Slog
News & ArtsThursday, August 13, 2009
Politics What He Said
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 11:13 AM
John at Americablog:
When you go to Whole Foods you are bankrolling the conservative Republican effort to kill health care reform and to label Democratic presidents and Democratic values "socialist." The CEO of Whole Foods thinks you're a socialist. It's time to stop giving him your money.
I had lunch at Whole Foods every day this week—not going back, not while John Mackey is Whole Food's CEO.
1
Mackey might be wacky, but you can't deny that WF has changed, at the least, the grocery landscape for the better.
2
an idea from the comments section at the link:
I wonder how well received it would be to print up a portion of Mr. Mackey's editorial...and hand them out in Whole Foods parking lots.
I wonder how well received it would be to print up a portion of Mr. Mackey's editorial...and hand them out in Whole Foods parking lots.
3
The whole idea of not shopping at places over political disagreements makes me uncomfortable. I might not like the guys opinion, but it doesn't have anything to do with the company or should it mean the man should lose his job.
4
Haven't cared for Whole Foods since the '80s, when it cared for carrying local foods and didn't have that big-box-grocery feel (and incredibly narrow aisles) they have now.
Stay local, folks. Metro areas have co-op stores as well, and they help keep the money as local as possible. (That's one of the things I particularly like about the Twin Cities.)
5
@3: Never fail to pronounce moral judgment. Giving sanction to those who oppose your moral concepts gives the lie to them.
6
By the way, you guys, did you know Dan shops at Whole Foods frequently? Not only is he in a good position to boycott, but he also shops at Whole Foods! Frequently!
7
@5 Since I generally disagree with everybody on at least one thing, I would never be able to shop anywhere or associate with anyone. Hell I think the fact that co-op stores often sell silly natural and homeopathic remedies is infinitely more dangerous then this dumbass op-ed.
Now say if we are talking about a company that refuses to hire gays that would be one thing. Its a company policy and one that is very extreme. The fact that X corporate office disagrees with me on Y policy is not really all that much of a concern. Everyone has a right to their opinion and to express it freely. I will not refuse to do business with them on that basis.
Now say if we are talking about a company that refuses to hire gays that would be one thing. Its a company policy and one that is very extreme. The fact that X corporate office disagrees with me on Y policy is not really all that much of a concern. Everyone has a right to their opinion and to express it freely. I will not refuse to do business with them on that basis.
8
A guy who got rich selling extremely high priced goods to over educated white elites who wanted to feel they were buying "just" products turns out to be a conservative Republican?
Quelle Suprise!
Get over it trustifarians! Turns out your values were packaged and sold just like everything else in this country. Boo Hoo.
Quelle Suprise!
Get over it trustifarians! Turns out your values were packaged and sold just like everything else in this country. Boo Hoo.
10
Don't just boycott - send an email to their advertising people saying you're doing so.
Actions magnified by many have earth shattering results.
Actions magnified by many have earth shattering results.
13
@7 There's a big difference between having a disagreement with someone and writing an op-ed or the Wall Street Journal.
14
Mackey may be an ass, but if more people shopped at Whole Foods rather than Kroegers/Safeway, we'd be healthier as a society.
15
Thanks, Dan. I called Westlake location and told them why they'd be out the $50 or so a week I spend there.
@ 7 giffy -- how is advocating a boycott the same as saying someone doesn't have a right to express their opinion? People are boycotting Whole Foods because of the CONTENT of a millionaire CEO's opinion and his efforts to undermine way-overdue reform -- not that he expressed Rand-inspired bullshit.
@ 7 giffy -- how is advocating a boycott the same as saying someone doesn't have a right to express their opinion? People are boycotting Whole Foods because of the CONTENT of a millionaire CEO's opinion and his efforts to undermine way-overdue reform -- not that he expressed Rand-inspired bullshit.
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@7 - You gotta pick your battles, of course, but this smells like a dealbreaker. You might as well be making campaign donations to Sarah Palin if you shop at Whole Foods. PCC and Madison Market are much more deserving of your cash, and
19
I'd go to PCC if they ever carried anything that I need. Oh, and the one in Wedgewood needs to learn something; it's called BAG THE FUCKING GROCERIES I BOUGHT! That's part of the service I am buying from your lazy asses.
