Starbucks CEO admonishes lawmakers for shutdown

SEATTLE -- In an open letter Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz put out a call to employees and customers to demand civility from lawmakers during the government shutdown.

Schultz posted the letter on the coffee company's website Monday. In it he expressed disappointment in the shutdown in Washington, D.C., and said he had recently spoken with other business leaders who echoed the same sentiment.

Schultz said he and those leaders want to urge lawmakers to, "act on behalf of the citizenry."

Schultz also said Starbucks is planning ways to inspire customers and their communities to join forces in support of each other.

"In uncertain moments such as these, it is time for us as citizens and business leaders to remind our employees and customers that we stand with them," he said. "Perhaps through these actions, we can remind the Congress and the President of their duty to put citizenship over partisanship for the sake of the country and the world at large."

Schultz said America's elected leaders are equally responsible for coming up with a solution to the country's financial troubles. He asked that the community take a stand against pointing blame and instead push for real solutions and an end to the crisis.

"The humanity and conscience of our country depends on it," Schultz wrote.

Schultz's entire letter can be found here.