Would you spend extra money on a smoothie just because the shop's owner disagrees with your political views?
In Vernal, Utah, George Burnett owns and runs "I Love Drilling Juice & Smoothie Bar." For the last five years, the local smoothie shop has been a favorite for many residents, but not everyone is greeted with such a big smile. Burnett is an outspoken conservative and critic of President Obama and his policies and has decided to add a $1 surcharge to anyone who happens to support the president. Conservatives pay $4.95 for a smoothie, while liberals pay $5.95.
"I'm very open about it, very public about it, that I'm going to charge them a little bit more, and I have liberals come in and pay the extra dollar surcharge."
According to KSL.com, Burnett wants people who identify as "liberal" to understand the different between a large and small government.
"Really what I'm focused on is the fiscal differences between big government/small government and liberal ways, as far as entitlements and spending...We have a fiscal problem in this country. We've got to deal with it or we don't have a country, so to kind of help make that point, just a little bit, I charge (liberals) just a little bit more."
Burnett told a story about a couple who came in and were charged two separate prices because of the ideological difference.
"We had a husband and wife come in, he was conservative and she was liberal, and he paid conservative for himself and liberal for her."
Burnett has been getting messages from angry customers who disagree with the way he's been running his business. Burnett has decided that the money from the surcharge will be donated to the extreme conservative think-tank, The Heritage Foundation.
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