Madison Market is good but too far away from me so I hit up Trader Joes and for the rest QFC.
Madison Market is good but too far away from me so I hit up Trader Joes and for the rest QFC.
20
Did anyone actually read the editorial? Some of it is over the top (the Thatcher quote, in particular), but I don't think Mackey wrote it in bad faith.
22
I'm not sure it matters. The people who were going to get rich on Whole Foods have gotten very rich already. They can now afford to be unpopular. A boycott will hurt future earnings, of course, and will put a lot of underlings and peons out of work if the boycott continues. What's the win other than self-satisfaction (which may be win enough)? Still, the dildo remains in charge or if he's dismissed, he's still richer than fuck. He can soothe his misery in a villa overlooking the Mediterranean in the south of France boohooing into his Chateau Margaux.
The time to be aware of whom you're giving your money to, it seems to be, is before you give them your money. How many Domino's pizzas did we buy before we learned about the right-wing creep who started that operation?
I can't feel smug. Whole Paycheck was always too rich for my blood, so not shopping there was purely an economic decision.
The time to be aware of whom you're giving your money to, it seems to be, is before you give them your money. How many Domino's pizzas did we buy before we learned about the right-wing creep who started that operation?
I can't feel smug. Whole Paycheck was always too rich for my blood, so not shopping there was purely an economic decision.
24
@20: Thank you. The Thatcher quote is almost entirely out of scale with the rest of the article.
Frankly, I appreciate the balanced tone and concrete solutions offered by Mackey. I don't necessarily AGREE with them -- for instance, I think some coverage of certain diseases/procedures does need to be mandated or it would never be offered -- but, as I did when old Bill Buckley was alive, I appreciate hearing the other side's position.
To echo a previously expressed sentiment, if I did not shop or associate with some company or person because I did not agree with a position they took, I'd be the loneliest man on the planet.
Mackey's mistake here was largely the quote. The rest is commentary worthy of consideration and, depending on where you stand, acceptance or rejection.
Frankly, I appreciate the balanced tone and concrete solutions offered by Mackey. I don't necessarily AGREE with them -- for instance, I think some coverage of certain diseases/procedures does need to be mandated or it would never be offered -- but, as I did when old Bill Buckley was alive, I appreciate hearing the other side's position.
To echo a previously expressed sentiment, if I did not shop or associate with some company or person because I did not agree with a position they took, I'd be the loneliest man on the planet.
Mackey's mistake here was largely the quote. The rest is commentary worthy of consideration and, depending on where you stand, acceptance or rejection.
26
@22, Yeah people at the top are always the most insulated, the last to feel any sort of pinch from any action us peons take down on the ground. But you know what: if they start laying people off it will be because of bad financial numbers, and if the financial dip starts around the time of this editorial, the message will be clear. We're not going to change his opinion, but if we hurt WF hopefully the market will expand for local co-ops, the way people in Seattle mostly abandoned Starbucks for more local, small-scale coffee shops some time ago. All those laid-off people can just change employers. Also: when you work for a shithead, life can suck sometimes.
27
In Seattle, the boyfriend shops at Madison Market. I am in LA, and there's a Whole Foods across the street from where I am staying. That's why I've been there every day this week.
28
So...this is the first you knew about Whole Foods and some of its conservative leanings -- including its anti-union activities?
Out of touch much?
Out of touch much?
29
Giffey, Whole Foods wants an uneven playing field in terms of payroll costs to give them an advantage over other stores. Look at the typical age and probable head of household status of your typical whole foods employee vs. a union store like Safeway, QFC, PCC etc. Any store that has a predominantly young single workforce probably has minimal or no health care. The CEO is lobbying to maintain his competitive edge so his store is fair game by any reasonable measure for a boycott.
30
@ 3 - It's perfectly legitimate to 'vote with your dollars'. My roommate won't buy Converse shoes because the CEO doesn't support gun rights. My own list has several entries on it: Starbucks (after Schultz sold the Sonics), Home Depot (anti-union), WalMart (evil incarnate). There are enough businesses in this great free market economy of ours, you can find what you need from a supplier to whom you WANT to give your money.
And now.. I have another entry on my 'Do Not Contact' list: Whole Foods. Suck it, Mackey, you're not getting my cash!!
And now.. I have another entry on my 'Do Not Contact' list: Whole Foods. Suck it, Mackey, you're not getting my cash!!
