fix-the-debt

I'll add it to the OP.

[CurtEastPoint]

19. I glanced there and saw it was Holiday stuff from last year so I bypassed it.

So he's been pushing this crap for a while, then.

[MannyGoldstein]

27. I was busy travelling when it happened, and missed it

Heard something about it recently that vaguely rang a bell, figured I'd check it out.

Ugh!

[KoKo]

18. Sad... My Partner...loves Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. I dont' like taste of their coffee..

so not a fan...but, it's their way of ESCAPE.

There are not many pleasures in life left to us these days. It's hard to jump on him...because it's what keeps him whole...

Our food is crap ...less and poorer quality...entertainment is so diversified that many fell left out...and America is just not a Rocking Happy Place these days.

I really don't want my partner in life to give up one of the few pleasures........

So...What to Do?

Some love Pizza, 16 oz Coke/Pepsi and others love "Iron Man 3"...and folks like lots of stuff...

But..yeah...I'll tell him.....NO MORE STARBUCKS. We do our best to support Green Energy, CSA's, Local Everything...Mom & Pop Stores...No WALMART... But...Starbucks for him....that's hard... he works hard. Worked his butt off for Verified Voting/Paper Ballot Trail along with Me...and others...Protested against Iraq Invasion with Me and Others....

but....Red Sox and Starbucks every now an then... Well....it has to be. I'm not kidding...we have so few pleasures these days) How do we all COPE?

BTW..the link to Simpson/Bowles...well that's the clincher. I don't know how to break it to him...but...that's a VERY BAD/BIG THING...that!

Starbucks Owner is a RW JERK...like Walmart..Disgusting...!

[mick063]

24. There are many startup, copycat companies like Starbucks.

Better yet, there are small kiosks owned by local entrepreneurs.

Really, the entire goal of concerned "consumers" should be to decentralize money as much as possible. Of course the small time venders will need to eventually buy products from the big boys, but any kink in the chain is a help.


Buy from small business. Including your favorite pleasures.

[KoKo]

39. They are located in our only Bookstore Left in our area: Barnes & Noble....

Our only long standing "Used Bookstore" that gave you coffee while you "browsed" just went Bankrupt... We showed up there and door locked with chain and sign on door "By Order of the SHERIFF" locked out.

So...place of refuge for book lovers left to us is "B&N" with the Starbucks..... We live in a Suburban Area... So those who still have their local places where they live (without the bookstore) can patronize indies. But, Starbucks is our Bookstore.....for now.

I hope that will change given Starbucks CEO/Owners viscious stand against SS.

[doggie breath]

107. Support your local businesses

I go to a local coffee and bagel place that is owned and run by 2 sisters.
Coffee is great and so are the bagels they make in their shop. Its a local gathering place and is always packed. Regulars like me even have a spot for our personal mugs.

A McCoffee place opened close to them and within a year the franchised place was out of business.

[Laelth]

117. Welcome to DU. n/t

-Laelth

[leveymg]

130. Enforce antitrust laws, and welcome to DU.

America would be better off in without enormous shareholder-owned oligopolies. These market-dominating, competition suppressing multinationals like Starbucks, McDonald's, Walmart should be dissolved, and their capital transferred back to local operators. Break them all up into cooperatives that are independently-owned, but which would still have some of the advantages of economy of scale in purchasing and borrowing, but without the requirement for uniform management policies and product offerings.

Each of these smaller locally owned operators would have to compete for hiring and market share, which means they'll have to hire more people and cater to local tastes.

[hrmjustin]

139. Welcome to DU my friend!

[MannyGoldstein]

81. Well... You could keep visiting, but do subversive stuff

Like leaving behind pamphlets that tell the sad story of what Starbucks wants to do to seniors. Or wear t-shirts that say "Ask me about Starbucks' plans for Social Security".

