Starbucks offers free coffee to those who join Obama volunteer corps!!

[FrankRep]

Man, I really love coffee. They almost have me! (j/k)


Starbucks offers free coffee to those who join Obama volunteer corps

Phoenix Business Journal
January 16, 2009


Starbucks Coffee wants U.S. consumers to jump on president-elect Barack Obama’s volunteer bandwagon and pledge to join one of his community service corps.

Obama and incoming first lady Michelle Obama want Americans to do community service the week of his inauguration Jan. 20. and commit this year to one of his so-called national service corps that will do volunteer work in schools and related to the environment.

Starbucks said it will offer free “tall” coffee beginning Wednesday through Sunday for customers who fill out community service pledge cards at the coffee chain’s locations.

Starbucks wants customers to commit to five hours this year for community service and volunteer programs.

“Five hours is just 25 minutes a month for a year, two afternoons at a food bank creating care packages, a day reading to children at a hospital or in a park planting trees,” said Vivek Varma, senior vice president of global affairs for Starbucks in a statement.


SOURCE:
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/01/12/daily75.html

[Rael]

I will have a starbucks coffee occasionally. I think I will no longer buy their coffee. It's overpriced as it is. Instead of making the price more reasonable they are spending money on this type of crap. Fuck Obama and his community service foolishness.

[heath.whiteaker]

SCREW EM' I dont think I will buying their coffee anymore either.... I am making a list of actors and singers that I will no longer support by watching their movies for being part of this we are one crap too.

[PBrady]

Yeah, man! Community Service is stupid! Let's completely bash every idea Obama has (even if it's a good one) because we he has a "D" next to his name!

[Rael]

Yeah, man! Community Service is stupid! Let's completely bash every idea Obama has (even if it's a good one) because we he has a "D" next to his name!

And why is this a good idea? If Obama wants to serve the community he can at any time, and so can anyone else. We don't need government involved. And if I was a Starbucks stockholder I would be pissed at the company spending money on this while having to close so many locations.

[heath.whiteaker]

whats the point of community service? Your supposed to volunteer and do things for your community because you love it. Not because it is the trendy thing to do and get free coffee. I give a lot of my time to community and civic organizations. BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Not because I want to be included in Obama's Citizen Corp....

Looks like we are going to have to start embracing socialism or we will be called unamerican.

[Rael]

Looks like we are going to have to start embracing socialism or we will be called unamerican.

I'm starting to question the value of being called an American at all.

[cheapseats]

Yeah, man! Community Service is stupid! Let's completely bash every idea Obama has (even if it's a good one) because we he has a "D" next to his name!

Yeah, man! When was the last time Barack Obama, Spender Extraordinaire, worked for free? When was the last time that ANY of the privileged proponents of Volunteerism worked for free?

People need a subsistence-or-better income before they need the boost to self-esteem that Volunteerism will no doubt provide. When Barack Obama FIRES half the federal workforce, or more, THEN may he use his Beauty Pulpit to rally troops to labor for free. Y'know, in all the free time everyone is always complaining about having but not knowing how to fill.

People who are paid well and who have solid security are proposing that beleaguered Americans VOLUNTEER to do work that they have already paid TAXES in order that GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES execute the work in question.

In the meantime, howzabout Barack Big Bucks Obama reimburse this country any senate salary he collected while he was on his two-year, expense-breaking Campaign-O-Rama?

Barack Obama is full of shit. But let the bars stay open later, than we can toast his assumption of the throne in the rowdy manner suggested by Take No Prisoners, Every Man For Himself, and The Ends Justify The Means. I'd say 'Free For All' but, as we see, it's only free for some.

[amonasro]

Does signing up commit you by law? Or is it like Scout's honor? I imagine lots of people will John Hancock for their free coffee then disappear from sight.

[Rael]

Yeah, man! When was the last time Barack Obama, Spender Extraordinaire, worked for free? When was the last time that ANY of the privileged proponents of Volunteerism worked for free?

People need a subsistence-or-better income before they need the boost to self-esteem that Volunteerism will no doubt provide. When Barack Obama FIRES half the federal workforce, or more, than he can use his Beauty Pulpit to rally troops that work for free.

People who are paid well and who have solid security are proposing that beleaguered Americans VOLUNTEER to do work that they have already paid TAXES in order that GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES execute the work in question.

In the meantime, howzabout Barack Big Bucks Obama reimburse this country any senate salary collected while he was on his two-year, expense-breaking Campaign-O-Rama? Barack Obama is full of shit.


Yeah, I don't see him volunteering to send any money to his brother in Kenya who lives on $1 a month.

[amonasro]

Yeah, man! Community Service is stupid! Let's completely bash every idea Obama has (even if it's a good one) because we he has a "D" next to his name!

