The Liberty Papers

Over at Ezra Klein, the yuppies are in a tizzy:

But Matt misses the neighborhood effects. It’s a pretty sure bet that if you live near a Starbucks, you also live near a $8 sandwich shop. And probably another $8 sandwich shop. You’re not far, I’d imagine, from frozen yogurt, or maybe an artisanal chocolate store. There’ll be a sushi place that makes rolls with names like “volcano roll” and “ninja roll.” There might be a Whole Foods around the corner. If not, then a Trader Joes. Certainly someone will sell you Balsamic vinegar.

This isn’t desert island development. Yuppies want to live near Starbucks because Starbucks denotes areas friendly to yuppies. There are, of course, exceptions. The McDonald’s on 14th and U is actually closer to yuppie-Mecca Busboys and Poets than the Starbucks on 13th and U. But the Starbucks on 14th and Irving is in spitting distance from a New Haven-style pizzeria and a Five Guy’s.

Oh, the self-congratulation is almost unbearable… Read the comments. The derision about McDonald’s is so thick you could cut it with a shovel.

But it belies a more important point. McDonald’s makes better coffee. I’m not just spouting off my own opinions here (although I certainly agree), Consumer Reports said so.