Starbucks and the Progressive AgendaRandy Shawbyline‚ Oct. 20‚ 2009The words “Starbucks” and “progressive” rarely appear together. For most of the political left, the Starbucks Coffee Company is a villain that drives independent cafes out of business, mistreats workers, and profits from hijacking progressive values and transforming them into corporate profits. Yet Starbucks has long offered generous health benefits to domestic partners, pays wages equal if not often greater than independent cafes, has dramatically boosted incomes for organic coffee farmers abroad, and provides ample career opportunities for people of color. For many neighborhoods, Starbucks is also the only option for quality coffee. Longtime progressive activist Kim Fellner decided to assess Starbuck’s mixed record in her extremely thought-provoking book, Wrestling with Starbucks. Much of what Fellner uncovers will surprise readers, with her most provocative questions going beyond Starbucks to address some of the Left’s inconsistent attitudes toward large corporations. |