[Lifelong Protester]

142. Now I really like this idea!

[KoKo]

154. lol's...done some stuff of that in B&N and Borders before it closed....

it's kind of fun...if you do the Bill O'Reilly and earlier ....it worked back under Bush... But, Borders went out...and both killed the Mom & Pop Coffee places except at the "truck stops" outta town...which is too far to go.

You meant: Turning Book Covers Inward and "Misplacing" books re Bush (etc.)into the "Comic Section" that were the RW/Fox News publications. Yep...did that and it was much fun.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

20. Maybe we should do the "satanic messages in their logo" thing...

You know,...just for sport.

[KoKo]

155. lol's...it's harder to do these days...but, maybe someone could give a go at that one.

[high density]

21. The 0.1% apparently doesn't realize the masses need disposable income to afford $6 coffees

They want to suffocate the system that gave them such riches.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Scuzzy company serving scortched, overpriced second rate beans.

They are to good coffee what McDonald's is to good burgers. A mockery, an insult, a poor substitute.

[Triana]

23. I will NEVER set foot in a fucking BarfCups again

Hardly ever do anyway. Now, I will absolutely NEVER and will tell everyone I know what their greedy fucking CEO is advocating.

They sell their damn bitter coffee at major grocers too. I'd advise against buying the shit there as well.

[arcane1]

25. "Let's privatize it, and those profits will increase by 22% over time. Buy our stock now!"

I really, truly hate these people.

[Cleita]

26. Well, I'm happy I have never bought any of their overpriced coffee ever.

Now, I won't for sure.

[reformist2]

28. He wants to cut Social Security by 22% because he can't bear to have his taxes raised by 2%.

[Oilwellian]

60. Very succinct and right on the money

[RGinNJ]

29. The man sounds as bitter as his coffee.

[moondust]

30. You sure fixed the surplus, didn't ya, Howie?

Last edited Sat May 4, 2013, 12:55 AM - Edit history (2)

I bet ya luvvvv them Bush tax cuts, doncha?

Fucking parasite.

[Luminous Animal]

32. Any person that frequents Starbucks is an asshole.

Their entire business model is to destroy competition, dominate the market, and deliver an inferior product.

[KoKo]

36. See post #18...and yes...I understand how they cut out the "Mom & Pop" coffee places...

and owner now turns out to be a RW or Third Way DLC JERK!

But....so few stuff left out there to go...

BUT....the guy is a Jerk and thinks he's ABOVE IT ALL! No reason to support him further.

[Luminous Animal]

43. I saw that before I posted and I hestitated because I respect you so much.

I'm sorry.

[KoKo]

50. Oh..no problem...so much stuff to process reading.. I miss things myself in threads.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

33. Costa is better

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Coffee

none in the USA

[vanlassie]

75. Costa is the best place in the UK to get decent coffee

Went to Starbucks there once, was served lukewarm coffee!! Girl behind the counter (Polish immigrant) had no idea what to do about it.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

132. When I pass through Manchester airport

Manchester airport has a good Costa - great after a long flight!

[closeupready]

34. No more Starbucks, then, for me.

K&R

[We People]

84. Me either!!

May he spend a long darkroast in Hell.

[gateley]

37. Bill Gates, Sr. and some other wealthy Washingtonians proposed they should pay a State Income

Tax (WA State doesn't have it) to benefit education. Nick Hanaur supported it, too. Schultz was one of the ones who LOUDLY opposed -- along with Steve Balmer, Paul Allen and Jeff Bezos who made a BIG stink that it would cost jobs and ultimately lead to a State Income Tax for everyone. The typical Republican fear arguments.

The measure was defeated.

These filthy rich people couldn't cough up a little more money for education?

Disgusting.

[gateley]

38. If you're in Seattle, try Vivace (small, local, rosteria) -- They have mail order, too --

AND another favorite, Raven's Brew (for mail order).

