Marx and Mill

A cell phone rings. A man picks up his phone and looks at a text message, it reads :
Hey coffee today? - Marx

The man, Mill, texts back: Sure Starbucks at three. See you there.

Marx responds with: I hate Starbucks. Cup a Joe instead?

Marx never receives an answer so he is forced to have his cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Mill- Thanks for meeting me here. It’s the best cup of coffee in town.

Marx- Did you not get my text? I can’t stand it here.

Mill- Why not?
Marx- Look around. We are the only people actually sitting enjoying our drinks. Everyone else is in and out, hardly noticing anyone else around them.

Mill- Well they have places to be, and obligations to fulfill.

Marx- The only obligations they have in this day and age are to be complete consumers, focusing on their own lives and own happiness.

Mill- Okay Negative Nancy. What’s wrong with being happy anyway? Look at it this way. There was a man, who had an idea for a coffee shop. He wanted to supply his bean for the locals, in Seattle, and he named it Starbucks. Little did he know, everyone would love his coffee and soon it would be in supply everywhere. Out of this man’s happiness something wonderful to benefit society was created. This one man played his part in society but putting in his personal happiness. See everyone wins!

Marx- Fine. It was one man’s happiness, at some point. But now what is it? Does anyone in here feel original by ordering a frappuccino? Even by putting your own flavor shot into it, it is far from original. There is no sense of self or individualism in coffee anymore. It is just simply five things you can mix and match, over and over again, to make what might seem like a new creation. In fact it is an illusion that millions of people love to buy into.

Mill- Millions of people? Well, then that’s wonderful isn’t it? Starbucks is the best coffee for the greatest amount of people.

Marx- But that’s not the point. It’s just another example of consumerism and conformity.

Mill- I understand what you are saying, but if everyone is happy this way I don’t see why it has to change.

Marx- Agree to disagree? And meet somewhere else next time?

Mill- Sure.

(Written by Siobhan)