It's a fine idea, in theory. In theory, Socialism works. The point is you shouldn't have to bribe somebody to do community service.

[PBrady]

Who cares what the motivation is of someone doing community service? I'd rather have a bunch of hipsters clean up a park because they get free Starbucks then have them not do it at all.

Yes, ideally we want people doing community service because it's the right thing to do. But you are really, really stupid if you think that is just going to change in the blink of an eye. One again, I'd rather have millions of Americans doing community service because it's "cool" to do, rather than continuing to be the lazy Americans that they are. Who knows, maybe after the "fad" of doing community service dies down, we will have more people doing it on their own.

EDIT: I type this reply, and about 5 people posted in between me!

[cheapseats]

Starbucks is in financial trouble for the first time . . . owing, quelle surprise, to Crappy Management.

This is PRODUCT PLACEMENT . . . read that, a shot in the arm for ailing Starbucks . . . and it is sophomoric feel-good crapola that does NOTHING to get this economy turned around.

[nobody's_hero]

Let's completely bash every idea Obama has (even if it's a good one) because he has a "D" next to his name!

You're fairly new here, but let me assure you: 99% of the people here don't line up on a 'left-vs.-right' paradigm.

Here, it's about 'freedom-vs-control.'

You can join the freedom side, but our side can't afford to buy you anything from Starbucks. ;)

[nodope0695]

I pledge to NEVER join the Obama Youth! I'll brew my own damn coffee.

[PBrady]

You're fairly new here, but let me assure you: 99% of the people here don't line up on a 'left-vs.-right' paradigm.

Here, it's about 'freedom-vs-control.'

You can join the freedom side, but our side can't afford to buy you anything from Starbucks. ;)
First, I just don't post here. I'm quite familiar with what goes on here. I stopped coming here a lot after the March on Washington, when I realized just how crazy/stubborn most people here can be.

I realize I shouldn't have said "D", and I originally had something else in it's place, but for the sake of simplicity, I just put that.

[Rael]

First, I just don't post here. I'm quite familiar with what goes on here. I stopped coming here a lot after the March on Washington, when I realized just how crazy/stubborn most people here can be.


And yet, you decided to come back.

[nobody's_hero]

Oh, my mistake then.


And yet, you decided to come back.

It's because RPF is just irresistible. I tried leaving once, but my willpower wasn't strong enough. :(

[PBrady]

And yet, you decided to come back.
I'm out of school this semester because of lack of $$$. My family moved to North Carolina just under a year ago, so none of my friends are down here. I don't really have much to do...

[sidster]

I question the validity of this story. Starbucks did something similar in Nov.
They offered free tall coffee to anyone who could show their "I Voted!"
sticker. This backfired as it was discriminatory to those who could not
vote, either because they were not of age or not citizens (yet legal
residences). So that they had to offer free coffee to ANYONE who knew
to ask for it. I think our entire office went down to the local starbucks.

I believe Ben and Jerry's and Krispy Kreme had similar fsck up on that
very same day; offering free scoop of ice-cream and free regular doughnut.

[Rael]

I'm out of school this semester because of lack of $$$. My family moved to North Carolina just under a year ago, so none of my friends are down here. I don't really have much to do...

Welcome to NC.

[PatriotOne]

Starbucks openly advertises where their loyalties lay. Pyramid, eye, etc. Illuminati, freemasonic, NWO:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e198/Yekt40/Starbucks.jpg

[nobody's_hero]

I question the validity of this story. Starbucks did something similar in Nov.
They offered free tall coffee to anyone who could show their "I Voted!"
sticker. This backfired as it was discriminatory to those who could not
vote, either because they were not of age or not citizens (yet legal
residences). So that they had to offer free coffee to ANYONE who knew
to ask for it. I think our entire office went down to the local starbucks.

I believe Ben and Jerry's and Krispy Kreme had similar fsck up on that
very same day; offering free scoop of ice-cream and free regular doughnut.


Wow, what state do you live in where the government made Starbucks do that?!

[sidster]

Wow, what state do you live in where the government made Starbucks do that?!

California.

[heath.whiteaker]

California.

that explains it.

[jack555]

whats the point of community service? Your supposed to volunteer and do things for your community because you love it. Not because it is the trendy thing to do and get free coffee. I give a lot of my time to community and civic organizations. BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Not because I want to be included in Obama's Citizen Corp....

Looks like we are going to have to start embracing socialism or we will be called unamerican.

Whoa guys chill for a second, you are making us look bad.

Heres the website

http://www.obamavolunteercorps.org/about/


I think it is a private organization trying to get people to do charity! This is a good thing! Just because it has Obama's name attached doesn't mean its bad.

[jack555]

And why is this a good idea? If Obama wants to serve the community he can at any time, and so can anyone else. We don't need government involved. And if I was a Starbucks stockholder I would be pissed at the company spending money on this while having to close so many locations.