31
Also, stores like this are parasites, they need their customers to have a much better pay package than they are willing to pay their own employees. If everyone paid like Whole Foods they would go broke
32
Oh yeah, and Albertson's. After the Prop 8 thing in California and the revelation that the Mormons shoveled so much money into that debate, I stopped shopping at Albertson's. Not much of a sacrifice there, I must say.
33
Shop where you live, so you can walk there.
Also, yell at the beer-stocker guy at the store where you live, so you can, someday, perhaps buy a slightly better beer than friggin Miller Chill.
I'm talkin' to you QFC @ 145th and 15th NE. Get a clue.
Also, yell at the beer-stocker guy at the store where you live, so you can, someday, perhaps buy a slightly better beer than friggin Miller Chill.
I'm talkin' to you QFC @ 145th and 15th NE. Get a clue.
34
I'd love to hear from someone who works at whole foods about the quality of their health care plan. What is this guy saying that's so offensive if his employees are happy with their plan?
36
@30 How far up the production chain do you take it. That's nice you are not going to whole foods, but do you have a car you put gas in, a bike that is made of any kind of metal, or own anything made of paper? I guarantee you the people that own the businesses that extract or produce that stuff are probably pretty conservative and maybe even reactionarily so. Have you ever met someone who owns a mine? Those people are generally pretty out there.
37
Dan, Dan, Dan.
So for years you've been patronizing Whole Foods, even excessively it would seem, even though organic food is a panacea for rich white folks. During this whole time Mackey has been a libertarian (that is social LIBERAL and fiscal conservative) who disagrees with your leftward economic views. Yet now, suddenly, you decide that Whole Foods is teh evil.
Please.
So for years you've been patronizing Whole Foods, even excessively it would seem, even though organic food is a panacea for rich white folks. During this whole time Mackey has been a libertarian (that is social LIBERAL and fiscal conservative) who disagrees with your leftward economic views. Yet now, suddenly, you decide that Whole Foods is teh evil.
Please.
38
@30 Just for reference you're not really taking any money away from Mackey. Since 2006 Mackey has been receiving virtually no salary from Whole Foods.
But good try.
But good try.
39
Dan@27: So you make your boyfriend do all your shopping? You're like the Cleavers (but with no beaver).
40
@22, it does matter. Whole Foods is knee-deep in doo-doo right now, after some ill-timed expansions. Their stores in the UK are flopping horribly. And Mackay also recently revealed in an interview that he is well aware that his stores sell mostly crap, not good food at all -- they make their dough on heavily-processed industrial food just like QFC and Safeway, just with those mostly bullshit "natural" and "organic" labels on.
Like a lot of super-rich guys (Ted Turner, Richard Branson), Mackay fancies himself a bit of a philosopher, but fuck him.
Like a lot of super-rich guys (Ted Turner, Richard Branson), Mackay fancies himself a bit of a philosopher, but fuck him.
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@40: yeah, as far as I know (I'm tangentially connected to the industry), Whole Foods is actually doing very poorly right now. Check out that ditch where the Interbay one was supposed to go next time you're in West Seattle.
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@39
What's the point in having a Wife except to do the housework and shopping? Sex I can get anywhere*....
*-anywhere that takes a check, at least;)
What's the point in having a Wife except to do the housework and shopping? Sex I can get anywhere*....
*-anywhere that takes a check, at least;)
45
Whole Foods prices were enough for my boycott....I'm be a liberal politically, but a yuppie liberal douche? No thanks.
46
44
au contraire.
Conservatives were pumped to put Sadaam on the end of a rope from the get-go.
WMD was a scam to bluff the French, Liberals and New York Times.
All of whom ate it up like free peanuts at Slog Happy.
au contraire.
Conservatives were pumped to put Sadaam on the end of a rope from the get-go.
WMD was a scam to bluff the French, Liberals and New York Times.
All of whom ate it up like free peanuts at Slog Happy.
49
I was surprised to learn Mackey is still the CEO of WF, after that online sock puppetry thing he got caught doing a few years ago against their competitor Wild Oats.
50
@ 36 - It's really not that complicated. This handful of corporations I mention are simply the few who have politically or socially or philosophically crossed certain lines that happen to be important to me. Why would I knowingly continue to patronize businesses whose actions or policies I deeply disagree with, when I can just as easily get everything they offer from some other retailer who does NOT offend me?