Both are great companies with fabulous coffee.

http://www.ravensbrew.com/

https://www.espressovivace.com/

[MannyGoldstein]

65. As it happens... My sister is a Seattleite, and IIRC she gave us some Vivace beans last year

and it was absolutely delicious.

I love visiting her because, well she's my sister and I love her and her family, and also because of all the great coffee I get to drink while I'm there.

[gateley]

78. I used to have an espresso concession and that's what I used. My brother's

friends would come up from LA, my brother would bring them by, and to a person, they all ended up having me buy it for them and send it down.

There are a lot of good choices now, but I still think Vivace is the best.

[Thinkingabout]

40. Maybe if he drops his pay to the level of SS and give up any savings and off shore accounts and let

Him live like the rest of us, then we will consider cutting his SS by 22%.

[littlewolf]

41. I like Duncan donuts coffee better ... nt

[dbackjon]

45. Yeah, about Dunkin Donuts - assholes that own it make Schulz look like a socialist

If you are boycotting Starbucks over this, then you can't get within a mile of any Dunkin Donuts. Or buy their crap at the store.

[lunasun]

136. +1

[bravenak]

44. I call for a 100% reduction in Starbucks sales from anyone who pays into social security.

Also recipients and anyone who cares about recipients should reduce their purchases by 100%.
Anyone with me?

[Lex]

53. Seconded.

[jsr]

54. Agreed

Fuck Starbucks.

[840high]

46. Never stepped into a

Starbuck's and NEVER will.

[MiniMe]

47. Social Security has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with the debt or the deficit

And if you cut their income, nobody will be able to afford your outrageously priced coffee.

[99th_Monkey]

56. That was my reaction too

the way he phrases his statement just assumes SS has EVERYTHING to
do with the debt crisis, like it's "common knowledge" not to be questioned.

the level of dishonesty is appalling.

[wolfie001]

48. CEO Howard Schultz is extremely and rabidly anti-Union

Goodbye Starbucks forever and I'll be passing that on to all the people I see/meet where I work.

[Brigid]

51. Fuck you, Howard Schultz!

Just fuck you. I just finished reading a thread by another DUer about a fiftysomething neighbor who committed suicide after a lengthy period of unemployment and alcoholism. But that doesn't mean a thing to you, does it, you fuckhead? So fuck you. I won't ever drink your shitty coffee again!

[Benton D Struckcheon]

55. Ever heard of Teavana?

They sucked that company up last year and intend to start selling their teas. Except check this:

https://glaucusresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/11/GlaucusResearch-Teavana-TEA-Strong_Sell_November_20_2012.pdf

Starbucks had already announced their intention to buy them when this report was issued. Despite the clear evidence of selling downright poisonous teas presented in this report, they bought them anyway. Schultz brushed this aside.
No one should be surprised by anything Starbucks does. No one should be patronizing them; they're overpriced frauds.

Schultz's stance on SS is consistent with his business practices.

[spiderpig]

57. Don't drink their overpriced sludge & never will

Always hated that pretentious venti/ventu - whatever. What was wrong with small/medium/large?

Haven't been in one of their shops since my stepdaughter was a "barista" (glurg) 10 years ago.

Poseurs.

[libdude]

58. Just greed

Excellent posts on an example of pure greed by Starbucks CEO Shultz. Not a frequent customer of Starbucks, but for certain will no longer give them any patronage. I believe they are a sponsor of the MSNBC Morning Joe program.
Social Security and Medicare have nothing to do with the debt, but going after social safety net programs even those that are earned benefit programs seems to be very popular for the 1-2% of the wealthiest as well as the Republican party.

[spiderpig]

76. You said it, libdude

One of the most influential books I ever read was "The Sociopath Next Door". While all serial killers are sociopaths, most sociopaths are the creatures who will toss anyone to the wolves for their own personal advancement.

We've all worked with them. They'll throw anyone under the bus to advance their personal agenda. It's difficult to comprehend, because we wouldn't do the same thing on moral/ethical grounds.

