Whole Foods CEO: Obamacare Is ‘Like Fascism’

[n2doc]

By Sy Mukherjee on Jan 16, 2013 at 11:32 am



In an interview with NPR, Whole Foods CEO and self-professed libertarian John Mackey revived his previous criticism of Obamacare — but this time, with a new twist. While Mackey incorrectly denounced the landmark health reform law as “socialism” in a controversial 2009 Wall Street Journal op-ed, the multimillionaire CEO has revised his assessment and now considers Obamacare — also incorrectly — to be closer to “fascism”:

“Technically speaking, it’s more like fascism. Socialism is where the government owns the means of production. In fascism, the government doesn’t own the means of production, but they do control it, and that’s what’s happening with our healthcare programs and these reforms.”

Although fascist nations do often control their “means of production,” Mackey seems to have forgotten that they usually utilize warfare, forced mass mobilization of the public, and politically-motivated violence against their own peoples to achieve their ends. By contrast, Obamacare regulates some of the insurance industry’s shoddiest practices and imposes a small tax penalty on Americans who refuse to purchase government-subsidized private insurance.

That hasn’t stopped other conservative critics of Obamacare from making similar statements. In 2011, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum decried that America was falling into the throes of fascism, and that the health reform law was the “final death knell.”

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/01/16/1456571/whole-foods-obamacare-fascism/

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. I will boycott whole foods.

His kind of ignorance does not need rewarded.

[renie408]

35. +1

[Berlum]

136. +1

n/t

[kelliekat44]

49. I will too. Starting now to look for other organic suppliers. nt

[Fawke Em]

52. My local Kroger's provides fruits and veggies

grown by local farmers (in my area).

I don't think they've done that, yet, for meat, but I'm sure, with encouragement, more grocers will start providing organic/local products.

[Bucky]

65. Kroger is the only union shop grocery store in Houston

I travel a few extra minutes to get there & maybe pay a few extra dollars a week. But I'm a non-scab shopper.

[PatSeg]

79. Do you have a Trader Joes near you?

The food is exceptional and reasonably priced.

[Agnosticsherbet]

88. Yes they do. I'll go there form now on.

[PatSeg]

93. I love Trader Joes

Great food, wonderful customer service, and surprisingly low prices. Our nearby Trader Joes just started carrying wine and beer, so they are now practically PERFECT!

[indepat]

54. So will I

[classof56]

82. I will too.

For the very reason you gave.

[tblue]

102. I'm more the Trader Joe's type anyway.

Whole Foods lost me on this issue long ago. I have only been there once or twice in years because of just this kind of stance.

[Swede Atlanta]

103. Yeah. I don't purchase much at Whole Paycheck but I can find subsitute

sources for the few things I do buy there. Think I'll mosey on to their website and post a comment that they will never get another penny of my money until this loser is removed as CEO or croaks under the weight of his own ignorance.

[russspeakeasy]

120. I have only shopped there 5 times. 5 years from now, the total will be 5 times.

[TomCADem]

123. Already Have When He Started Bashing Healthcare Reform...

...and essentially argued that people should just shop at Whole Foods.

[AlbertCat]

149. His kind of ignorance does not need rewarded.

What ignorance?

He knows what he said is total BS.

It's pandering.

[CAcyclist]

153. More reasons to boycott whole foods than this statement too

I shopped there once and when I read the country of origin (China) on the label of their inhouse organic frozen foods, I knew this company was not the great green hope that everyone thought it was.

[grahamhgreen]

165. +1

[Octafish]

166. + 2

And our friends and neighbors.

[bullwinkle428]

2. Heard the doughy pantload this morning. The "fascism" portion of the interview

will be heard tomrrow, but I guess they decided to preview it today.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. He sounds like an asswhole.

I won't be buying any of his stuff again.

[flamingdem]

30. he he AssWhole Foods!

[Last Stand]

78. Perfect!!!

That guy is nothing but a RW A-Whole! I think that place is a fraud. I don't go there anymore. Too expensive, too.

[uponit7771]

84. +1

[Laura PourMeADrink]

115. how sad.....how stupid of me to think whole foods cared

[flamingdem]

118. In CA they were forced into supporting the anti-GMO proposition

So this fellow can be pushed to some extent.

