I am not anti-Starbucks, by any stretch of the imagination. If one truly genuinely loves the taste of Starbucks coffee over any other coffee, I don't judge that they go there. I just wish that people would be more mindful of not choosing it because of brand awareness or convenience. (Which is what I have been doing on the way to work in the mornings!)
A free-market really does incite innovativeness; A NON-laissez faire capitalist society that socialises the fundamental services needed for individual independence, is the fairest implementation of an true American free market. (yes, socialising certain things can be VERY American. The Declaration of Independence did say "life [healthcare], liberty [education], and the pursuit of happiness" ). I didn't mean to digress and ramble, I just want to make sure you are clear that I am not a communist. In fact, I enjoyed The Fountainhead.
Anyway, I just mean to say that while I believe in implementing a free-market that advocates each person's individuality, I only wish there was some way to implement individuality in consumerism. But there isn't, otherwise it wouldn't be "individual." Paradox, much?