Do I ever have a list of candidates.

[taught_me_patience]

62. Support your local indie

I own a coffee shop and only use local roasters and pay my baristas a living wage.

[MannyGoldstein]

67. I assume you're in California?

A bit of a trip from Boston, but I do try to frequent our own indies, not enough of them though!

[spiderpig]

70. Are you in the Bay Area?

I'll patronize you.

[taught_me_patience]

71. socal, but Bay Area has incredible indies

Blue Bottle, Sightglass, Four Barrell... etc... They are pricey, but make Starbucks taste like three day old cigarette butts.

[spiderpig]

72. Thanks for the tips, TMP

I will go out of my way to patronize independent vendors and savor their products. Keep me posted.

[villager]

77. Where in SoCal?

Expat Bay Arean here -- would love to know of more good indie java joints here in "the Southland"

[taught_me_patience]

162. My shop is in Long Beach

There are so many local third wave indies in LA, but here is a small list of ones I'm very familiar with:

Primo Paso (serving stumptown)
Two Guns Espresso (serving cafe vita)
The Greenhouse (serving rose park roasters)
Viento de Agua (serving true beans)
Makai Coffee (serving rose park, lord windsor, true beans)
Lord Windsor (serving lord windsor)
Portola (serving portola)


My shop is one of the above shops.

[villager]

164. Thanks for the list

I'm up in the valley -- so only one or two of those fall within occasional rounds... I'm gonna have to wake up and smell the coffee in these parts....

[klook]

64. Just grind up some burned tires,

blend with pencil shavings, and steep in dishwater. Make your own Starbucks!

Make mine a double short grande soy boysenberry frappucino, no foam, with an extra shot of decaf, add hazelnut and whipped goat's milk.

[DeSwiss]

68. BOYCOTT! - K&R n/t

[Warpy]

69. What do they care? Old folks on Social Security

go to Dunkies or McD's for their store coffee, they can't afford overpriced Starbuck's designer coffee.

Fortunately, there are more of us than there are of overpaid idiots like Schultz.

We just need to get 'em to the polls to outvote him and his kind.

[ProSense]

73. Solution

"In any case, I think this sucks and I wanted DUers to know about it if they don't already. Think about it when you think Starbucks: because Starbucks is thinking about *you*, and they're not thinking nice thoughts."

...make coffee at home (cheaper and better tasting) and be thankful no one voted this asshole into office.

Begich announces bill to keep Social Security solvent by lifting income cap
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022795784

[MannyGoldstein]

80. About a decade ago, I did the math and bought a fancy espresso maker

Push the button and it grinds the beans then makes the espresso. Or you can set it for a long pour, and have an Americano if coffee's more your style. Froths milk, too.

Expensive, but it's saved us zillions vs. going to Starbucks.

I sure hopes Begich's bill succeeds. If my senators don't back it, they'll have some 'splainin to do!

[Newest Reality]

74. In many areas

you can find local coffee shops of many styles and varieties from rather plain to elaborate.

Starbucks is yet another corporate brand getting away with some sort of "charge" that goes with a logo and a certain style.

Better coffee is available at a better price, so Starbucks is easy to drop like the lead weight they are. They just showed their (lack of) commitment to community, the country and the future.

Glad to know their views and disagree with them.

[Lifelong Protester]

79. Has anyone made comments on their FB page?

From what I hear, businesses do not like anyone telling an ugly truth about them on their Facebook page. Nor do senators. Just ask RoJo.

[tex-wyo-dem]

82. Hey, Schultz, you're a dipshit....

For one, Social Security has nothing, nada, to do with the debt. Are you just stupid or are you just being a deceiving asshole...I'm sure it's the later as you have to have some intelligence to get where you are...or maybe you are just so blinded by your own bloated ego that you don't see reality anymore (distinct possibility).