No, I don't feel compelled to exhaustively research every single business with whom I deal, nor do I feel the need to investigate the provenance of every single consumer item I buy (within reason - I don't buy knock-offs, I try to avoid toxic products of all kinds, etc). These few companies I mention are simply the ones who are BLATANTLY conducting themselves in ways I don't like = ergo, they don't get my money. YMMV.
No, I don't feel compelled to exhaustively research every single business with whom I deal, nor do I feel the need to investigate the provenance of every single consumer item I buy (within reason - I don't buy knock-offs, I try to avoid toxic products of all kinds, etc). These few companies I mention are simply the ones who are BLATANTLY conducting themselves in ways I don't like = ergo, they don't get my money. YMMV.
51
@34: "I'd love to hear from someone who works at whole foods about the quality of their health care plan. What is this guy saying that's so offensive if his employees are happy with their plan?"
See the comment here:
http://www.metafilter.com/84093/This-org…
See the comment here:
http://www.metafilter.com/84093/This-org…
52
I must be out of touch because that Mackey editorial comes out of left field. The whole image of Whole Foods is about paying a premium for the sake of health and sustainability. And Mackey himself is a vegetarian who has gone out of his way to make sure the livestock for Whole Foods are raised in humane conditions.
"Hey, cressona, you idiot, what the hell does vegetarianism have to do with health care reform?"
Well sure, you'd have to strain a bit to see the connection. But I've known enough vegetarians to figure that 85% of them are progressives, not conservatives. The flip side is I've known enough vegetarians to know that other 15% is out there.
Here's the other irony. It so happens that the CEO of Safeway (forget his name) is a major champion of comprehensive health care reform. And I believe his motivation is that it's better for American business, even though Safeway provides its own employees solid medical benefits. Actually, Wal-Mart is also backing health care reform.
Who would've thought that Safeway and Wal-Mart would be the progressives on our nation's foremost public policy issue and Whole Foods (or at least its CEO) would be the conservative?!
"Hey, cressona, you idiot, what the hell does vegetarianism have to do with health care reform?"
Well sure, you'd have to strain a bit to see the connection. But I've known enough vegetarians to figure that 85% of them are progressives, not conservatives. The flip side is I've known enough vegetarians to know that other 15% is out there.
Here's the other irony. It so happens that the CEO of Safeway (forget his name) is a major champion of comprehensive health care reform. And I believe his motivation is that it's better for American business, even though Safeway provides its own employees solid medical benefits. Actually, Wal-Mart is also backing health care reform.
Who would've thought that Safeway and Wal-Mart would be the progressives on our nation's foremost public policy issue and Whole Foods (or at least its CEO) would be the conservative?!
53
If you go on the WF website, you can get an email link to store leadership for any location. Here's a copy of what I just sent my local store. You may want to do the same. I wonder how the struggling retailer would respond to thousands of mails like mine?
__________________________________________________
Please have a look at the linked page....... http://www.americablog.com/2009/08/whole…
Naturally, I will no longer continue to fund the anti-American nonsense promulgated by your CEO and will encourage my friends to join me in boycotting Whole Foods until he is replaced by an honest and sensible person who favors affordable and accessible health care for his employees and all Americans. Kind Regards.
__________________________________________________
Please have a look at the linked page....... http://www.americablog.com/2009/08/whole…
Naturally, I will no longer continue to fund the anti-American nonsense promulgated by your CEO and will encourage my friends to join me in boycotting Whole Foods until he is replaced by an honest and sensible person who favors affordable and accessible health care for his employees and all Americans. Kind Regards.
54
Can you guys please explain what exactly Mackey said in that article that is causing all this vitriol? Of his 8 points which one is anti-American nonsense?
55
@52
It would be nice, if it were true. Safeway and Walmart are not the progressives you make them out to be. Successful large corporations such as those support reforms for one single reason: profit. Because Walmart and Safeway are large successful companies they can afford to provide expanded coverage. You know who can't? Their competition.
Walmart and Safeway are only "progressive" because it helps eliminate competition. It's really that simple.
