ArtLindsey.com

It would seem that Starbucks is a bit bored with the status quo, as they are planning to raise the cost of their beverage products by five cents.

“The price increase will see little if any resistance by the consumer,” said JMP Securities analyst Kristine Koerber, who said traffic at the chain held steady two years ago after a more dramatic price increase. “It’s gotten to be part of our daily routine.”

Strange how we selectively get angry, isn’t it? Where are the congressional investigations? This is undoubtedly price fixing! The Bush Administration is obviously in cahoots with Starbucks, and they are totally reaping whirlwind profits form the Birkenstock wearing, latte chugging., WiFi crowd.

…Right?

Nah.

How come nobody is complaining about “capitalism out of control”? How come nobody is demanding some kind of obscene “profit tax” on Starbucks? I’ll tell you why.

We’re a bunch of self-centered mercenaries with absolutely no sense of priority. Think about it for a moment. It’s like this:

We go absolutely nuts if we have to pay $3 for a gallon of gas. Now, I get that, okay? That’s expensive, and it adds up. I’m with you. However, here’s the disconnect in the logic:

Many of us have absolutely no problem paying an average of $3.20 for a *pint* of Starbucks coffee. In fact, there are a lot of people who do this five days a week. Some people even buy more than one cup a day. I don’t even have to look it up to prove the point. Why? Have you ever seen a Starbucks *across the street* from *another* Starbucks? I have. Live and in person. It’s quite a surreal sight. It’s painfully obvious that these folks aren’t hurting for cash.

Yet, many people complain that they themselves are hurting for cash. Well gee, I wonder why? Is it because some of you are spending $64 a month on pints of coffee? Let me ask you, how much mileage does one get out of a pint of coffee? As I said before, it all comes down to priority.

Consider:

You need a *job*. Why do you need a job? You need money. Why do you need money? You need money so you can eat, buy stuff, and have a place to live. Now, unless you work at home, what’s the most important thing you need to maintain your job which brings you the cash you so desperately need?

Transportation.

That’s right. You need to pay money to put gas in your car so you can go to your job and make more money. You go to the pump, and you bitch-bitch-bitch, and then where do you bolt off to before you slump into your cubicle?

That’s right, Ani DiFranco. You speed off to Starbucks for your steaming cup of 1800-degree brown magma, and you think nothing of the $25.60 per gallon price.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a total capitalist, and I have absolutely no problem with Starbucks raising their prices. I don’t frequent there, so It’s no skin off my back. In fact, if they can raise their prices, and you keep paying for their product, I think that’s great. Keep jacking them up, boys. I’m dying to see what the “breaking point” is on this one.

The truth is, this is what America is about, and good on Starbucks for making a product that people obviously want. I just wish that some of us could be more honest with ourselves when it comes to what we consider to be and not to be “unfair pricing”.

It all comes down to personal priorities. Sadly, they are often backward.

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