Truth is you and your ilk don't seem to realize that the only way you have been able to amass the fortune you have is off the consumption of the masses that, by a huge majority, are lower-to-middle income. So, by advocating cutting Social Security and similar programs critical to these same people that made your obscene lifestyle possible, you are slitting the throat of your company by choking off the consumer's ability to buy your overpriced swill...not to mention what you're advocating is just plain immoral (but nevermind that...you got yours).

Just fuck off

[geckosfeet]

85. i avoid them whenever possible - and that's often

[reformist2]

86. It really is crazy that you could buy a whole CAN of coffee for what you pay for a CUP at Starbucks.

Make it at home. Make it in your office. Buy it at McDonald's for a $1 if you must.

[DonCoquixote]

89. I know some coffees that are worth the price

As I had a coffee business in my younger days, but Starbucks is NOT it.

[MFM008]

87. live near 2 Starbucks

NOT going to either. again.

[dogknob]

88. Yank up that ladder, dude; you earned the right

Did this on FB earlier with link to Schultz's Xmas cheer...

I love NIMB-erals. I love 'em so very, very much. They absolutely RULE San Francisco and have managed to convert friends of mine there to the Dark Purple Side with their smarmy, snarky, smug "Let's save every bit of the world that, in doing the saving, will not impact my lifestyle" view of life.

I love 'em so much that I moved to the bright-neon-ruby-red OC because I had forgotten what consistency looked like; at least people here are honest about their total lack of empathy -- you don't have to draw it out of them slowly. It's RIGHT THERE on the surface.

I also loooove Starbucks. Love their burnt, overpriced brown goo and their NIMB-eral politics. Their Overlord, Howard Schultz, came out with his "I got mine" moment over the Xmas consume-a-thon when he asked all of his minions to cop a John Lennon line and "Come Together" in support of fixthedebt.org, a smiling gang of billionaires who want to gut Social Security... because if you expect THEM to sell one of their Bentleys to help out the country who made them, then you obviously hate successful people.

I don't know who will be able to afford Schultz's flippy-floppy-frappacinos if he gets what he's asking for, but screw it, he's set for life. Yank up that ladder, dude; you earned the right.

Yeah, I don't do a whole lotta Starbuckin' Thankfully found a groovy indie in San Clemente.

[durablend]

152. You pretty much hit the nail on the head

Big bidness has kajillions of dollars...more than they'll ever know what to do with in a lifetime so really they don't give a rats ass what happens to their customers (the people who got them that money).

"We gots your money, so thanks a lot, suckers!"

[DonCoquixote]

90. Coffee(From a former Vendor)

What is silly is this Starbucks got big because people had enough DISPOSABLE INCOME to try Lattes and other nice things. If people feel starved, they will NOT buy the expensive coffee, period. Also, this CEO has no idea how many people with social security patronize his stores.

On the side note, the reason the quality stinks is because Coffee ROTS, literally, it is a plant product rich in oils, that decay. At one point, McDonald's Lattes beat out Starbucks for taste. People were scratching heads. They found out that Starbucks managers discouraged people from tossing out the older coffee. On the other hand, McDonald's, due to the nature of breakfast rush, could not keep old coffee, so they had to keep brewing the fresh stuff.

The nature of fresh versus stale coffee is one of the reasons a lot of lunch counters and restaurants switch to automatic machines, like K-Cups. Those machines are idiot proof, quick, and make the coffee fresh, except for Starbucks K Cups, which for some reason still have a bitterness to them.

I still like the feel of the Starbucks, especially as, in many places, they are the only coffeehouse in town, however, If the CEO wants to be a jackass, he has in effect said "I do not want you as my customer!" That is ok, because the Panera breads, Wawas, Thornton's, and even Mcdonald's apparently do.

[DonCoquixote]

91. Last, but far from least

Let us not forget the debt was caused by two things, Wars and Tax Cuts. Clinton was a GOP in a democrat's body, but even his lame little tax on the rich would have shrunk the defecit if it was mantained.

http://rationallythinkingoutloud.com/blog/2011/01/20/if-the-clinton-tax-rates-had-remained-in-effect-the-entire-national-debt-would-have-been-paid-off-by-2012/

read that...think about that.

