I used to be proud to say that I was one of Starbucks’ earliest clients, back when they opened their first store in Seattle. Even though I didn’t know what they were talking about until I acquired a taste for espresso in Spain, and brought home a stovetop espresso pot for my parents.

Starbucks was different in those days, at least I think so (but the coffee is just as bad). I was more idealistic and naïve, then, a lot less cynical. Or maybe I just wasn’t paying attention.

But now I’m officially done with Starbucks. It’s not the coffee or the people. It’s the $15 million.

This is Howard Schultz’s fault. I have no problem with people creating a good company and making a decent profit if they take care of their employees and their customers and their community. That’s how you build a healthy, balanced world. As long as we’re using money to drive it (another story).

I don’t think Starbucks does that any more.

Howard Schultz took home what, a $15 million bonus, the same year they closed stores and laid off employees? Really?

The second shocker: why do people put up with it? I’ve heard: ‘not interested, ‘it’s okay because they needed to cut stores, they needed to cut employees, and some of our neighbors and friends still have jobs,’ or ‘the economy is bad.’ Come on!

If any of that is true, why didn’t Schultz turn back his bonus to keep people in their jobs? That would be giving back to the community.

Yes, I admit that I’ve been to Starbucks once since I declared I’d never go back again. The dogs and I were on a road trip and we had to pee.

I say no to Starbucks, and I’m voting with my latte dollars. What do you think?

(c) 2011 Robyn M Fritz