[uponit7771]

117. +1!

[bowens43]

4. oh well, they are way over priced anyway...no more Whole foods for me......

[mwb970]

140. They call it "Whole Paycheck" here in Columbus. /nt

[Rex]

5. How can he be so successful and yet so profoundly stupid?

.

[Flashmann]

13. How can he be so successful and yet so profoundly stupid?

Perhaps lessons from Papa John?......

[HangOnKids]

18. It Appears That Liars And Assholes Are Rewarded In This World

Because they CHEAT. I find this entire concept very difficult to explain to my 11 year old. Because in our world cheating and being an asshole is WRONG, but these liars and cheaters get ahead. Fucked up world indeed.

[lunasun]

33. +1

[Javaman]

20. Want to know?

he didn't become "successful" until he got ex-wal-mart execs on his board.

I saw how WF's changed first hand. I live in Austin.

I saw it go from a quiet nice over priced specialty store into the money grubbing juggernaut it is today.

mackey had zero to do with it.

he made money from other people doing the hard work.

there are two groups that exist in WF's today. those who have been there forever and bow before the altar and think he can do no wrong. Those are the ones that work "above the line" aka upper management.

Then there is everyone else working in the trenches who think he's nothing more than an over priced halfwit.

There is certainly a cult of personality going on in WF's, but like most cults, those deeply steeped in the kool-aid are the ones in charge and whip the regular employees daily to keep them in line.

Ask anyone who is a team leader and they will tell you that their dept budgets are constantly getting cut and are demanded to sell more product with a 1/3 of their staff gone. Ask long time trench workers about wage caps, ask any employee about their recent health care package and the bizarrely high deductible. I could go on.

mackey is just a fool. And not a good one at that.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

61. probably gets a lot of liberals' and progressives' $$$$$$ in his wallet, too

Since many of us don't know the dirty details.

I had no idea until this

[Javaman]

74. Since he has a huge ego display of his book right up front in the Lamar HQ store...

they will now.

or they won't care and keep feeding the idiot.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

92. hope they do

I know I'll be keeping my eyes open

[Rex]

130. Ah that is sad.

I did shop there when they first opened. Even though things did cost more, the local grocery store at the time didn't carry a lot of items and I wanted to eat better. Thanks, sounds like another Papa Johns stooge (another place I won't shop at anymore).

[uponit7771]

36. Straight, white, male, southern, connected....for starters

[RILib]

158. strangely enough

I have known several very rich people in the last decade or so, and they are often quite stupid.

They must have one particular talent for making money or they are just in the right place at the right time, but the rest of their lives, not even common sense.

[blm]

6. Republican 'strategists' have been pushing this meme in local newspapers and social media.

I responded to one 2 days ago mocking his use of the word fascism and linked to Henry Wallace's historic essay - The Danger of American Fascism.

http://newdeal.feri.org/wallace/haw23.htm

[Lex]

7. I stopped shopping at Whole Foods a couple of years ago

due to this asshole, and because they didn't have any local produce even when it was in season. Screw them.

[nobodyspecial]

8. Yes, all of the first world countries who provide universal health care

are all fascist states. I don't get how the capitalists don't see that this helps level the playing field. Oh, I forgot, they want to turn the U.S. into a third world country.

[JaneyVee]

9. My paycheck will boycott Whole Foods anyway.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

10. Of course. Because every single European country with some sort of Universal Health Care...

...is secretly fascist. (Do I really need the sarcasm icon?)

As is Japan. And Canada. And Australia. And...

If we had a proper press in this country, whomever is doing the interview would have countered this man's ludicrous statements straight off.

[LuckyLib]

155. Word. Any decent journalists would challenge this stuff. So much for that.

[mmonk]

11. Fuck Whole Foods and it's billionaire trash boss.

[Walk away]

12. Just another Libertarian who thinks because he can run a company that he can....

run the country. These guys who have managed to make some money by selling goods and hiring and firing people bizarrely extrapolate that this is how society works. News Flash!!!! It doesn't!

This is the biggest problem that republicans have across the board. They actually believe Business = Democracy.

