Intriguing: "Boycott Campaign Donations!"

[Proud Public Servant]

Can't say I have much respect for Howard Schultz's business, but this is an interesting idea:

Boycott Campaign Donations!
By JOE NOCERA

Howard Schultz, the chairman and chief executive of Starbucks, has always been the kind of boss who wears his heart on his sleeve. So it came as no surprise to Starbucks employees when, on Monday, he sent out a long, passionate, companywide e-mail entitled “Leading Through Uncertain Times.”

In it, he wrote about his frustration over “the lack of cooperation and irresponsibility among elected officials as they have put partisan agendas before the people’s agenda” — creating an enormous crisis of confidence in the process. He said that Starbucks had a responsibility “to act in ways that can ease the collective anxiety inside and outside the company.” It needed to continue creating jobs. It had to maintain its generous package of employee benefits. And it was critical, Schultz wrote, for employees “to earn our customers’ trust by being respectful of their own life situations — whatever it may be.”

No, the surprise wasn’t the e-mail; it was what happened next. Although he has made his share of campaign contributions — “to candidates in both parties,” he told me on Friday — Schultz is hardly a political activist. Yet the response to his e-mail — not only from within the company but among a group of some 50 business leaders he shared it with — was so overwhelming that it galvanized him.

*snip

In effect, Schultz thinks the country should go on strike against its politicians. “The fundamental problem,” he said, “is that the lens through which Congress approaches issues is re-election. The lifeblood of their re-election campaigns is political contributions.” Schultz wants his countrymen — big donors and small; corporations and unions — to stop making political contributions in presidential and Congressional campaigns. Simple as that. Economists like to talk about how incentives change behavior. Schultz is proposing that Americans give Washington an incentive to begin acting responsibly on their behalf. It’s a beautiful idea.

*more

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/opinion/nocera-boycott-campaign-donations.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

[emulatorloo]

1. Don't worry, Karl Rove's Crossroads will cover the Republicans needs

Big lie ads 24/7

[dsc]

2. that has got to be the single dumbest idea I have seen in quite some time

It would be one thing if both parties were being the obstructionists the GOP were, but they aren't. The GOP's money supply will continue unabated, while the Dem supply will dry up.

[Proud Public Servant]

5. Dems aren't obstructionist, but

they have been pretty ineffectual, and had no excuse for being so in 2009-2010; one can only imagine (and shudders to think) what the GOP would have done with majorities that large in both houses of Congress.

[Skinner]

3. IMO, this is a terrible idea.

Think about it. Who ISN'T going to join a boycott like this? The powerful interests who give money to candidates precisely because they want to get something in return. They'd be more than happy to pick up the slack. Plus I'm sure they'd really appreciate the fact that they aren't competing for political access against all the rest of us.

[Proud Public Servant]

4. Yeah, I realize that's the fatal flaw

But it would be intriguing if it worked.

[bemildred]

6. Starbucks boss cancels megachurch appearance after congregation is accused of being anti-gay

The boss of coffee giant Starbucks has pulled out giving a speech at one of the biggest megachurches in the U.S. following allegations that its congregation is homophobic.

CEO Howard Schultz cancelled his appearance at The Global Summit, which is organised by the Willow Creek Association, after an online petition condemned its followers for being anti-gay - a claim the church has denied.

The coffee boss was due to speak at the church on Friday, in Barrington, Illinois - an event that draws tens of thousands of viewers via satellite.

Past speakers have included former President Bill Clinton, GE's Jack Welch and rock singer Bono.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025545/Starbucks-boss-cancels-megachurch-appearance-congregation-accused-anti-gay.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[NightWatcher]

7. What percentage comes from citizens vs corporations?

Especially with Citizen's United. I'm no longer wasting my few bucks when Shell Oil will happily give each candidate hundreds of thousands to ensure their place at the big table.

[scheming daemons]

8. Unrec for effectively calling for unilateral disarmament by Democrats

This idea would result in giving the GOP an completely overwhelming advantage in every single race.


DUMB DUMB DUMB.


If you agree with this idea, you're a moron or a Republican (but I repeat myself).

[demwing]

9. If he's recommending 100% publically funded campaigns

then I agree 100%

but that's not the message. He's calling for a consumer based solution to a citizen based problem, and that won't solve a damn thing.