Sounds like Starbucks founder Howard Schultz is seriously contemplating running for president as an independent. Although he has never held public office, he obviously doesn't consider that a detriment. With a personal fortune estimated at north of $3 billion, he has the key requirement to make a run:cash!
His background and achievements are also assets. He grew up in Brooklyn in a poor family, well acquainted with the precarious situation many average Americans find themselves in today. While no big (in fact enormous) company can escape controversy, Starbucks is a popular employer which has made a notable effort to help employees interested in furthering their educations, and has programs to help veterans and legal refugees seeking employment.
It's hard to say exactly where he is politically. He supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election but is very concerned about the national debt, while giving the current administration some credit for improving the economy. There is "draft Howard Schultz" PAC (ReadyForSchultz) already up and running and it seems certain that the guy who built Starbucks from scratch could certainly put together a national political campaign a-la Ross Perot if he chooses.
This appears to be most threatening to the Democrats as noted by commentators at The Atlantic and CNN. So far, crickets from the Republicans.
When a man like Howard Schultz is prepared to take a run at the presidency, he obviously senses both a need and an opportunity. With the Democrats tacking hard left and the Republicans in lockstep with the President but unsure of where they're going, the average moderate American has no political home. Howard Schultz senses that need and the sheer size of this constituency. The problem is, without a party, he has no hope of delivering the change he feels Americans want.
Politics is a team sport and no one - regardless of their exceptional achievements and capabilities - is capable of fixing our nations problems on their own. True progress will only be made when Americans join together seeking common ground at the state and local level to thrash out issues and find home-grown candidates - not self-selected superstars. The two major parties are in the thrall of oligarchs and special interest groups. Only a home grown, grass roots movement has a chance of breaking the deadlock and building a really new third party in America.
The Alliance Party - built from the ground up.
-- Mike Power
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