Are you positive government is involved? I think it's a private organization.

[jack555]

whats the point of community service? Your supposed to volunteer and do things for your community because you love it. Not because it is the trendy thing to do and get free coffee. I give a lot of my time to community and civic organizations. BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Not because I want to be included in Obama's Citizen Corp....

Looks like we are going to have to start embracing socialism or we will be called unamerican.



Wrong...The Red Cross put signs at my school all the time offering warp tour tickets, baskin robins, wendys, etc for anyone who will give blood. Private businesses donate it (aka starbucks or baskin robins) to encourage people to do something good! There is nothing wrong with a little encouragement!

You need to stop thinking Democrat/Obama=Bad and start thinking about each issue yourself.

[Rael]

Just because it has Obama's name attached doesn't mean its bad.

Yes, it does.

[cheapseats]

Whoa guys chill for a second, you are making us look bad.

Heres the website

http://www.obamavolunteercorps.org/about/


I think it is a private organization trying to get people to do charity! This is a good thing! Just because it has Obama's name attached doesn't mean its bad.

IT IS BAD, DANGEROUS AND WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE TO ATTACH THE NAME OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO COMMERCIAL ICONS.

The Pepsi circle has ALSO been co-opted on big WE ARE ONE billboards in Los Angeles.

And big cryptically-colored images of Obama gazing off pensively with the word CHANGE bearing down on me.

It's BEYOND creepy. Who DOES that? Besides Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Saddam . . .

[jack555]

It's a fine idea, in theory. In theory, Socialism works. The point is you shouldn't have to bribe somebody to do community service.

Bribe is a strong word for this. Seriously you guys are making liberty minded people seems like a**holes. Whats wrong with a private corperation offering free coffee to anyone who does charity for a provite organization!


ps. I despise Obama.

[cheapseats]

Bribe is a strong word for this. Seriously you guys are making liberty minded people seems like a**holes. Whats wrong with a private corperation offering free coffee to anyone who does charity for a provite organization!


ps. I despise Obama.

And THIS makes the Office of the President seem more like a Carnival Barker than a Bully Pulpit.

p.s. Despising despicable people is normal.

[jack555]

You're fairly new here, but let me assure you: 99% of the people here don't line up on a 'left-vs.-right' paradigm.

Here, it's about 'freedom-vs-control.'

You can join the freedom side, but our side can't afford to buy you anything from Starbucks. ;)



LOL this thread is completely left vs. right. Yes community service encouraged by a private organization is not liberty minded! damn obamnazis and their community service!

[jack555]

And THIS makes the Office of the President seem more like a Carnival Barker than a Bully Pulpit.

p.s. Despising despicable people is normal.


There is nothing wrong with Obama encouraging a private organization to have people do community service. It shows he is leading the country in a good way.


LOL I despise Obama and 99% of what he stands for but you guys are being ridiculous.

[jack555]

Wow, what state do you live in where the government made Starbucks do that?!


Who said the government made them do anything?


I'm not saying that it wasn't the government but he never stated this...

[jack555]

Yes, it does.

No it doesn't. Obama may do 999/1,000 things wrong but he will not do everything wrong.

[jack555]

IT IS BAD, DANGEROUS AND WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE TO ATTACH THE NAME OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO COMMERCIAL ICONS.

The Pepsi circle has ALSO been co-opted on big WE ARE ONE billboards in Los Angeles.

And big cryptically-colored images of Obama gazing off pensively with the word CHANGE bearing down on me.

It's BEYOND creepy. Who DOES that? Besides Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Saddam . . .


They changed their name to Change Corps probably for this very reason! Read here to see about the name change

http://www.obamavolunteercorps.org/about/

[cheapseats]

IT IS BAD, DANGEROUS AND WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE TO ATTACH THE NAME OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO COMMERCIAL ICONS.

The Pepsi circle has ALSO been co-opted on big WE ARE ONE billboards in Los Angeles.

And big cryptically-colored images of Obama gazing off pensively with the word CHANGE bearing down on me.

It's BEYOND creepy. Who DOES that? Besides Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Saddam . . .




There is nothing wrong with Obama encouraging a private organization to have people do community service. It shows he is leading the country in a good way.


LOL I despise Obama and 99% of what he stands for but you guys are being ridiculous.


He is trivializing the already-compromised office of the Presidency, for a little blitz of dead-end economic bustle for a socially irresponsible corporation that happens to be experiencing a notable downturn and, OF COURSE, to shore up his chief asset: PERSONAL WINSOMENESS.

He can take his personal winsomeness to the Middle East, where Israel bombed the shit out of Palestinians in Gaza directly upon Barack Obama's assurance that Israel will continue to have unequivocal support under the new Royal Highness.

Cheap shot, dirty pool . . . Business As Usual, Obama style.