[closeupready]

14. Will never step foot inside another Whole Foods

as long as I live.

[AZ Progressive]

15. Yup, let everyone know that the CEO of Whole Foods is an Asshole Libertarian

I'd imagine a large part of their customer base are Liberals.

[Marrah_G]

16. I wish it was more like socialism

[obamanut2012]

22. this

[progressoid]

25. Me too.

[CreekDog]

50. me too...at least until the market system starts valuing children and the sick as much as money

which I don't ever see happening --except maybe if wisdom prevails someday and the pure capitalists realize that when everyone is healthy and well supplied, we all get vastly richer --and without the guilt!

[lpbk2713]

17. ... which brings us to my sig line.

----->

[Javaman]

19. wacky mackey, as we call him here in Austin

enjoys using a machine gun to shoot his foot because just one bullet is not enough.

once again another ceo libertarian moron who confuses reality with his own brand of stupidity.

he likes his wealth so much that he feels that it also gives him super powers to be able to be a writer.

And as such, he thinks he now has a platform to spout off his ignorant brand of "conscious consumerism" or what ever he calls it, but frankly, a rose by any other name knows his term is nothing more than a rewording of "compassionate conservatism".

What really amuses me about libertarians more than anything is they think they are "thinking outside the box" when in fact the taped the box shut and are now stuck in it. they are nothing more than the insane end of the right wing that enjoy smoking pot.

wacky mackey is just another water carrier for the stupid but yet he likes to think it "enlightened".

just another jackass trying like hell to keep from paying taxes and screwing the poor while taking fat tax write offs by giving to third world countries.

people figured him out when he posed as an "anonymous" poster on a site to undermine a competitor to make their stocks drop so he could buy them at a cheaper price.

just another disingenuous sanctimonious jackass.

[obamanut2012]

21. Was going there to get more flaxseed oil Frday

I'll go to the local place and pay a few bucks more instead.

The hell with him. He's also insanely anti labor, too.

[HERVEPA]

23. Uh, nothing new here for this jerk.

He did shady stuff with Whole Foods stock a bunch of years ago. Should have been in jail.
I buy exactly one item in his store, great veggie dogs that I can't find anywhere else. That's it.
He's a total jerk.

[kestrel91316]

24. I can't afford to shop there now anyway. If I could, I would have to boycott over this.

What a jackass.

[FightForMichigan]

26. I wish we had a Whole Foods in my community

so I could not shop at it.

[liberalmuse]

27. Trader Joe's>>>>>Whole Foods

Yet another CEO whining about paying his fair share. This is getting tiresome, but the good news is I don't frequent any of the places run by these twits.

[jillan]

68. I LOVE Trader Joe's. Not only is the food reasonably priced, free of preservatives but

the employees really care about customer service. Always happy. Always make me feel like a valued customer.

They ring a bell when people are waiting to check out so they don't have to use the loudspeaker - and to not make their customers wait.

[Inspired]

28. Well crap, I guess I have to boycott Whole Foods.

No big loss though. They are way over-rated.

[SummerSnow]

29. jerk

[OldEurope]

31. Obviously he does not know the definition...

...of fascism: That is when a couple of rich guys own the government and pretend that the government was voted by the people.

[TheKentuckian]

105. We have a dangerously similar set up

The rich guys not only do control the government to no small extent but also control to varying degrees the folks who are elected, they filter out who the "viable" choices are for election, they have tremendous influence over public perception and discourse by owning the media and shutting out. Or shouting over "unacceptable voices".

I grant more than a couple but the effective point is the same. The banks, the insurance cartel, the extraction industry, and the prime contractors own this motherfucker. I don't even get the counter argument.

Well...Dumbass the Greedhead has had his stopped clock moment after a big swing and a miss (socialisim??? Seriously?).
The Wealthcare and Profit Protection Act made the cartel a too big to fail, we are legally obligated to them and their profits, they have a fucking anti-trust exemption, hey make up what they cannot squeeze out of us turnips from the treasury what else do you call it?

We are a proto-fascist nation at this stage.

[yesphan]

32. Although there is a WF

near my work, I do most of my shopping at "Natural Grocers" in my home town.

