The Feedback

Last week, we noted that Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has asked Americans to stop making any campaign donations until Washington strikes a “bipartisan, balanced, long-term debt deal.” Schultz’s campaign, which we characterized as quite Drucker-like, struck a responsive chord. Here are excerpts from some of our reader comments.

Some readers, such as Richard B. Mann, considered Schultz’s idea, if anything, restrained:
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Yes! I signed it and urge others to also sign it. All political parties (especially the Democrats & Republicans) need to be on notice that they do what is right for the citizens rather than the lobbyists. The mere fact that the congress passed the buck to a “Special Committee” to solve the budget cuts shows their failure to act in the best interests of our country. They should all be fired! [IMNSHO]

Others, like reader Tal J Zlotnitsky, signed on with no reservations:

I stand with Howard Schultz and other American CEOs like me who realize that the inability of our leaders (and as someone who leans democratic, I don’t spare my side) to lead not with soundbites and partisanship but with civility and statesmanship are causing this nation great, tragic, and potentially irreversible harm. We must reverse course, somehow.

Among those sounding a skeptical note, however, was reader Mike Grayson:

It is a great mistake to believe that members of Congress are competent to make the decisions they are being asked to make. Many of them are educated in law or political science, many have no background in business, economics, or healthcare management . . .

They must resist the desire to grab for power and must determine what they are competent to do and stay away from those things that they cannot do well. It really won’t matter who is elected if the root problem is not addressed. Withholding campaign contributions will do little to solve this problem. 

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