[cheapseats]

They changed their name to Change Corps probably for this very reason! Read here to see about the name change


Change Corporation would be more Suitable.

[tremendoustie]

Who cares what the motivation is of someone doing community service? I'd rather have a bunch of hipsters clean up a park because they get free Starbucks then have them not do it at all.

Yes, ideally we want people doing community service because it's the right thing to do. But you are really, really stupid if you think that is just going to change in the blink of an eye. One again, I'd rather have millions of Americans doing community service because it's "cool" to do, rather than continuing to be the lazy Americans that they are. Who knows, maybe after the "fad" of doing community service dies down, we will have more people doing it on their own.

EDIT: I type this reply, and about 5 people posted in between me!

Community service is great -- I volunteer myself. I just don't want it run by government. If starbucks would give cups of coffee to everyone who volunteers on their own I would like it a lot more :).

[angelatc]

Starbucks said it will offer free “tall” coffee beginning Wednesday through Sunday for customers who fill out community service pledge cards at the coffee chain’s locations.

SOURCE:
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/01/12/daily75.html

I wonder if they're giving soldiers coffee for signing up to do 4+ years?

I shall be filling out several of those cards on Wednesday. A fool and his coffee can be parted.

[angelatc]

Yeah, I don't see him volunteering to send any money to his brother in Kenya who lives on $1 a month.

His wife was just laid off from a $300,000 a year community health care organizer job.

[tropicangela]

I wonder if they're giving soldiers coffee for signing up to do 4+ years?


Or the First Responders...

[PBrady]

Community service is great -- I volunteer myself. I just don't want it run by government. If starbucks would give cups of coffee to everyone who volunteers on their own I would like it a lot more :).
Yeah, but this Starbucks thing is NOT run by the government. It's essentially Starbucks giving out coffee for people who agree to be a good person and do community service this year. They're pretty much doing it in the honor of what Obama would want...but I think it's crazy when people get mad at Starbucks for doing something like this.

As a more general note, I don't understand people calling him a despicable/nasty person. Clearly, he is well intentioned...and probably moreso than our last several presidents (at least). Misled (the path to hell is paved with good intentions, etc., etc.)? Yeah. Nasty/despicable? No.

[jack555]

Community service is great -- I volunteer myself. I just don't want it run by government. If starbucks would give cups of coffee to everyone who volunteers on their own I would like it a lot more :).


Can't you read! It is not run by the government.

You guys are making the liberty movement look bad. Research before you talk out of your a**.

[Mitt Romneys sideburns]

Yeah, man! Community Service is stupid! Let's completely bash every idea Obama has (even if it's a good one) because we he has a "D" next to his name!

lol, nobody is arguing against community service

[heavenlyboy34]

I didn't read the entire thread, but...Bush made some commercials a few years back encouraging volunteerism. How did y'all feel about that? :confused:

[torchbearer]

I didn't buy starbucks anyway. I spend 90% of my money at locally owned small businesses.
They are the only people who keep their profits local.

[hypnagogue]

Clearly it's a terrible thing that the President would encourage people to engage in community service. Shame on Starbucks for being a part of this debacle.

Satire aside, there is potential for such a program to become a method of indoctrination as similar programs have been used in the past. I've seen no reason to belief that such a thing is occurring, however.

[tron paul]

FREE COFFEE??? Sign me up!

But seriously, we need moles deep inside the Obama Youth Corp.

If the Knights Templar (of Liberty) didn't have good intel from inside the Vatican (of Obamunism), they wouldn't have been able to escape with the Grail (of freedom) in time!

[Mitt Romneys sideburns]

I have never been keen on the idea of politicians starting up community service groups. They are usually fronts for thug movements.

[angelatc]

Yeah, but this Starbucks thing is NOT run by the government. It's essentially Starbucks giving out coffee for people who agree to be a good person and do community service this year. .

Bullshit. I do plenty of volunteering. Why don't they give me coffee? Because I won't work in Obama's name?

I was volunteering long before volunteering was compensated.

[tron paul]

Bullshit. I do plenty of volunteering. Why don't they give me coffee? Because I won't work in Obama's name?

I was volunteering long before volunteering was compensated.

Some volunteering is more Politically Correct than other volunteering. :rolleyes:

[jack555]

Bullshit. I do plenty of volunteering. Why don't they give me coffee? Because I won't work in Obama's name?

I was volunteering long before volunteering was compensated.


Why do you have a problem with a private company encouraging people to do community service for a private organization?



Think about it as if you owned a coffee shop. Lets say there is a community service group in your area that cleans up trash at a local lake. You offer free coffee to anyone who pledges to give 3 hours a year to help clean the lake with the organization.

There is something wrong with this?

