My sister-in-law’s Starbucks order is something like “Venti non-fat decaf low-foam not-too-hot lactose free artificially sweetened latte.”  I’ll concede that we all have different reasons for doing what we do, but I’m sure Starbucks could simplify things by adding a drink to the menu dubbed the “Why Bother?”  I can visualize a whole new line of products – starting with decaf coffee, non-fat ice cream and non-alcoholic beer – the “Why Bother” brand.  I’m sure it would sell, but I don’t see the point. 

But this is about more than just product marketing. Most of us have deeper concerns that extend beyond that cup of coffee in our hand.  If you scrape the web for the issues that most concern people, topics like poverty, climate change, food insecurity, refugee rights, recent and future pandemics, healthcare, human rights, disinformation, foreign conflicts and voting integrity will come flooding in.  Lately foreign conflicts are featured in the news – before long, voting integrity will take over the top position.   

As individual as our coffee preference is our ranking of key topics like these.  Ask 10 people for their top three issues, and it’s likely you will get 10 different answers.  Each of us has unique interests, talents, and “hot buttons”.  When it comes to actually getting things done as a society, this has served us well in some ways.