Monday, August 15, 2011

"Starbucks CEO urges halt to US political donations"

"LOS ANGELES, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) Chief Executive Howard Schultz is winning support for his call to withhold political contributions from U.S. lawmakers until they strike a 'fair, bipartisan' deal on the country's debt, revenue and spending.

"Schultz recently led the world's biggest coffee chain through a painful but successful restructuring that returned it to growth. In his letter on Monday, he also challenged fellow U.S. business leaders to do their part by hiring workers to give the national economy a much-needed jolt.

"NYSE Euronext (NYX.N) Chief Executive Duncan Niederauer and Nasdaq OMX (NDAQ.O) Group Chief Executive Robert Greifeld already have pledged their support.

"'I think that Howard's idea is a great one, and I have told him that he can count on me,' Greifeld wrote in an email to Nasdaq company leaders.

"Schultz's effort comes as wealthy business leaders step up to challenge U.S. politicians who put their partisan bickering on display during the recent debt ceiling debate. That performance helped send consumer confidence to a more than three decade low and was cited when Standard & Poor's downgraded the U.S. credit rating."


I'm no expert, but this idea sounds good to me. I really believe that most of our politiicnas are in denial and believe that if they continue to do business the same old way for long enough, everything else will go away. They just don't get it. Maybe there have to be riots in the streets before they begin to understand. Maybe they won't even then. Maybe it has to be up close and personal before it penetrates their bullshit. I don't know.
 

6 comments:

hale-bopp said...

Withholding financial support from politicians? Not difficult for me. I have never given directly to a politician.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I even try to be aware of who I am patronizing and where their contributions go. There are companies I will not use due to their political stances (Wal-Mart and Chick Filet are two examples that should be obvious to most people who know me but are far from the only ones). Of course it is even better if you become a letter writing gadfly to let them know why. I am probably on quite a few lists from that by now.

Sassa said...

I was just thinking yesterday that maybe the Pres should pour $$ into giving jobs to clean up America (remember CCC?). Roads could be built, green spaces created, homes rejuvinated, parks could be kept up. Jobs would be created and the general public would be pleased. (I think)

Toad said...

I wouldn't give a dime to a politician. Never have, Never will. In addition. I don't TIP the person that pours my 10 cent cup of coffee, and charges me $2.00either. I usually have to wait In line for my REAL coffee for the people to get their Chocolate, Toffee, Cheesecake flavored Cappuccino with extra foam for about 10 minutes, which Is why they have to charge so much for regular coffee. They lose their ASS on the 10 minute drinks.

Toad said...

Sassa, That Is what the President has wanted to do. A big part of the High Speed Rail from Madison, to Milwaukee would have created many jobs, but Governor Walker gave the money back. Your idea of another CCC type program, would be a great thing, but the GOP Is against anything the President wants to do. It's obvious It's a "Personal" thing.

kkdither said...

The GOP are overt about not wanting to give to the people. Their focus is on corporate giving and tax breaks to the upper echelon, with the hopes of the trickle down theory as an answer to high unemployment.

I think it is hard to argue that what we are seeing now isn't class warfare.

Their argument is that by helping the middle class through entitlement programs: medicare, medicaid, badgercare, social security etc., they would be inhibiting upward mobility. I guess being ultra rich is no fun if there isn't a large body of ultra poor to compare themselves to.

SER said...

Send all you donations to:

SER
JT Irregulars