[jack555]

Some volunteering is more Politically Correct than other volunteering. :rolleyes:

We better start bashing the Red Cross too because they ALWAYS give ice cream, concert tickets, etc when I give blood. Damn bastards should burn in hell for encouraging people to give blood right? and damn those companies who provide the free ice cream to encourage us to give the blood. what a bunch of bastards. theres a special place in hell for those who encourage community service and donating blood.

[angelatc]

Why do you have a problem with a private company encouraging people to do community service for a private organization?



Think about it as if you owned a coffee shop. Lets say there is a community service group in your area that cleans up trash at a local lake. You offer free coffee to anyone who pledges to give 3 hours a year to help clean the lake with the organization.

There is something wrong with this?

There is when a Chicago politician's name is attached.

[angelatc]

We better start bashing the Red Cross too because they ALWAYS give ice cream, concert tickets, etc when I give blood. Damn bastards should burn in hell for encouraging people to give blood right? and damn those companies who provide the free ice cream to encourage us to give the blood. what a bunch of bastards. theres a special place in hell for those who encourage community service and donating blood.

They give you sweets to keep you from passing out.

I don't even give blood any more, because they basically turned it into a for-profit venture when they took away the ability to bank it.

[hypnagogue]

Would we be upset if Starbucks gave free coffee to Young American's for Liberty (http://blog.yaliberty.org/) volunteers? No. We'd be ecstatic. But they're both youth organizations endorsed by a politician. Double standard, I daresay.

[torchbearer]

Would we be upset if Starbucks gave free coffee to Young American's for Liberty (http://blog.yaliberty.org/) volunteers? No. We'd be ecstatic. But they're both youth organizations endorsed by a politician. Double standard, I daresay.

They have nothing to gain by giving to someone who has no power.
Think about it.
Handout line to corps is getting long.... gotta get in good with the new pres.... starbucks is hurtin' ya know.

[hypnagogue]

Handout line to corps is getting long.... gotta get in good with the new pres.... starbucks is hurtin' ya know. Paranoia.

Which is more likely:

Seattle based, up-scale coffee shop owner's like the idea of a national volunteer organization.

or,

Coffee chain wants to kiss-ass to an incoming president by giving his volunteer groups free coffee so they can cut in line for coffee shop bailouts.

Think about it.

[smithtg]

SCREW EM' I dont think I will buying their coffee anymore either.... I am making a list of actors and singers that I will no longer support by watching their movies for being part of this we are one crap too.

screw em and take the freebie and then tell them they are stupid. Then never buy again

[torchbearer]

Paranoia.

Which is more likely:

Seattle based, up-scale coffee shop owner's like the idea of a national volunteer organization.

or,

Coffee chain wants to kiss-ass to an incoming president by giving his volunteer groups free coffee so they can cut in line for coffee shop bailouts.

Think about it.

Trouble Brewing? ireport: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/02/starbucks.closing.irpt/index.html

Starbucks: Trouble in Latte Land: http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/nov2007/db20071116_906751.htm

Starbuck to close 600 stores: http://rob-neill.newsvine.com/_news/2008/07/01/1629986-starbucks-to-close-600-stores-in-the-us

Does this sound like a store that can afford charity for altruistic purposes?

[hypnagogue]

Trouble Brewing? ireport: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/02/starbucks.closing.irpt/index.html

Starbucks: Trouble in Latte Land: http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/nov2007/db20071116_906751.htm

Starbuck to close 600 stores: http://rob-neill.newsvine.com/_news/2008/07/01/1629986-starbucks-to-close-600-stores-in-the-us

Does this sound like a store that can afford charity for altruistic purposes? None of that is any evidence that they intend to seek federal money. It may come as a surprise to you, but most corporations engage in charity as a means to improve their customer's goodwill. It is a business expense with real payoffs. The company I work for has cut their management's salaries but they've done nothing to change the money they spend on charity. Are they seeking a bailout from the United Way?

You have shown no evidence to support your claim.

[torchbearer]

None of that is any evidence that they intend to seek federal money. It may come as a surprise to you, but most corporations engage in charity as a means to improve their customer's goodwill. It is a business expense with real payoffs. The company I work for has cut their management's salaries but they've done nothing to change the money they spend on charity. Are they seeking a bailout from the United Way?

You have shown no evidence to support your claim.

If they were giving free coffee to united way, you'd have a point.
They are fluffing the prez's pecker. Big difference.
Maybe you are new to the whole politics of socialism.

[hypnagogue]

Torchbearer,

Tell me you honestly think Starbuck's will seek or receive federal aid.

[Fox McCloud]

they can take it and shove it up their cappuccino butts.