[randome]

96. He also supports raising the minimum wage.

Now maybe he is a right-wing asshole, regardless. I don't know. But it's also possible being a supporter of FixTheDebt means he primarily wants to fix the debt, not cut SS. It would be interesting to get his direct opinion on cutting SS.

If you write to his Facebook page or use any other mechanism to ask that question, I would advise NOT including comments like 'I will NEVER buy another cup of your shitty coffee again!' Because that's not likely to elicit an answer.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/howard-schultz-minimum-wage_n_2923294.html

[MannyGoldstein]

99. His target market includes young people who often make minimum wage.

But not seniors.

At this point, according to proven economists like Krugman, the only way to emerge from our depression is to *increase* government debt. Schultz must be digging this depression.

[randome]

105. I think his 'target market' is whoever wants to buy coffee.

I don't see any age delineations in the Starbucks in my area.

And I totally agree with you about increasing government spending. Like I said, maybe Schultz is a right-wing asshole but so far everyone in this thread is having puppies because he cited the FixTheDebt site.

That by itself may not a right-wing asshole make. I'm curious to see if anyone can get his direct opinion on SS, etc but I doubt a CEO is going to be that specific.

[MannyGoldstein]

109. He did more than cite the site. He invites readers there to learn more about our urgent problem

And the site is entirely designed to spread brutally dangerous lies.

[Recursion]

97. Starbucks gives benefits to a smaller % of its workforce than WalMart does (nt)

[Wednesdays]

98. Okay people, this thread is completely bogus

Nowhere in Starbucks' statement does it call for 22 percent in SS reductions. It merely asks people to go to the link and "tell them what you think."

That's like accusing Bartcop of being a rightwinger for asking his readers to go to Rush Limbaugh's site and telling him what they thought about Social Security!

[leveymg]

104. If Schultz supports that group, which he does, he's for the 22% cut.

He isn't saying that his employees and customers should go to the site and paint that page with outrage. No. He's saying we should embrace the Catfood Commission plan, endorsed by that billionaire's "cut the debt" group, through accepting chained CPI.

Don't be disingenuous.

[MannyGoldstein]

106. He's asking readers to visit Fix the Debt's site to learn more

about the debt crisis. But the site is utterly devoted to further pillaging the 99%, and full of lies.

You don't see that this is a problem?

[99Forever]

108. Why are you carrying water...

... for that 1%er ?

[Cal Carpenter]

100. Good thing corporations have no say over policy

since we're in a people-powered democracy and all...


Oh, wait.....

[99Forever]

101. Wouldn't buy Starbucks over-priced coffee...

... even if I could afford it. Costco has 3# cans of house brand 100% Columbian Supremo for about $10. Makes an excellent cup of joe at 1/3 or less the price of any of the "designer coffees."

The upside of this "austerity" crap has been, we've learned how to live on less, much less, which isn't exactly "good news" for business, as even tho our income is starting to rebound, we aren't going back to our not-so-careful spending ways. Austerity works both ways, you freakin' financial gurus.

[Snarkoleptic]

128. the whole bean 2# bagged coffee at costco is really good too

It's been my go to coffee for a couple of years. I avoid the green bagged stuff as it is roasted by farbux.

[Jim23434]

145. Costco also has Mayorga Coffee

Been drinking it for years, taste great and makes me feel good knowing how it's produced.

Visit the Mayorga site and see how a owner should act. http://www.mayorgacoffee.com/

“Contributing positively as a business goes above and beyond what can be seen on paper. It is about leaving a healthy imprint on the planet.”

