Does the Whole Foods boycott stand a chance?
Poor old Whole Foods Market. As if that "Whole Paycheck" joke wasn't mean enough, now there are lots of shoppers who say they won't go there to buy things anymore.
To recap: On Aug. 11, the Wall Street Journal ran an opinion piece by the company's chief executive, John Mackey, in which he spoke against deeper government involvement in the nation's healthcare. mericans, he said, should be responsible for their own health. Like, for example, by eating healthy food (of the kind Whole Foods sells).
"While we clearly need health-care reform, the last thing our country needs is a massive new health-care entitlement that will create hundreds of billions of dollars of new unfunded deficits and move us much closer to a government takeover of our health-care system. Instead, we should be trying to achieve reforms by moving in the opposite direction—toward less government control and more individual empowerment," Mackey wrote.
That editorial led to a call for a Whole Foods boycott by a group called (aptly enough) Boycott Whole Foods. It says its membership now stands at more than 20,000. Read more here.
I have not shopped at whole foods since i read mackey's comments nor will i ever shop there again.
Posted by: susan ellicott | August 21, 2009 at 10:22 AM
If that's how he feels about it, then why not start by discontinuing the Farm Bill subsidies for corn and wheat that produce all the high fructose ingredients? And the subsidies for agricultural fuel to produce such high volumes of corn syrup or the agricultural chemical clean-up subsidies? This would save the nation billions AND reduce the intake of bad food since it would no longer be cheaper than dirt.
Posted by: Shauna Mackenzie | August 21, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Those who boycott WF based on this editorial are knee-jerk reactors, without the capacity for reasoned dialogue. They further polarize the debate over what is a very complex issue.
I don't agree with everything he said in his op-ed piece (I believe there *should* be a so-called public option), but he makes some very good points. Health care *should* be uncoupled from employment, for greater portability. Tax breaks for small and individual purchasers also should be considered.
The media could help by not giving so much space to the polarizers.
Posted by: asha | August 21, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Less government is what got us in this mess. Bush decided that the financial institutions needed less government. You all see what that got us. Republicans are always for less government of how they steal from the public. Just like Whole Foods to like that though. They are a huge company and less is more for them.
Posted by: Louis Hernandez | August 21, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Never bought from Whole Foods, but I will now!
It's great to see someone stand against the king and his empire.
Thank you for the article.
I'm going to go there tomorrow - and maybe for now on.
Posted by: Jon | August 21, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Good for John Mackey!
Posted by: Pat | August 21, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Sounds like the Banking Industry under Regean & Bush, "We don't need Government regulation, we can govern ourselves "Why woulld the banking industry do anything greedy that would jeopardize their future, they can govern themselves". I like the Whole Foods BOYCOTT!
Posted by: Scott | August 21, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Good for Whole Foods. It was a reasonable opinion, so why must they be boycotted? Hippies suck!
Posted by: Neil | August 21, 2009 at 10:14 AM
It will not work simply because people are far too apathetic to take a stand for very long against anything in this country. We are far to soft and have it far too easy. It won't last mark my words!
Posted by: Michelle | August 21, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Well Darn. The closest Whole Foods store is about 50 miles away. Looks like I'll have to do 2 weeks worth of shopping to make the trip worth it, but I'll be shopping there as often as I can for a while to show my support for free speech, free enterprise, and small government. Guess I'm old fashioned like that - I still believe in individual responsibility.
Posted by: Quark | August 21, 2009 at 10:13 AM
I really don't think I'll understand the liberal mindset as long as I live. One of the pillars of liberalism is "tolerance" ......unless you happen to disagree with that which is to be tolerated, in which case, all bets are off. Here is a guy (John Mackey) who has one of the most generous benefit programs around, does everything he can to promote a good liberal food establishment, and the minute he expresses an opinion (which is shared by the majority of Americans) all bets on tolerance are off. There will be blood in the streets if someone expresses an opinion other than that of the "tolerant" liberal.
Posted by: Matt Fanady | August 21, 2009 at 10:13 AM
I'll continue shopping at Whole Foods - don't do it often, but I'll continue. And, I also agree with Mackey's viewpoints about less government. I think he's right on target!
Donna
Posted by: donna | August 21, 2009 at 10:12 AM
He is right. It is up to each individual to take care of themselves. I work for a living, so I have health care, but I don't remember the last time I went to the doctor. You know why? Because I eat 5 fruits/vegetables a day and put in 90-120 minutes of exercise.
Kudos to Whole Foods.
Posted by: Jeremy | August 21, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I am a big fan of the their $3 ea free range oranges..............
Posted by: myfailsafe | August 21, 2009 at 10:04 AM