Good prices and they sell produce and products that are local.
Having perused their website they seem like a good company.

[Initech]

34. Another asshole CEO holding us back

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

37. Yeah? Well shopping at Whole Paycheck Foods is like armed robbery (nt)

[RomneyLies]

38. DAMN, and Whole Foods is the only decent place to buy food around here

Motherfucking piece of shit.

[jeff47]

69. You might wanna take another look at the chains

Some of them do offer lots of locally-grown food and other good options now.

[mudstump]

39. Stopped shopping at Whole Foods...

back when he made is first stupid comments. I now shop at New Seasons. Won't spend a dime at Whole Foods.

[Chorophyll]

40. Kicked, rec'd, and shared.

Thank you.

[WestSeattle2]

41. Call it what you will, American's want it. We've been held hostage by the medical insurance

industry for decades. This is just one more step towards single payer.

Socialism, fascism or simple common sense, it's needed. The current system is beyond broke.

I suspect that the loudest opponents of this are employers who for generations have been able to foist the cost of their employees health care costs onto taxpayers. Now they'll be held financially responsible and they don't like it.

Basic greed.

[jsr]

42. He's one of the Living Gods of Austin

Lance Armstrong, Michael Dell, John Mackey.

[Bucky]

43. Other examples of "fascism" according to this definition

Fascism - (n.) "In fascism, the government doesn’t own the means of production, but they do control it"

motor vehicle registration
motor vehicle inspection
the FAA (guess what the F stands for!)
restaurant health inspectors
building codes (you can have my asbestos when you pry it from my cold, dead hands, Heinrich!)
housing codes
school zoning laws
motorcycle helmet law
OSHA (guess what the O stands for! - it stands for Oh Shit, Here come the nAzis!)
small business loans
parking meters (Lovely Rita, Stormtrooper!)

[ehrnst]

44. Facists - now primarily remembered for health care proposals... (nt)

[Odin2005]

45. All you Latte Liberals who shop there are suckers.

Whole Foods is the HuffPo of food-fad stores.

[Bucky]

67. Thanks for that totally pointless "toldja so". You're helping to fix DU's lack of negativity problem

PS, kudos on borrowing Rush Limbaugh's rhetoric to engage in name-calling, too. You're helping to expand the boundaries of liberalism beyond the confines of mere logic and open-mindedness.

[flamingdem]

119. I shop there, am a liberal, and realize the cliches involved

with the experience.

The super high prices for well marketed items, the workers from the other side of the tracks listening as this or that consumer badgers them about ingredients that might harm them.. I just laugh about it and it's really not that bad, liberals care about health and that's good, but maybe the obsession with WH is worth critiquing.

[davidpdx]

135. I think even an enema wouldn't fix DU's lack of negativity problem

It's pretty much ingrained in the site. But then again by replying to the post you just fed into the same thing you criticized.

[obamanut2012]

147. Whole Foods is a very reasonable and inexpensive place to shop

Its 365-brand foods are even cheaper than many things at TJ's, and the bulk food area is fantastic. If people make Whole Foods into Whole Paycheck, it's their own fault. I do most of my shopping at TJ's, but buy a few specific things at WF, until now.

And, wanting to eat healthy doesn't equal latte liberals. Good god.

[RILib]

159. obamanut2012

You do know most of the 365 stuff comes from China? And you think it's organic? Lucky it isn't toxic, maybe it is, no way of knowing.

[frylock]

46. fuck Whole Paycheck. support your local Farmer's Market!

[SunSeeker]

94. +1

[Le Taz Hot]

139. Thank you, frylock.

Nothing like interacting with the farmer who actually grew the food you're about to purchase. It actually gives me a satisfied feeling.

[Debau2005]

47. I'll add them to my NO shopping there list

But...oh man....they have the best selection of produce around for those of us that are vegetarians in the North Metro Atlanta area. Other then that, their stuff is pricey!

[RILib]

160. no farmers' markets in Atlanta? n/t

[BlueManFan]

48. Sent my Email to the hypocritcal enema nozzle of a Libertarian

and told them I will never again darken the doors of their fascist store.