It would be nice, if it were true. Safeway and Walmart are not the progressives you make them out to be. Successful large corporations such as those support reforms for one single reason: profit. Because Walmart and Safeway are large successful companies they can afford to provide expanded coverage. You know who can't? Their competition.
Walmart and Safeway are only "progressive" because it helps eliminate competition. It's really that simple.
56
@53
Good luck with your effort to get rid of the founder of the company.
@54
Don't you get it? If you're not a big government liberal that means you're anti-American. And only a few years back you were anti-American for not being a national security conservative.
Logic has no place here.
Good luck with your effort to get rid of the founder of the company.
@54
Don't you get it? If you're not a big government liberal that means you're anti-American. And only a few years back you were anti-American for not being a national security conservative.
Logic has no place here.
57
RSPorter @55, I realize I ascribed some motives to Safeway's CEO other than the absolute bottom line when I said: "And I believe his motivation is that it's better for American business..." So let me be clear.
I have no doubt that Safeway and Wal-Mart's support for health care reform is driven by self-interest. Now, that self-interest may not be so obvious. They could be thinking in a more jujitsu way than one would normally give American CEOs credit for. But whatever their end game, to me what's important is that their interests do happen to align with the progressive side on this particular issue. I certainly don't mean to actually call them progressives.
I have no doubt that Safeway and Wal-Mart's support for health care reform is driven by self-interest. Now, that self-interest may not be so obvious. They could be thinking in a more jujitsu way than one would normally give American CEOs credit for. But whatever their end game, to me what's important is that their interests do happen to align with the progressive side on this particular issue. I certainly don't mean to actually call them progressives.
59
And at Safeway as well as at most other grocery stores health care coverage is actually through the workers unions. The UFCW and the one that covers meat cutters.
60
While I disagree with John Mackey on most of his suggestions, John Aravosis's piece on it is so slanted and devoid of journalistic integrity that it can't be taken seriously. This is especially evident at the end when he ridicules Mackey for suggesting that changing our diets to ones more focused on certain vegetables (and presumably less on meat) would dramatically reduce the incidence of widespread diseases that are expensive to treat. Studies have proven pretty conclusively that high-meat diets dramatically increase the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer.
61
@ 59,
I was going to say that the reason Safeway treats it's labor decently was because it it is unionized. Thank you.
I was going to say that the reason Safeway treats it's labor decently was because it it is unionized. Thank you.
62
I boycott now and then, but more to satisfy my indignation than for the sense that I might actually change anything. Yes, I usually let them know what I'm doing (if that indignation is strong enough). But how can I know when to stop the boycott? I'm not very good at keeping tabs on employees, or CEO's opinions or corporate practices.
For instance I haven't eaten at a Wendy's for 15 years now, since Ellen's coming out show, where they pulled their advertising. I was in a good position to boycott, since I've lived close to one, and often had their baked potatoes for lunch, let's say $18 per week x 52 x 15 = $14,040.00 it has cost them so far. But isn't it likely that their corporate policies have changed by now? They probably even apologized for the Ellen-boycott. How would I know? I'd appreciate any suggestion from a better organized boycotter.
For instance I haven't eaten at a Wendy's for 15 years now, since Ellen's coming out show, where they pulled their advertising. I was in a good position to boycott, since I've lived close to one, and often had their baked potatoes for lunch, let's say $18 per week x 52 x 15 = $14,040.00 it has cost them so far. But isn't it likely that their corporate policies have changed by now? They probably even apologized for the Ellen-boycott. How would I know? I'd appreciate any suggestion from a better organized boycotter.
63
Oops, except he already has your money, Dan. Too late.
I had lunch at Whole Foods every day this week—not going back, not while John Mackey is Whole Food's CEO.
Oops, except he already has your money, Dan. Too late.
64
Also, you can boycott WF and whoever else you find donates to the reds, but realize that they're going to get their money either way and your patronage honestly doesn't make much of a difference to them.
If I ever boycott a place, I do so mainly for personal reasons, i.e. I had a bad experience there. And, yes I realize it has no effect. For example, I'll never eat at Shultzy's again after they forgot about my order for about 45 minutes and never told the kitchen, then wouldn't so much as discount the $9.35 I paid for an entree that I could get somewhere else for $6 once they got around to making it for me. But the place is packed every time I go by it and I realize they'll rake in the cash and couldn't care less if I never eat there again. They'll succeed and good for them, I suppose.
