Commentary
Last week Starbucks announced the closing of sixteen stores which it determined to be “unsafe to continue to operate.” Twelve of the sixteen stores are in Seattle and Los Angeles, two of the most progressive cities in America. The other closures were also in progressive cities: Portland, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. There were no closures in Texas or Florida.
Perhaps no company is more progressive or woke than Starbucks. They are publicly committed to making “Starbucks the most inclusive company in the world.” It was founded in Seattle and is led by the elitist billionaire Howard Schultz. He has generously given to progressive causes and candidates and even flirted with his own run for President. They do absurd things like closing 8,000 stores for four hours to provide “unconscious bias training” to their young “partners” (aka employees). They allow non-customers to use their restrooms to signal their support for the poor and homeless. They commit “to upholding a culture where inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility are valued and respected.”…