By Matthew Hayward Why should Starbucks listen to a public relations* board ? Could it have a financial impact, possibly, but not as much as you might think? Many pro-life Christian Conservatives still go to Starbucks, knowing they support abortion and other leftist social-political policies. Like 'most' conservative school teachers, people's morals and integrity take a back seat to the comfort and convenience of their daily living. Maslow's Hierarchy of needs does an excellent job of explaining why people sell out. Most people do not focus on the upper tiers of Maslow's pyramid, Self-actualization, esteem, the social needs; instead, most people are content and manipulated into staying focused on basic needs, physiological, safety, and structure. To the degree people are engaged in community building/love and belonging, a higher tier in the pyramid, many social and political taboo issues only make life more difficult. If a person wants to get along with their co-wor...

by Matthew Edward Hayward on Sunday, November 22, 2009 Preserving one's principles amidst political affairs presents a challenging undertaking. It necessitates a profound comprehension of the political mechanism and a reflective understanding of one's own values. Succumbing to political strategies that clash with personal beliefs marks a compromise of integrity. The prevailing sentiment in mainstream discourse suggests a necessity to capitulate for the sake of success. Politics, it is said, is the art of compromise. Yet, this does not imply the concession of values and honor. Drawing on Jefferson's ideal of "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations – entangling alliances with none,” the same wisdom might be applied to political pundits and party affiliations. Aligning one's principles with an erratic power structure geared towards manipulation is a trap to avoid. The 'big tent' philosophy might seem attractive if the intent is a pursuit o...