[JeNNiF00F00]

I think their coffee sucks anyways. :P

[torchbearer]

Torchbearer,

Tell me you honestly think Starbuck's will seek or receive federal aid.

their hands will be wide open.

http://taniarichter.com/paintings/baby-birds-and-worm.jpg

[Agent CSL]

Community service is great -- I volunteer myself. I just don't want it run by government. If starbucks would give cups of coffee to everyone who volunteers on their own I would like it a lot more :).
Same. I donate, I clean up streets from time to time, I used to do a lot of volunteer work. I just don't like the fact that it's government-related and not far from bribery.

There is a difference in principle.

[hypnagogue]

their hands will be wide open. Is that a yes?

[torchbearer]

Is that a yes?

affirmative ghost rider. You don't buff the prez's weiner for the joy that comes to your heart.
They want goodwill, they give free coffee to the poor.

[hypnagogue]

Good. Now we can wait and see if your insights exhibit any veracity. I, however, remain confident that no such thing will occur. Here's to learning!

[Athan]

We should wave signs by the Starbucks sayign
I'm in THE HITLER YOUTH campaign.

[steve005]

We should wave signs by the Starbucks sayign
I'm in THE HITLER YOUTH campaign.


why should we do this again?

[torchbearer]

why should we do this again?

So we can get free coffee.

[jack555]

They give you sweets to keep you from passing out.

I don't even give blood any more, because they basically turned it into a for-profit venture when they took away the ability to bank it.

I'm talking about voutures for ice cream, conerts, and wendys. Not physical food, they give you that too like you said to help keep you from passing out.

[roho76]

We are so FUCKED!!!! This is the Tzar Bomb of Socialism.

[tremendoustie]

We better start bashing the Red Cross too because they ALWAYS give ice cream, concert tickets, etc when I give blood. Damn bastards should burn in hell for encouraging people to give blood right? and damn those companies who provide the free ice cream to encourage us to give the blood. what a bunch of bastards. theres a special place in hell for those who encourage community service and donating blood.

I'm not super upset about this Jack, and volunteering or encouraging volunteer work is great. What the Red Cross does is superb. I just wish starbucks had been doing this all along is all, and if they're going to start now, I wish they'd give coffee to all the people who work hard to volunteer on their own. :)

What Starbucks is doing is good, but it could be a lot better. As it is, it supports government run charity but not private charity. As someone who wishes we had a lot more of the latter, and someone who thinks the government has their fingers in far too many things as it is, it does concern me a bit.

We already have a government that to a greater or lesser extent tells us what we can eat, what we can drink, what we can smoke, what gas we can put in our cars, what cars we can drive, who can drive, what roads will be available for us to drive on, what jobs we can drive to, what those jobs can pay us, what benefits those jobs pay us, how much of the pay we get to keep, what we use as money, what rates we pay to borrow that money, what we can build with the borrowed money (and where we can build it), who is qualified to work on it, what bathroom fixtures we use, what drugs we keep in the cabinets, who supplies the water at what rate, who supplies the electrical at what rate, how much rent we charge/pay, etc, etc, etc ...

The last thing we need is government telling us how we can/should volunteer our time -- I don't want them to run volunteerism in the US, and I don't want people to think that's government's job -- that's all.

[Doktor_Jeep]

I have volunteered many hours of my time training people to shoot - over 700 of them.

Do I get a reward for that?

[libertarian4321]

Man, I really love coffee. They almost have me! (j/k)


Starbucks offers free coffee to those who join Obama volunteer corps

Phoenix Business Journal
January 16, 2009


Starbucks Coffee wants U.S. consumers to jump on president-elect Barack Obama’s volunteer bandwagon and pledge to join one of his community service corps.

Obama and incoming first lady Michelle Obama want Americans to do community service the week of his inauguration Jan. 20. and commit this year to one of his so-called national service corps that will do volunteer work in schools and related to the environment.

Starbucks said it will offer free “tall” coffee beginning Wednesday through Sunday for customers who fill out community service pledge cards at the coffee chain’s locations.

Starbucks wants customers to commit to five hours this year for community service and volunteer programs.

“Five hours is just 25 minutes a month for a year, two afternoons at a food bank creating care packages, a day reading to children at a hospital or in a park planting trees,” said Vivek Varma, senior vice president of global affairs for Starbucks in a statement.


SOURCE:
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/01/12/daily75.html

I'm not sure why this newspaper chose to link the Starbucks program to "Obama."

This Starbucks program is all over the web, including on facebook, with NO MENTION OF OBAMA.

All they are asking is that you pledge to do 5-hours of volunteer work. While I"m sure Obama would agree that volunteering is a good idea, this isn't associated with any "federal program" or Obama.

And yeah, I'd fill out the card for a free cup of coffee and I'd do the volunteer hours.

Volunteering to help people isn't a bad thing, folks, even if Obama agrees with it...

[werdd]

Volunteering is complete bullshit unless you are offering your expertise in an area.

Any asshat could pick up boxes and sweep a warehouse for 5 hours, and they could be payed minimum wage for it.

