Whole Foods and Healthcare – What Irony!
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Harrison
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healthcare reform hypocrites Liberals margaret thatcher obamakare socialism socialized medicine whole foods healthcare
He had the courage to speak out.
In San Francisco, where I live, Whole Foods is like the Liberal Utopia. I see tons of the Liberal cars there all the time (namely the Toyota Prius) with people buying their natural organic whatever. Whole Foods seems to cater to this crowd so much that I was shocked to read that it’s owner disagrees with President Obama’s healthcare plan and even wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal saying so. You can read his piece here. He starts it all out with the Margaret Thatcher quote of: “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run outof other people’s money.”
I like it already! As you can imagine, this has deeply annoyed the hybrid-driving, latte-swilling set:
Michael Lent, another Whole Foods enthusiast in Long Beach, Calif., told ABCNews.com that he, too, will turn to other organic groceries for his weekly shopping list.
“I’m boycotting [Whole Foods] because all Americans need health care,” said Lent, 33, who used to visit his local Whole Foods “several times a week.”
“While Mackey is worried about health care and stimulus spending, he doesn’t seem too worried about expensive wars and tax breaks for the wealthy and big businesses such as his own that contribute to the deficit,” said Lent.
I must admit, I thought Whole Foods was run by a Liberal (apparently most of their customers did, too). So what did he write that was so terrible?
•?Remove the legal obstacles that slow the creation of high-deductible health insurance plans and health savings accounts (HSAs).
•?Equalize the tax laws so that employer-provided health insurance and individually owned health insurance have the same tax benefits.
•?Repeal all state laws which prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines.
•?Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover.
•?Enact tort reform to end the ruinous lawsuits that force doctors to pay insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
•?Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what health-care treatments cost.
•?Enact Medicare reform.
•?Finally, revise tax forms to make it easier for individuals to make a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to help the millions of people who have no insurance and aren’t covered by Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
"I've been supporting a Conservative company?!?"
It all sounds very reasonable to me. And Mackey speaks from experience as his company already provides healthcare insurance to 89% of of his employees (they must work 30 or more hours per week):
At Whole Foods we allow our team members to vote on what benefits they most want the company to fund. Our Canadian and British employees express their benefit preferences very clearly—they want supplemental health-care dollars that they can control and spend themselves without permission from their governments. Why would they want such additional health-care benefit dollars if they already have an “intrinsic right to health care”? The answer is clear—no such right truly exists in either Canada or the U.K.—or in any other country.
What is so ironic is this part:
The op-ed piece, which begins with a Margaret Thatcher quote, “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money,” has left some Whole Foods loyalists enraged. Many say Mackey was out of line to opine against the liberal base that has made his fortune possible.
Christine Taylor, a 34-year-old New Jersey shopper, vowed never to step foot in another Whole Foods again.
“I will no longer be shopping at Whole Foods,” Taylor told ABCNews.com. “I think a CEO should take care that if he speaks about politics, that his beliefs reflect at least the majority of his clients.”
I think what it comes down to is the Liberals think when a company owner speaks out and they agree that they are “doing the right thing” but when they disagree all of the sudden they should be quiet.
One can only hope that now Conservatives will start shopping at Whole Foods. I applaud Mackey for his courage and laugh at Liberals who all this time thought they were supporting one of their own.
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6:23 AM
That’s really interesting. I’ve been to Whole Foods, and perceived it as a very liberal place, and now I’m realizing that it was my mistake to make a judgment like that. Who knew the CEO was conservative for a business like this?
It’s interesting, though, when these people complain and say that they will go somewhere else. Where else but Whole Foods can you find groceries without all the additives, preservatives, nitrates, etc? It’s pretty much the only place I know of. Good luck to those looking for an alternative…. there isn’t one.
.-= Rob´s last blog ..How to quickly make money online that you’ve got no possibility of actually getting anytime soon =-.
9:39 AM
I made the same mistake about it so we are all guilty of assumptions. I think Whole Foods has lost business because of the economy but the only competition to them I can think of is Walmart though they are not in as many places as WF is.
7:18 AM
“Rather than increase government spending and control, we need to address the root causes of poor health. This begins with the realization that every American adult is responsible for his or her own health.”
sweet jebus, no wonder so many leftists freaked. this guy is calling on personal responsibility for well being.
he actually puts up some valid proposals for health care reform that will improve competition, and ultimately quality among health care providers.
Mr. Mackey is no dummy. He knows who makes up a large contingent of his customers. He wrote this column knowing full well the public outlash against an unpopular opinion. Guys got stones.
10:12 AM
Amazing…Sounds like he knows what he’s talking about..Another good point I read an article on Downsize DC where the government and AMA have effectively blocked holistic treatments and alternative treatments that may be and are just as effective..The liberals that want bigger government should look into this..
11:18 AM
Here’s the thing, and you hit it right on the nose. Most liberals only agree with anyone speaking out if they agree with them. People protesting Bush, awesome! People protest Obama, Un-American!
No surprises its the same thing for CEO’s
jd is absolutely correct as well, in fact I just wrote a piece on it on my blog, people need to be responsible for their own well being, and unfortunately, the American mindset is that of “I’m always right and who the hell are you to tell me different, doc?”
.-= Troy´s last blog ..Naming is Important =-.
11:56 AM
Walt you have tried to plug your book on at least ten articles today. I will let this post stay but you’re a confused man. Socialism isn’t concerned with making a profit or breaking even which is why it doesn’t work. Private insurance is not a socialist idea and if you take away the profit you will not have it anymore you will have rationed government care and higher taxes. Poor people can’t pay for it so you over burden the people who create jobs and buy stuff. Your book should be about the fall of the Democratic Party because their popularity is only going down according to every poll out there.
1:20 PM
i found a funny article on whole foods product names…worth a read to lighten the debate: http://onthebutton.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/wholefoods/ enjoy!
3:29 PM
The only people that will be hurt by these boycotts will be Whole Foods employees. You know, the lady with the dreads and tats that loves to believe that organic food is great and all. Liberals do eat their own.
.-= vulcanhammer´s last blog ..Funny Computer Stories =-.
9:35 AM
And they have lower cholesterol and are all natural, too!
11:15 PM
The main problem with Obama is the fact that the the democratic party has very conflicting interests, while the republican party itself is quite regimented since the Regen era.
Obama has pretty talk, and is pretty much one of the best diplomatic speakers I’ve seen out there. But the fact of the matter is that the interest among the democratic party is splintered. Hence, his hands are a bit tied. Polls are going down for Obama yes, but they’re still relatively popular. The perception on congress however, is that none of them can actually get anything done.
Although I often disagree with the Republican view points, this is one thing that has allowed them to push their agenda verses the democrats. Republicans are organized. Democrats are not.
.-= Roger´s last blog ..Government vs Private =-.
6:51 PM
Business boycotts are just as childish as yelling matches. This is a great response from an ideology that is accusing conservatives of not engaging in rational discussion and debate.
.-= Burro´s last blog ..Whole Foods Boycott: Yet one more form of mindless protest =-.