Starbucks, the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, is now serving up fresh brews with a side of political participation.
Starting Friday, Starbucks across America will be encouraging their customers to sign the Come Together Petition over the next three days, and will be sharing the results with Washington officials in hopes of ending the government shutdown. The petition will be available to sign in-store, and ads for the petition – available in USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post – can be ripped out, signed, and brought into any Starbucks.
You can also sign the petition digitally and can even “like” the petition’s post on Facebook to count your signature toward the Come Together Petition.
It’s no secret that CEO Howard Schultz has recently been infusing politics into the Starbucks brand. Last month, the company announced that it does not want customers bringing guns into its stores. Now, the company is entreating Washington officials to, “Reopen our government to serve the people,” “Pay our debts on time to avoid another financial crisis,” and “Pass a bipartisan and comprehensive long-term budget deal by the end of the year.”
If business goes as usual, Starbucks stores will see a total of 20 million people come in for coffee over the next three days, and a good portion of these customers might just sign the petition – after purchasing a latte, of course.
Some might commend the company for its bold political stances, but others are most likely against pushing a fresh brew of public affairs. And Schultz agrees. He does not want Starbucks to be viewed as a fulcrum for political issues, but would rather the company be recognized for its communitarian values and sense of civic responsibility. Schultz is encouraging other businesses to take a stand with him, and has already talked to over half of the thirty companies of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
So next time you pick up an espresso from your local Starbucks, feel free to make your way on over to the petition table and, should you feel the urge, sign the Come Together Petition. It might just make a difference.