[hrmjustin]

146. Welcome to DU my friend!

[leveymg]

103. One more reason not to spend $4 for a cup of Schultz's caffeinated water.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

110. They have a FB and Twitter account

I'd think this would be a good example of flooding either/both of those with comments on why he's flat out wrong on this subject and , by the way, unless/until he reverses his position telling I/we will not be spending ANY money there at all. The webpage requires a sign up routine to be able to email, that's too much work but a FB comment is doable, assuming you(all reading this) are on Facebook.
Here's the FB location http://www.facebook.com/Starbucks?fref=ts

[heaven05]

111. bought

this coffee in the beginning of franchise, then noticed the quality of roasted bean fading as more and more opened. Kind of like instant lotto tickets. At the beginning of a new game, lots of winners, then when hooked, not that many winners. Same principle with a business such as starbucks. Capitalist model I guess. Why do the rich have to perpetrate such evil? Just because they have more of that filthy lucre. Buyer beware.

[another_liberal]

113. The same crooked bastard . . .

The same crooked, greedy bastard has recently been sued (successfully) for forcing his grossly underpaid workers to give management their tips. When I heard that, I stopped buying anything at Starbucks. Their prices are a lot better than their coffee, and I have found a little health food store nearby which sells freshly roasted Sumatran beans (excellent stuff) for dollars less a pound than what I was paying.

Screw the greedheads, who needs them.

[savebigbird]

114. This is coming from a coffee man

who doesn't even know how to make a decent cup of coffee. Honestly, have you tasted the stuff? Who is actually going to take his level of intelligence seriously?

[HughBeaumont]

115. Rec'd and spread.

Fucking assholes.

This debt was caused by the wealthy FOR the wealthy; corporate pork, 25 years of corporate bailouts, wars of aggression that serve no purpose and tax cuts for the wealthy we cannot afford.

But hey, let's granny-starve. Let's take money out of the people who will spend every dime of it. Really going to love seeing how well that plan works out.

Makes me glad I'm not a coffee drinker.

[magical thyme]

116. I'd boycott Starbucks, but I already don't drink their crap

Tried it once. Yuck. Never again.

I'm not above sending them a message through their contact us, though. And will encourage anyone and everyone who does drink their swill to boycott now. Save your money for retirement because if Starbucks has their way, they'll pocket your social security.

[Sanity Claws]

120. Instead, I call for Starbucks cuts

No more Starbucks for me. (In reality I swore off them a couple of years ago.)

[ohheckyeah]

121. I don't buy Starbuck's coffee by the cup

but do buy the beans and grind them at home. If only I had read DU and found out how cool it is to hate Starbucks I could have saved the money.

I live rural and sometimes have to shop at Walmart, too. Guess I'll have to turn in my liberal card. Just think how much I can save not contributing to Democratic candidates since surely they wouldn't want the support of a Starbucks drinking, Walmart shopping asshole like me.

Thanks for letting me know the coffee I like is shit......I'll be sure to dump it all out.

[SalviaBlue]

149. ...

[ohheckyeah]

158. That looks like it hurt....

[OldHippieChick]

122. Read "Fast Food Nation" and

you'll boycott all of these franchises.

[bemildred]

123. Starbucks is all about cheap and docile labor, and that means keep them all poor. nt

[santamargarita]

124. This senior won't be spending any Social Security

money on Starbucks.
It's my Fucking money, not his!!!

[joanbarnes]

125. Who can afford Starbucks, even now?

[allan01]

126. re: Starbucks *officially* calls for Social Security cuts. Huge cuts.

nobodys calling for cuts in defense . ie cancelling a single ford class carrier or a virginia class attack sub. nor for reducing flag offciers to cold war levels . if we cut everything and i mean evrything we are still going to have deficit . links look them up your self . i am boy cotting starbucks starting next week

[Tippy]

129. I think at lot of people on SS probably drink SB coffee

I sure hope they don't like it better than their SS payments....ALL big corporations probably feel the same way....as long as people keep buying they keep making more money and they forget theri customers...bottom lie is all they think about....What they don't realize is they wouldn't have jack shit if they lost their customers....
STARBUCKS GREED will hurt their business

[RebelOne]

138. I am on SS and have never had Starbucks' coffee,

and now I know I never will.

