Starbucks allows its customers to purchase somewhat customized Starbucks cards. As David Boaz reports, it's okay to get a card emblazoned with the slogan "People not Profits" or "Si Se Puede," but not "Laissez Faire." The former is just fine, but Starbucks finds the latter to be "inappropriate." Apparently the folks at Starbucks (and Arroweye, the company that processes the cards) find it unacceptable that some of their customers want to celebrate the economic system that has allowed for their success. Makes me wish I'd gone to Caribou Coffee this morning instead.

Since the publication of David Boaz's op-ed, several readers have tried ordering their own personalized Starbucks cards emblazoned with "laissez faire." Whatever Starbucks' policy was before, they now allow such cards, as at least one VC reader received his "Laissez Faire" Starbucks card in the mail today. I'll post the picture once I figure out how to do it.

UPDATE: If I'm doing this correctly, here's the picture of a "Laissez Faire" Starbucks card.

David Boaz also has more here. As he notes: "In this case the market worked, 'Laissez Faire' cards are fully acceptable, and my Starbucks-addicted colleagues can breathe easy again."