Just like at any CHS hospital where you have a literal shit ton of senior citizen volunteers running around doing jobs that they could offer for minimum wage to other people.

[tremendoustie]

Volunteering is complete bullshit unless you are offering your expertise in an area.

Any asshat could pick up boxes and sweep a warehouse for 5 hours, and they could be payed minimum wage for it.

Just like at any CHS hospital where you have a literal shit ton of senior citizen volunteers running around doing jobs that they could offer for minimum wage to other people.

What about helping out at a soup kitchen, or gathering clothing for the poor? What about tutoring elementary school kids, or helping at a homeless shelter?

Who should pay the "minimum wage" for these things? The government? You could pay for it with private donations, which is good -- but a person volunteering their time can have a much more positive impact on a person in need than a hired gun can, at least in my experience.

[tommyzDad]

SCREW EM' I dont think I will buying their coffee anymore either.... I am making a list of actors and singers that I will no longer support by watching their movies for being part of this we are one crap too.

Please share your list. :cool:

[zach]

Please share your list. :cool:

I thought all of Hollywood planned to support him. :rolleyes::eek:

[coyote_sprit]

I thought all of Hollywood planned to support him. :rolleyes::eek:
They really want that coffee.

[Crash Martinez]

Can I just sign up as Richard Cheney and get some free coffee?

[angelatc]

Paranoia.

Which is more likely:

Seattle based, up-scale coffee shop owner's like the idea of a national volunteer organization.

or,

Coffee chain wants to kiss-ass to an incoming president by giving his volunteer groups free coffee so they can cut in line for coffee shop bailouts.

Think about it.

Wake the fuck up! THe latter is far more likely.

[angelatc]

Volunteering is complete bullshit unless you are offering your expertise in an area.

Any asshat could pick up boxes and sweep a warehouse for 5 hours, and they could be payed minimum wage for it.

Just like at any CHS hospital where you have a literal shit ton of senior citizen volunteers running around doing jobs that they could offer for minimum wage to other people.

Only somebody who has never worked for a non-profit could say that. Paying somebody minimum wage isn't always an option. Cash-rich endeavors like the United Way, the Red Cross and (I'm sure) Obama's scam, are the exception, not the rule.

That's a very liberal argument, btw - people shouldn't volunteer because they're taking away jobs that could pay?

[angelatc]

I have never been keen on the idea of politicians starting up community service groups. They are usually fronts for thug movements.

It will end up being a way to pay a few cronies at the top hundreds of thousands of dollars, all from government grants. People defending this are not from Chicago. Wake up! This is what Michelle Obama did for a living! She took government money, and she has openly stated that she thinks everybody should get in on the racket.

[Chester Copperpot]

Yeah, man! Community Service is stupid! Let's completely bash every idea Obama has (even if it's a good one) because we he has a "D" next to his name!

I dont think you understand this place well.. Nobody cares if they have a "D" or an "R" next to their name.. but we do care about a "BIG GOVT" next to their name.

The idea of public service is a noble one, but knowing how govt will be govt, this will be the foot in the door for bigger and bigger govt programs

[Roxi]

im an advocate of community service... however this mandatory community service plan between obama and Rahm is REALLY REALLY EFFING SCARY... if you haven't read any of their books on this you have NO right to an opinion on that statement because I have and its so scary that i think i would have rather had HILLARY as president..

so while starbucks is within its right here, and doesn't necessarily deserve to be on the boycott list yet.... BUT i do think that theres something a little off about a few things, one the pledge cards... who gets that info, and what do they do with it, if you pledge and you can't fullfill that pledge is someone going to be breathing down your neck about it? but mostly i just think its scary that people are ADVOCATING obamas service plan, because i promise if you read his and rahms books about it YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY not be freaked the hell out

[Roxi]

Volunteering is complete bullshit unless you are offering your expertise in an area.

Any asshat could pick up boxes and sweep a warehouse for 5 hours, and they could be payed minimum wage for it.

Just like at any CHS hospital where you have a literal shit ton of senior citizen volunteers running around doing jobs that they could offer for minimum wage to other people.


im sorry i disagree... please please go down to the local homeless shelter or kids shelter and volunteer for ONE hour, and i am sure you will come back with a different opinion.

[Chosen]

Nobody (not on this forum, but in seems to be discussing the curriculum Obama will administer.

[cheapseats]

Many of the jobs that they propose WORKING AND TAXED Americans do SHOULD be minimum wage jobs. As perhaps, logically, for homeless people and welfare recipients. I have argued that cities such as Los Angeles should dispense with gas-guzzling behemoth street cleaners, which serve chiefly to throw street parking into chaos and, NOT coincidentally, to generate big revenue for municipal coffers. Last I was in Acapulco, Little People were still sweeping the streets by hand with brooms fashioned out of twigs. As with continuous painting of the Golden Gate Bridge, Street Sweepers are ALWAYS sweeping, albeit for pesos a day.

