Whole Foods: the Whole Truth

[JMO Fan]

and nothing but the truth.

Health Care Stirs Up Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, Customers Boycott Organic Grocery Store
Branding Experts Say CEOs Should Stay Quiet When It Comes to Politics
By EMILY FRIEDMAN Aug. 14, 2009 — ...
Like many of his fellow health food fanatics, Joshua said he will no longer patronize the store after learning about Whole Foods Market Inc.'s CEO John Mackey's views on health care reform, which ... he wrote for The Wall Street Journal.
...
Mackey criticized President Barack Obama's health care plan. ...
Mackey also called for a move toward "less government control and more individual empowerment" instead of "a massive new health care entitlement that will create hundreds of billions of dollars of new unfunded deficits."
He added that many of the country's health care problems are "self-inflicted" and are preventable through "proper diet, exercise, not smoking, minimal alcohol consumption and other healthy lifestyle choices."
... Mackey outlines Whole Foods' employee health insurance policy. ... Additionally, the company gives each employee $1,800 per year ... that they can use at their own discretion for health and wellness expenses. This money can be put toward the $2,500 annual deductible ....
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. ... And not all Whole Foods customers were upset by Mackey's op-ed.
Many posted online that they agreed with his message and would try to shop at the chain more often.
...
Copyright © 2009 ABC News Internet Ventures

Obama Health Care Reform Riles Up Whole Foods CEO John Mackey - ABC News
I applaud his candor. I like Whole Foods, albeit it's expensive. Hope he stays in business.

 

[Dave020]

John Mackey on 20/20 from 2007!

 

[Insuranceman]

How dare that guy have a opinion that if differs from the socialist. I can't believe he suggest that people take responsiblity for their own health. Whats does he think this is a free county. Does he know that a corrupt, incompetant, wastefull goverment that screws everything up is the solution.

 

[Mr. Bill]

If you've ever been to a Whole Foods and checked out their prices, you would know that this guy is sitting on a HUGE pair!

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Anybody remember the "other" John Mackey? (#88)

 

[Dave020]

Anybody remember the "other" John Mackey? (#88)

Yes, Superbowl versus Cowboys! Great game.
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Huh? You guys are earning six-figures from the current health insurance system that you seek to protect at all costs. You are telling me you can't afford WF? Why not?

Yes, their prices are higher... but not THAT much higher... not by an amount that should bother a neo-con health agent doing well in this biz.

I thought you guys were all about private enterprise and charging what the market will pay. From my experience at WF, they buy superior produce and meat and fish and charge accordingly. What is your problem?

Please don't tell me that you want to regulate what "this guy" can charge? If so, you are going to be thrown out of the Rush Limbaugh Institute of Conservative Studies.

We elitist, academic, think-tank, media liberals can afford to shop there so I don't understand why you rich neos can't.

(I like their "365" house brand of merchandise.)

I find Ralleys/Nob Hill is actually higher priced and less quality on their goods, especially produce. I just can't do Safeway.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Yep. That's him. I was A colts fan growing up since Baltimore was only 75 minutes from Harrisburg.

 

[Dave020]

I was and will always be a home boy Bills fan, but in that game for some reason I liked Dallans (loved Bob Hayes when I was a kid).

It was a good game and interesting as Baltimore was the NFL contender the year before against the Jets and then the AFC contender in this game. One of the teams that moved at the merger.

My alltime favorite Colt (Baltimore, not Indy) was Mike Curtis, #32. He was a major badass linebacker who no one wanted to mess with (bad grammar, I know).

I remember one time on a night game some guy ran across the field from the stands and MC knocked him out cold in the middle of the field.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

I remember that..or at least I have seen clips of it. He was a smaller version of Dick Butkus, but just as mean.

 

[Dave020]

He wasn't as big as Butkis or Lambert, but he was very mean and nasty. They had great players on that team.

Did you ever see the movie "Diner" where Steve Guttenberg's character gives his potential fiance the "football test" about the Colts? Very funny scene.