John Gray
About 25 years ago I was in New York City doing a “behind the scenes” TV story on NBC’s Today Show.
Back then Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric were the hosts and the show was mostly a news program then, not what we see pass off as morning news today. I was a young reporter, so my head was swimming with all the glamour of the place, including what they called the “green room.”
This was a room set aside for guests to hang out in before and after they came on the show and was stocked full of yummy things to eat and drink.
Someone asked me if I wanted anything and I told them I was dying to have was a good cup of coffee. The Today Show producer smiled and said, “Well you’re in luck because we have Starbucks.”
At the time I had no idea what that was. The coffee giant wasn’t quite a giant back in those days and was just starting to take off in major cities like Manhattan. I poured myself a cup, loved it, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Now, of course,you can’t toss a rock anywhere in this country without hitting a Starbucks.
I’ve always had a love hate relationship with the brand. I love the rich, strong coffee but hate paying more than double what I’d normally pay for a cup of joe. Then there’s the other thing, more of late, that I’ve seen Starbucks management doing; getting into politics. I’m one of those people who just wants to buy a product and be left alone.
I don’t want to be preached to and I don’t want my money being used to push one candidate or agenda over another. And that cuts both ways with me, whether the company taking my money supports liberals or conservatives or something in between.
Starbucks made a decision to become a much more progressive company and they’ve put their money where their…
