How Starbucks Can Redeem Howard Schultz

Geez, did the world come down hard on Howard Schultz for declaring a possible intention to run for President.

And yet, weren’t the programs and the future he was intending to run on something that most Americans agree with?

So before he quickly falls back into an embarrassed “what was I thinking?” retreat, there is something that can made of what he is standing for and standing up for.

What if Starbucks were to survey all its customers and employees with the simple question:

“By the year 2028 what specifically and in what priority would American leadership (President and Congress) need to promise, commit to and deliver that would cause you to be optimistic about and have trust and confidence in your, your children’s and grandchildren’s future and proud to be an America (without needing to put any other country down)?”

Then what if Starbucks collected that information and gave Howard Schultz a mandate to hold American leadership’s feet to the fire until they delivered on it.

He wouldn’t be stealing votes from one party or another. He would be using Starbucks as a bully pulpit to stand for that Americans truly want.

Furthermore, if Warren Buffett was humble enough to give much of his fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, because they could do a better job than he, all the other coffee chains and for that matter, McDonalds, Domino’s, Subway, etc. could offer to survey all their customers and employees to add their answers to Howard Schultz’ mission to put Americans first.

And why stop there? Amazon, Facebook and other companies could follow suit.

Together all those companies could create a rising tide that lifts all hopes.