[Romulox]

51. Mandatory, for profit health insurance is absolutely an example of the corporate will being

enforced by the state.

Truth hurts. A lot.

[DesMoinesDem]

60. +1

AHA was written by the insurance companies for the insurance companies. Being forced by the government to buy a private product is fascism.

[leftstreet]

64. +1

[area51]

150. +1

We should have at least been given a public option. But nothing beats single-payer. What we got is GingrichCare.

Republican '93 plan:

[font face="courier"]"Subtitle F: Universal Coverage - Requires each citizen or lawful permanent resident to be covered under a qualified health plan or equivalent health care program by January 1, 2005."[/font]

[still_one]

53. What an idiot. most of his customers I would venture are progressives

[Jamaal510]

55. Is this guy kidding?

If anything is close to fascism, it's his ideology of libertarianism. Libertarians are okay with government overreach as long as it's at the state level. They don't want to pay their share in taxes in order to pay for working-class services, and they want businesses to be allowed to discriminate and union-bust however they please. Hell, they didn't even make a peep when people were having to jump through hoops this election year just to be able to vote.
If I had a penny for every time I heard a RWer use some type of projection, I'd be a millionaire right now.

[wryter2000]

56. Glad I've never shopped there

Now I never will. Costco rules!

[mary195149]

57. No more Whole Foods for me,

I live in California and have other options.
Good bye Whole Foods!!

[wildeyed]

58. They just opened one in my area and now I don't get to shop there :(

Oh well, Guess I will keep my money. We got Trader Joe's and there is a locally owned health and gourmet chain who treats their people right so I will just stick with those two.

[Moostache]

59. Keep making it easier for me....soon I will be 100% small business and local produce only!

Just another self-absorbed asshat along the lines of the clowns that run Papa John's pseudo-food, Chick-Fil-Hate and the rest of the fools who think that being momentarily cheered by the death rattle of the TEA Party is worth seppeku for their long term business.

Keep it up guys....you motivate me to use farmer's markets, local produce collectives, small family owned restaurants and avoid you and your enterprises at all costs! Thanks!

[ErikJ]

62. TJ's all the way now.

[Bucky]

63. Goddamn fascists, forcing preventive healthcare on us! Probably have get there by railcar!

Stalag 13 blood pressure pills.

[NewHere112233]

66. They needed to be boycotted anyway...

They lied about all their foods being organic and non-GMOs. They needed to be boycotted long before this.

[MynameisBlarney]

70. But...

I thought fascism was when the corporations controlled the govt...

[mountain grammy]

71. Bu bye Whole Foods!

[redqueen]

72. Never had the money to shop at Whole Paycheck...

but I'll be happy to pass this along so that others who might shop there can reconsider.

[Liberal_in_LA]

77. I'm reconsidering. He's a jerk

[Myrina]

73. I listened to that assclown on my drive in this AM ...

... man, if he didn't sound like an "I'm smarter than you" arrogant jackass!!

To hell with him and his fake "organic" overpriced yuppie stores!

We need to get Top Chef to drop them as their 'supplier'.

[graywarrior]

75. I usually buy 2 things at WFs, rice syrup and Ezekiel bread

I will order them online from someone else now.

[Zoeisright]

76. Whole Foods: source of food poisoning outbreaks!

Salmonella in their peanut butter, Listeria in their cheese.

I wouldn't shop there on a bet.

[SpankMe]

80. Hole Fuuds is playing us libs like a Stradivarius violin.

I like the place - they have a lot of pretty good stuff there. I like the vibe, the other customers, the organics in the produce section and bulk bins. Their meat is top notch. Their deli and bakery stuff is really good. It's all pricey. But, I don't live by Whole Foods alone.

But, it turns out that the company is run not by a green-minded progressive team who's mission is to promote the environment, enable healthy food choices and provide jobs while making a little profit. Rather, it's run by a fucking neo-conservative, greedy Obama hater who designed a facade that shamelessly makes money (a lot of it) from a demographic that's really interested in their health and the environment - even as this leadership shares NONE of those progressive values.