So you can make a statement that will go unheard. I'll buy Basmati rice by the pound there because they're the only place I know of that offers it that way and takes credit cards. The rest of their food I can take or leave, though.
If I ever boycott a place, I do so mainly for personal reasons, i.e. I had a bad experience there. And, yes I realize it has no effect. For example, I'll never eat at Shultzy's again after they forgot about my order for about 45 minutes and never told the kitchen, then wouldn't so much as discount the $9.35 I paid for an entree that I could get somewhere else for $6 once they got around to making it for me. But the place is packed every time I go by it and I realize they'll rake in the cash and couldn't care less if I never eat there again. They'll succeed and good for them, I suppose.
So you can make a statement that will go unheard. I'll buy Basmati rice by the pound there because they're the only place I know of that offers it that way and takes credit cards. The rest of their food I can take or leave, though.
65
I am actually about to apply for a job at Whole Foods. Not because I like them, I actually don't shop there much, but because they're hiring. Which is an unusual characteristic here in SoCal. Of course, being out of work for several months tends to make you kind of desperate.
@26
Changing employers isn't the easiest thing to do these days.
@26
Changing employers isn't the easiest thing to do these days.
66
John Mackey doesn’t seem to understand his national customer base very well. Whole Foods makes money by overcharging middle class consumers for often fake herbal medicines and overpriced “organic” produce based off their customer’s desire to appear socially conscious. Much of the profit of Whole Foods is based off this good will and the more Mackey highlights his far right views (and the power Whole Foods consumers gave him) the less willing consumers will be to pay extra for products that are often no different than what is available cheaper at other stores (In "Omnivore's Dilemma" Michael Pollan visits "free range" chickens that end up at Whole Foods and it is clear why they taste more like other factory farm produced chickens than what you can buy at the farmers market)
67
I disagree with various Whole Foods policies, especially the non-union stance, and the effect they have on local co-ops. But I don't understand why people seem to be so derisive of "organic." You do realize that the organic label is government vetted, right? There are a number of strict guidelines an organic product has to meet to earn the label. So it really does mean something. Now, "all natural," on the other hand, is laughable and really doesn't mean shit, and various homeopathic remedies need to be researched instead of just taken on faith. But all it takes to differentiate the two is a little research and understanding. I really don't understand why people are so reluctant to just take the time to understand what they put into their bodies. Anyways, just my little side rant. Conclusion: buy local, buy organic, and do a little self serving research on your food. Not too hard!
68
Like other economic Libertarians, Mackey is out of touch with reality. These proposals are the typical deregulatory boilerplate talking points, & as such they have no merit whatsoever in contemporary society.
Though, I have to admit that the feigned shock of upper middle class whole foods shopping "liberal" drones over the whole thing is a bit funny and pretty pathetic; srsly it's fucking whole foods, they are and always have been a greenwashed bland corporate feel good safe place for sellout pseudo radicals who can afford to conspicuously display their so called "progressive" credentials.
Though, I have to admit that the feigned shock of upper middle class whole foods shopping "liberal" drones over the whole thing is a bit funny and pretty pathetic; srsly it's fucking whole foods, they are and always have been a greenwashed bland corporate feel good safe place for sellout pseudo radicals who can afford to conspicuously display their so called "progressive" credentials.
69
@54 - There are so many to chose from:
"they will bankrupt us"
Actually, no - not having a system with gov cost controls is what is already bankrupting us (but making insurance co's very very rich)
"HSA's etc"
A way to skim off healthy folks into plans designed to make insurance execs rich and everyone else poor
"repeal all state laws ..."
More "markets are magic pixie dust" crap. Markets don't work for health insurance. Get fucking over it. (Just google uwe reinhardt)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/…
"Repeal government mandates"
see above
"Make costs transparent"
see above
" Enact Medicare reform"
Gee, that would involve squeezing big pharma. Thus it's safe for Mackey to say as he knows it has zero chance of happening. Asshole.
"in Canada"
Read the Reinhardt interview above. How about 18,000 folks dying every single year in the US cause they have no insurance. Something tells me *that* isn't happening in Canada and the UK. Asshole.
Diet, exercise, blah, blah, blah.
