Would you like a shot of petition in that latte?

Date: Sunday, October 13, 2013

Title: Starbucks petition takes on government shutdown
News source: USA TODAY
Article date: Published: October 10, 2013
Author of article: Bruce Horovitz

 

Summary: So Starbucks CEO is going to have his customers fill out a petition for the people of the government. It is a way to chastise the government and also make his customers feel empowered. Genius.

 

Issue: The real issue is that the government is shut down. Starbucks’s CEO is trying to do something about it.

 

Argument: the gov’t will listen vs. this is a bunch of hooey/publicity stunt.

 

Supporting evidence:

“The petition asks officials to:

• Reopen the government.
• Pay our national debts on time.
• Pass a long-term budget deal by the end of 2013.”

·         Schultz declined to estimate how many signatures he hopes to gather. "I don't have a goal," he says. "But I assure you, we'll have a lot of signatures."

·         Roughly 20 million customers are expected to visit Starbucks' 11,000-plus U.S. stores in the next three days.

·         Schultz says his goal is not to make Starbucks a national hub to take on cultural issues.

 

Claims:

• "But I assure you, we'll have a lot of signatures." – Shultz

He is supported by the fact that tons of people visit Starbucks. Typically those who walk into Starbucks are of all ages but many of them have strong personalities and opinions and of course they will want to voice them.

• Frustrated with the inability of the federal government to resolve its ongoing budget stalemate, the nation's largest coffee chain will become a de facto headquarters in the next several days for a megapetition that Starbucks vows it will share with Washington officials.

 --- yes, yes, ok. They will “share it”. But how exactly? Is Shultz buddies with them or something? Like what are they just going to fax in the signatures? I’m just really confused on how they are going to get the survey to anyone that actually cares about it.

 

Analysis: This is a good thing, whether or not the petition even gets to the government or does anything if it does it will at least make people feel heard. I think this will take a little anger out of the American public.

 

Relate to economic concepts: The government shut down has been bad. That’s really all there is to say. It’s been bad for the government and it’s been bad for the people of America and if this petition did anything to stop the shut down it could really help America’s economy. And although I highly doubt the petition will do anything it is a very good idea and outlet for people’s frustrations.

well I'm a little freaked out now

Date: 10/06/13

Title: The Great Reset: Five years after the economic collapse

News source: NewsOk

Article date: Published: October 6, 2013

Author of article: BY BERNARD CONDON

Summary: People are still being very cautious after the economic collapse five years ago, they are retreating from stocks, shunning debt, and hoarding cash. Even though economic good times have returned people are being extremely frugal and it is hurting the economy. The lack of spending is making the economy weaker which could lead to many more problems. It just seems like people have been burned before so they are trying to stay safe.

Issue: Shunning debt and spending less can be good for one family's finances. When hundreds of millions do it together, it can starve the global economy.

Argument: spend more money to support the economy vs. don’t invest in the economy it failed you already

Supporting evidence:

·         “It doesn't take very much to destroy confidence, but it takes an awful lot to build it back,” says Ian Bright

·         “The AP analyzed data showing what consumers did with their money in the five years before the Great Recession began in December 2007 and in the five years that followed, through the end of 2012. The focus was on the world's 10 biggest economies, which have half the world's population and 65 percent of global gross domestic product.”

·         “Debt per adult in the 10 countries fell 1 percent in the 4½ years after 2007.”

Claims:

“We had credit cards and we didn't worry about a thing,” says Madeleine, 55. –but now even though most of the debt is gone, overspending is happening less and less frequently. “My brokers said they were really safe, but they weren't,” says Stonecipher, 59, a substitute schoolteacher. – So this person lost something and doesn’t want to take the chance of losing anything (mostly money I assume) again.

Analysis: I predict that if people don’t spend more money the economy could dip down to scary levels again – however steps should have been taken –honestly the people who rely on the economy and trading are sort of burying themselves here, it was their fault that it happened. Now they have to lay in the bed they made.

Relate to economic concepts: if the economy crashes again because of lack of spending it will make the problem worse and we will continue a downward circling spiral.
Scary stuff that idea.