Shifting Opinions on Starbucks

by joannameng

Normally Starbucks makes me cringe a little. Their prices are too high, the names of their products (and sizes…ugh, I refuse to say tall when I mean small) are snooty and artificial, some of their attempts to seem socially conscious seem insincere, and I’m tired of seeing one on every other block. I was impressed that they offer health insurance to part-time workers. And they at least carry some fair trade coffee, even though they don’t use it in most drinks. But I usually avoid buying anything from Starbucks.

I was surprised to see a ColorLines article that actually defends Starbucks and laments its decision to close 616 of its “underperforming” stores. Kim Fellner makes some interesting points:

Reflections: Intent vs Impact

by viva7

My friend, Nik, is driving nonstop across the country using only biodiesel next week. He is doing this for various reasons. Some of them are obviously noble, like spreading the good word about alternative energy sources. Others are fun, like the brazenness of taking on such a project/adventure. And others are economic, like marketing a specific brand of biodiesel fuel.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the intermingling of social responsibility and capitalism. It is not a topic I have ever internalized before – I entered the field of nursing because I felt called to direct service. And while my ideas span the macro, my work stayed pretty micro. But I recently had a discussion