I'd like to say I'll never shop in Whole Foods again. But, I'll probably cave at some point. Boycotts just don't work unless you really have leverage over the buying public and can really put the financial bite on them.

The thing to do is buy Whole Foods stock and change the corporate management as a voting shareholder. That's a tall order, but it stands a better chance of working than a boycott.

[SpankMe]

81. Also, Whole Foods stock is up about $1 since this story broke.

What up wit' dat?

[Waiting For Everyman]

83. He's the facist, clearly.

Not to mention a huge liar with off the charts arrogance to even have the nerve to use that word. A classic gaslighter. Glad I never contributed a dime to his wealth -- I don't take kindly to people who price-gouge the public. That told me all I needed to know about his "values".

[smiley]

85. damn, that sucks

Just when I was starting to like their soup. No more soup for me.

[hobbit709]

86. Markey was an asshole before he started Whole Paycheck

He was a jerk when he ran Safer Way here in Austin in the 70's.

He's still a jerk.

[Hekate]

87. Whole Foods moved to my town. Think I'll give them a miss.

What a jerk.

[grantcart]

89. By this idiotic definition then the FDA and the CDC are Facist.

Remarkable idiocy.

[JDPriestly]

90. A "fresh" turkey that was frozen and took a long time to defrost, ridiculously

expensive produce and canned goods when my local farmer's market offers produce I can buy for less and my local grocery offers canned and frozen goods at lower prices and a long way to drive to find their store, Whole Foods' shopping is not for me.

[judesedit]

91. I am already boycotting Whole Foods. Ashame they can't get someone with integrity in there.

[MindMover]

95. Just another elitist with an opinion ...

http://hark.com/clips/fjypnfvmqn-opinions-are-like-assholes

[Downtown Hound]

96. Yet another reason to make fun of all those stupid, wannabe hippies

that pay anywhere from 50% to 200% higher for relatively common goods at Whole Foods.

[jtuck004]

97. It funnels money by the truckload to profit-making private business, and

incorporates a mechanism for certain growth of the total amount spent so they can claw in more. Look at the stock of the now health management companies, the mergers and acquisitions, instead of whatever your bathroom reading is. They are doing well, as, apparently, are your offerings of "wholesome, healthy for the wholesome, wealthy" Mr. Charlie. I mean Mr. Mackey.

The PPACA is near the ideal wet dream of a capitalist oligarch's philosophy, fool, with the government pushing taxpayer money into their bank accounts, both here and overseas. More than they ever dared ask for. The only thing that would make them happier is to see patients getting beaten and thrown in jail by police for not paying their bills. (They are working to bring back the good old days, however, like it was until about the 1930's or so in this country. At least the jails, if not the flogging).

His comments lend support to my belief that some people who call themselves libertarians are just ongoing victims of some noxious bacteria that infected their water supply, make's 'em think they are the only person in the world that matters.

[AllyCat]

98. Dear God, I hate that store.

Now I hate it even more. Local co-ops and farmer's markets are FAR BETTER DEALS!!

[alp227]

99. Thank you + other duers fire all this info about (ass)Whole foods

That store = a scam. just an over priced, upscale wal mart.

[truebluegreen]

100. Well, he's partly right.

He's just got the wrong bad guy: Fascism is not the government controlling business, it's business controlling the government. Which, it is true, we have way too much of.

Oh, and he's wholly a douche.

[cyglet]

108. This.

And most places have local co-ops or farmers markets that sell local food....or chains that are union shops (that still sell a lot of local food).

I've never once set foot in that place. I've always known exactly what they are.

[YOHABLO]

101. Whole Foods, I mean a ''Whole lot of Money" as it should be called ...

caters to the wealthy .. I go in once in a while and usually leave shocked at the prices they want for everything. They make no apologies. I don't think they take EBT cards ... ha ha

[obama2terms]

104. Never liked this store anyway

They charge out the ass! Trader Joe's is much better and more affordable. Sometimes I wonder if these companys' CEOs that bash it, even read the law before they say these things.