[rickyhall]

134. Dear Starbucks

GFYS

[YOHABLO]

135. I am a patron of the only Starbucks within miles .. unfortunately it's the only place to hang out >>

where I can get a half-way decent coffee .. I have a gold card which allows me free refills. They do offer three blends. Usaually a ''bold'' blend, and their shitty tasting ''Pikes Place'', and the new ''Blonde'', for the old geezers who can't stand ''strong coffee''. When you live in a small town the Starbucks becomes the community center .. they hold ''entertainment'' on every first Saturday of the month. It's awful .. people do stand-up ''comedy'' .. if that's what you want to call it. Some sing and then some do poetry. There's always references to ''the Lord and Jesus''; go figure it's the South. But for people like me, it gets me out of the house. There is one dude who lives in an RV out back and uses Starbucks as his living room and office. He is there 24/7 sucking up all the WiFi band-width with his 27 inch iMac computer. He sits there all day long in front of his screen, only to take a few breaks. So ridiculous allowing this .. but what can you do? They have their so called ''Baristas'' who are nothing more than automatons. If I hear one more time "what can we get started for you today" I think I'll puck right all over their counter. It's so presumptuous; all I want is a cup of your goddamn coffee .. not one of those frilly moca latte frapacino made with skim and no foam shit. I mean, really? But this is how corporate America has become, and people need a paycheck too badly to ever question their policies. Starbucks, from what I hear does provide health insurance after, I believe, a six month working period. A lot of older gents and ladies are there just for that benefit alone. The noise is ridiculous .. they play this corporately controlled music ( just check out the records they're promoting at the counter and you'll get the drift.) But that's American capitalism. What gets me is, they want $3.00 dollars for a brownie and about $6.00 for a sandwich. A bag of peanuts with about 10 peanuts in it costs $2.00 dollars. Hell I can make a a good dozen brownies with $3.00 dollars. It's just gouge gouge gouge. But then that's the Corporate American way ... and like the idiots that we are, we continue to go right along with it. How much is Mr. Shultz raking in? They put on this eco friendly front, yet they want to cut Social Security by %20. I am going to post a note in big letters on the bill board they provide in this ridiculous place .. they're so stupid around here they won't even notice it for weeks. I wish there were somewhere else to go but that's not happening. The things we settle for. But who am I.

[Fearless]

137. Fuck you.

[MannyGoldstein]

141. I assume that's addressed at Schultz?

I hope...

[Fearless]

159. Of course!

[Fumesucker]

144. Ready, Fire, Aim?

[EV_Ares]

147. Why has this been so quiet? Thanks for posting, do not remember seeing this before where

he actually was suggesting cuts in social security of 22% over time. That is pure selfish BS. The Dems & other liberal organizations need to make this more well known so those who know can boycott buying his dam coffee. I will not set foot in another Starbucks, I don't need them, I can get my coffee elsewhere. can't boycott coffee or wouldn't even be able to type this but I sure as f--- don't need Starbucks.

[n2doc]

148. Seattle sports fans already hate Schultz because of what he did to the Sonics

They already know he is a scumbag who is only in it for what he can get for himself.

[lupine25]

151. Now I have another reason......

.... to boycott the place! Funny thing is I live in Seattle and anytime I'm showing someone (family, friends, etc) around town they always ask about Starbucks. My reply is always the same: "No 'true' Seattleite drinks Starbucks!" Now I have even more reason to say that.

[BuddhaGirl]

153. Link to their Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/Starbucks?fref=ts

They need to hear from us!!

[Rex]

163. What a fuckwad, I hope he goes broke soon.

nt.

[Rise Rebel Resist]

165. Starbucks are tax dodgers