Starbucks is throwing itself in the middle of yet another heated national debate.

The Seattle-based coffee chain said Thursday that it will ask customers and businesses to sign a petition calling for an end to the partial government shutdown that has forced hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job.

The petition, which calls for reopening the government, paying debts on time and passing a long-term budget deal by the end of the year, will be available at all Starbucks 11,000 U.S. locations to sign beginning Friday.

Some think the company is stepping into an area it shouldn’t.

“Just what I want with my morning coffee, a side of political debates. Thankfully my own coffee pot hasn’t failed me yet,” says MyNorthwest.com reader Amanda Pressnall.

This is not Starbucks’ first foray into politics. CEO Howard Schultz came out just last month with a statement on the company’s new stance on guns.

MyNW.com reader, and Starbucks employee, Melody Grieves appreciates Schultz is at least open about his intervention into politics.

“I like that our CEO is open and positive about his political positions. If Howard Schultz behaved like the Koch brothers, and other negative, behind-the-scenes, extremist business people who influence politics in unethical ways, I’d have to quit my job. I like the values that Starbucks supports, but even if I didn’t, I would have to respect the open and honest way the company expresses them.”

What do you think?

Tell us in the comments below: Is Starbucks getting too political?