Howard Schultz, once self-described as a life-long Democrat and the CEO who built the wildly successful Starbucks corporation has been publicly mulling a run for the office of President. He has indicated he will be challenging President Trump as an independent candidate. Trump responded in a tweet, daring him to run while the Democratic Party immediately threatens a boycott of Starbucks.
Why as an independent? Howard in an interview with CNBC said that the Democratic Party has gone way too far left and he could never run under that banner. He says of the Democratic Party “…I no longer feel affiliated because I don’t know their views represent the majority of Americans. I don’t think we want a 70 percent income tax in America“. This was a reference to recent remarks about a 70% income tax bracket on incomes over $10 million dollars put forth by the newly-elected junior congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Similarly, Elizabeth Warren who recently announced her candidacy for president also proposes a “wealth tax” on rich Americans. It seems incredulous that these politicians would propose such tax schemes given that such tax structures have been tried in the past with disastrous results of actually slowing and stagnating the overall economy while creating an incentive for the wealthy to flee the US for more tax-friendly countries.
We can be sure of one thing however, if Howard Schultz actually does what he says he is considering, the political bag of dirty tricks will be thrown at him by the Democrats and possibly the Republicans. These tricks are well-known but still used because of the havoc and chaos they create:
- Fake dossiers paid for by political money claiming that Howard Schultz was spying for the Chinese or Russian intelligence services while on business trips
- Ex-girlfriends from high school who claims Howard may or may not have groped them inappropriately when they passed out from too much drinking
- Acquaintances from college who say Howard attended drinking parties where drugs were used
- A group of prostitutes from Seattle who says Howard frequented them and paid for them to entertain other corporate executives
- Some social justice activists who say they overheard a friend say they heard Howard used racial slurs at some point in his life
Starbucks was and still is a “progressive” company with socialistic tendencies. They are very conscientious of the pulse of popular issues on social justice. The company treats their employees as a family and provides them with high pay and good benefits. It has been known as a company that shamelessly pushes ecological issues and believes they are on the right side of history (or maybe it’s left).
Even with the street cred he has built up with the left during his time as CEO of Starbucks, he will have a big target painted on his back and it will be open season on him should he actually run as an independent. For the American voters, they will need to consider if they need another billionaire businessman as President. If people are looking for a softer, gentler billionaire as POTUS then Howard Schultz just might fit the bill.
