There are luxuries, hobbies, and frivilous habits that die hard. A farmer I drive truck for seasonally has 3 dump semis hauling the special red dirt for baseball and softball diamonds. They sometimes haul it 400 miles one way, just so some high school or college can have the same dirt as the pros. Absurd, but there are spoiled coaches, parents, kids, and fans that will raise the money one way or another.
I’ve spelled one of his drivers before, and hauled the dirt over 200 miles: to small public schools that could use that money elsewhere. The economy will have to collapse before these sports addicts will give up their special dirt.
That is a great story. It may be that people benefit from an occasional kick in the pants which points out to them that they are ordering special dirt, too.
Starbucks prospered in an era where America was largely selling out its own future to China. The only benefit that I can see in depression is that it offers the opportunity for recovery.