I'd like a pony, too. But I don't pretend that has anything to do with health insurance. (Sure I'd get more exercise if I had the pony, but it's no substitute for having access to medical care. Your vegan diet isn't going to help you if you get in a car crash.) Asshole.
Does that answer your question?
Writing annoyed letters to WF is definitely a good idea. And it definitely is a good reminder of why we're lucky to have PCC here.
"they will bankrupt us"
Actually, no - not having a system with gov cost controls is what is already bankrupting us (but making insurance co's very very rich)
"HSA's etc"
A way to skim off healthy folks into plans designed to make insurance execs rich and everyone else poor
"repeal all state laws ..."
More "markets are magic pixie dust" crap. Markets don't work for health insurance. Get fucking over it. (Just google uwe reinhardt)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/…
"Repeal government mandates"
see above
"Make costs transparent"
see above
" Enact Medicare reform"
Gee, that would involve squeezing big pharma. Thus it's safe for Mackey to say as he knows it has zero chance of happening. Asshole.
"in Canada"
Read the Reinhardt interview above. How about 18,000 folks dying every single year in the US cause they have no insurance. Something tells me *that* isn't happening in Canada and the UK. Asshole.
Diet, exercise, blah, blah, blah.
I'd like a pony, too. But I don't pretend that has anything to do with health insurance. (Sure I'd get more exercise if I had the pony, but it's no substitute for having access to medical care. Your vegan diet isn't going to help you if you get in a car crash.) Asshole.
Does that answer your question?
Writing annoyed letters to WF is definitely a good idea. And it definitely is a good reminder of why we're lucky to have PCC here.
71
@70: Like getting actual soldiers to do their dirty work for them so they can brag about killing a bad guy. Taking credit for other people's bravery gives them a hard-on.
72
The head of a major corporation is *gasp* republican? Say it ain't so!
Seriously, liberals need to wake up and smell the organic coffee: it doesn't matter who the customer base is. Rich douchebags who control the business world aren't on our side in almost all instances.
Seriously, liberals need to wake up and smell the organic coffee: it doesn't matter who the customer base is. Rich douchebags who control the business world aren't on our side in almost all instances.
73
I read the opinion piece first and then the AmericaBlog item, and AmericaBlog came off shrill and reactionary. Mackey's opinion piece is mostly on the conservative side of things, but I agreed with about half of what he said (HSAs are good and useful, though not a complete solution as he implies) and none of it is wacko lies and craziness. I think a boycott would be a silly reaction to a well-reasoned position, even if it's one I disagree with (I don't shop at WF much anyway, because it's too expensive).
74
As stated before here, Mackey is NOT a Conservative, he's a Libertarian. I doubt that he's a Republican.
Whether you agree with him or not, his "solution" points seem to be within the reasonable realm of things. Maybe someone who is so feverishly opposed to this editorial can post a rational rebuttal to these and to his statements about our gargantuan national debt.
@69- Obviously, breaking down barriers between states for health insurance doesn't provide the magic pixie dust we so ravenously crave for health insurance, but it could at least be a positive measure.
Whether you agree with him or not, his "solution" points seem to be within the reasonable realm of things. Maybe someone who is so feverishly opposed to this editorial can post a rational rebuttal to these and to his statements about our gargantuan national debt.
@69- Obviously, breaking down barriers between states for health insurance doesn't provide the magic pixie dust we so ravenously crave for health insurance, but it could at least be a positive measure.
75
Ok, Mackey is not a liberal, but he's certainly not the devil incarnate. Mackey's political views are Libertarian, not Republican, and let's not forget that everyone in this country has the right to express their opinions. Having said that, Mackey's MORALS are in the right place and are what we should be caring and talking about. He was a vegetarian for years and is 99% vegan aside from the eggs that he eats from his own laying hens. He also donates over $1 million a year to animal welfare causes and Whole Foods started a separate organization to call attention to and reduce the amount of suffering that farm animals are forced to endure to feed most humans -- humans who later develop directly-related and highly expensive health care problems like diabetes, various forms of cancer, heart disease (and so on) from eating meat and dairy products. So, before you all go getting on your high horse and condemn this man and one of the few ethical corporations in America, go look in the mirror and ask yourself what you are doing for your health and the welfare of animals. Before you begin your boycott, please consider this: I can FLAT OUT guarantee you that any other grocery chain cares WAY less about this planet and the creatures that inhabit it.
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