On the other hand, the streets are always clean, as opposed to being clean once a week at maximum inconvenience to People and maximum revenue to State. There were also machine-gun toting security dudes, with those intimidating straps of ammunition X'd across their t-shirts, stationed atop columns defining the outer edges of fenced tennis courts, it bears mention, as well as at the beach access and all perimeter points.

OTHER of the jobs, Americans are ALREADY paying taxes for OTHER people to execute. Fire half of the Federal and State Workforces, then let's talk stepped-up Service To Country.

Bona fide charitable work IS a good thing, in my opinion. Charity, philanthropy, good deeds, CHRISTIANITY is either in a person's heart/mind/soul, or it isn't. Obama is attempting to NATIONALIZE Do Goodery, and I will argue that it's because Community Activism is his forte and because BROKE AND BROKEN America could really do with some FREE LABOR.

Me, too. I need some help right here in Los Angeles. Where is it? You don't have to deliver it, I know my way around, I'll come pick it up.

DOUBLE the Volunteerism, by all means. Reading books to inner city kindergartners would be a Great Service. Spread the word, spread the word . . . there is a SHOCKING amount of illiteracy in this country. Among people who know what they're doing, half are up to no good and the other half are talking over People's heads.

TRIPLE the Volunteerism. Just like in WWII, let us show ALL these Bastards -- domestic AND foreign -- what Americans are made of.

PULL THE PLUG on Starbucks, Pepsi and any other Corporate Icon that has merged its marketing with Obamamania. Americans don't even have to inconvenience themselves. Buy coffee elsewhere. Drink a different cola, bearing in mind that PepsiCo has a LIST of products.

AND BOYCOTT McDONALDS. There are a gazillion fast-food options. McDonalds' sales are UP, as per usual, and the only thing they ever do is lower the prices on debatably healthy food in order to keep those billions comin' through the door -- read that, keep the Cash Cow going.

Did McDonalds Corporation step up to the plate to take some toxic assets off America's books -- just eat the losses for the Ol' Gipper? No, it did not. Did I see a photo of American servicemen in front of a Middle Eastern McDonalds with its unmistakable red and yellow sign done up in Middle-Easterny script? Yes, I did.

[hypnagogue]

Wake the fuck up! THe latter is far more likely. Like I said, I'm eager to see if Starbucks seeks or receives federal aid.

[cheapseats]

Like I said, I'm eager to see if Starbucks seeks or receives federal aid.

It's not about them seeking/receiving federal aid in the TARP-slash-PRINTING sense of the word.

It's about all the associative Feel Good patronage that will accrue to Starbucks for being, in the Public's Perception, aligned with the Beloved By Some Dreaded By Others Yes We Can After You Show Me How American Idol.

With each free coffee (which costs Starbucks pennies), X percent of Do Gooders will buy this/that/the other thing. Do Gooders usually have disposable income. Except for the Do Gooders who do good with Other People's Money.

I maintain that it is GROSSLY (CRASS-CONSUMERISM-THAT-MAKES-THE-WORLD-REVILE-US-CALIBER) INAPPROPRIATE TO LINK THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY WITH COMMERCIAL ICONS.

If Mr. In The Pocket Of Big Money want to set a good example -- FOR A CHANGE -- rather than give the Bean Behemoth a shot in the arm, look to Green Beans Coffee (Honor First, Coffee Second). WHICH IS SERVED ON MILITARY BASES, IF TINKER AIR FORCE BASE IS ANY INDICATION. GROW a socially conscious company, rather than BUTTRESS a global marauder.

[libertarian4321]

Volunteering is complete bullshit unless you are offering your expertise in an area.

Any asshat could pick up boxes and sweep a warehouse for 5 hours, and they could be payed minimum wage for it.

Just like at any CHS hospital where you have a literal shit ton of senior citizen volunteers running around doing jobs that they could offer for minimum wage to other people.

The idea is to get volunteers to do it for free so that they don't have to waste meager financial resources paying someone to do it.

Duh?

[hypnagogue]

It's about all the associative Feel Good patronage that will accrue to Starbucks for being, in the Public's Perception, aligned with the Beloved By Some Dreaded By Others Yes We Can After You Show Me How American Idol.

With each free coffee (which costs Starbucks pennies), X percent of Do Gooders will buy this/that/the other thing. Do Gooders usually have disposable income. Except for the Do Gooders who do good with Other People's Money. Cheapseats said it better than I did, though I don't think he read my previous posts and misunderstood my response he quoted. I don't think this is about sucking up for money, as had been suggested by at least two other members. It's about cashing in on this popular movement and the goodwill associated.