Dear Starbucks

[DonCoquixote]

35. If I could humbly add my voice to the choir

Dear Kurtz:

Let us be blunt. You are a company that relies on the middle class having disposable income. The rich swells may go to your place once in a while, but they would prefer the expensive, pretentious places so that they can avoid mixing with the common folk. You do not realize you are slitting your own throat. Yes I know, Asia is giving you and your fellow billionaires promises of a large, docile middle class that will replace those grouchy customers in America, but if you think that once we are gone, that you have get to keep those customers, you are a fool. You see, India, China, Russia, they realize that government can and should work with business, because it gives them an edge.

All it took was 10, 20 years at tops for America's prestige to go down the tubes, thanks to people that kept wanting to cut government for a debt that Dick Cheney claimed did not matter when the GOP were in office. The consumers are already clutching their wallets, because of the rampant insecurity caused, and that was before the "Third Rail" of politics lost it's juice. Of course, we also know from the last GOP president that our wars will ensure that every time someone wants to cut spending, they will be shouted down, so why not spend on the sorts of things that put money in all our pockets. Let's face it, when Clinton was being accused of spending like a sailor, we had money, that was the very era you changed from a Flea Market operation in Seattle to being one of the most recognized brands on the planet.

Let us be blunt, you are not a necessity. Even for those of us who do appreciate a good coffee, and a place to specialize, you are NOT the only game in town. Other places, even good old Dunkin Donuts, realized that if they moved in the wi fi, the flatscreen TV, and stereo, they could beat you . Frankly, since you have let customer service go to shit, there is nothing you offer that cannot be done at many places. Hell, a K Cup has made making good coffee idiot proof, cheaper that that device you tried selling. The point is, we made you, and if we go down, you will go down with us.