[BlueStreak]

106. Today my ophthalmologist said he is retiring because of Obama

Fact is, he is of the age when retirement would be normal anyway. He tends to be a bit old-fashioned in a practice where there is good technology available. But he told me after the election, he decided to quit. I probed a little. It boiled down to the Medicare reimbursement rates, which is really not an Obama thing at all. He said his rates were cut by 30%, which sounded a bit high to me. I told him I had heard that, as part of the "cliff deal", those cuts were largely canceled out and he would never actually see them. He said he hadn't heard anything about that, and then launched into a diatribe about government paperwork.

I am sure he is giving this same BS speech to every patient for the next 5 months before he actually hangs it up. Maybe I said something that will give him a reason to tone down his talk.

I think he was probably a pretty good doc, but I also think retirement is exactly the right answer for him.

There are several milestones we reach in life. One is when you get your driver's license. When you graduate college. When you get married, etc. Another major milestone is when you find you are older than your doctor. That ain't all bad. I'm looking forward to meeting the new doc.

P.S. My family doctor dies about 4 years ago. He practiced until the day he died at age 91. Nice old guy, but I was fortunate to not have had any complex medical issues in those years. I now am with a GP that is much more up to date.

[d_r]

107. they own greenlife here

I won't be back- even if other groceries are just as right wing at least they smart enough go keep mouth shut.

[mtnester]

109. Now that I have found another source for one item I could not get from anywhere else, I am done.

And the other item's location? A locally owned market (YES!)

Trader Joes, Costco and the Granville Market....no more chances for Whole Foods from me.

[Doremus]

110. I hate this man and wish he had nothing to do with Whole Foods.

Why in hell the B of D keeps this person in the CEO chair of a company whose target market encompasses many progressives is beyond my understanding.

Kick this detritus to the curb already.

[tilsammans]

111. Not to eavesdrop, but . . .

. . . I overheard two former WholeFoods employees saying how much it sucked to work there.

And now we know why.

[triplepoint]

112. Whole Foods/Paycheck--Overpriced and Overpackaged, Unsustainable Consumables

for the truly anal retentive and gullible part of the human species. Ever notice how many of their products are copied from others and rebadged as theirs?

[Rain Mcloud]

113. So they made Jethro Bodeen a CEO?

See this is what happens from country music.
The next thing you know cousins do the Horizontal Mambo and they have stupid children(The Bush Family for instance).
Then an old guy with a flintlock shoots at turkey and strikes it rich.
The little rich oy boy gets to be whatever he wants to be because he is frickin' rich.
In one case,pResident!

Scotty,beam me the hell out of here!

[infidel dog]

114. Ah yes, another deluded libertarian schmuck babbles on...

[derby378]

116. No Trader Joes anywhere near me, but we do have an HEB Central Market

I think that establishment is going to start seeing more and more of me from now on - and Whole Foods? See ya, Mackey.

[ShadesOfBlue]

121. did he not read the post-election reportort

that counties that had Whole Foods located within overwhelmingly went for Obama? Obama voters/liberals/progressives are likely his base customers.

[kiranon]

122. Add me to the list of those who won't shop at Whole Foods anymore.

Love their soups but found even better soup at New Leaf - a similar market on the Northern California coast.

[lonestarnot]

124. Dick is really going to like the public option then egh.

[NashvilleLefty]

125. I hate that guy. I hate Whole Foods.

I've been there a couple of times with friends, and actually read the labels.

They are a scam. He is a scam artist.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

126. No it isn't.

Corporations dictating government policy is fascism. Sheesh, don't these guys know anything?

[Systematic Chaos]

127. There used to be some stores in Las Vegas called Wild Oats....

Wild oats was sort of like Whole Foods. They had all kinds of natural and slightly more healthy processed food alternatives. They had all sorts of produce with the occasional wicked good deal. They had a full service deli with a veggie pizza that weighed a ton and was both to die for and fairly priced.

Most importantly, they had a couple of stores near the middle of town which were easy to get to by bus, so I could shop there when I was without a car and it wouldn't take all goddamn day.

As soon as Whole Foods moved in, they bought out Wild Oats and closed two of the most convenient stores for us "common folk". The prices were immediately put through the roof, since the clientele in the areas of town where the remaining stores were probably weren't faced with money as (much of) an object when they shopped.

They probably lost a couple thousand customers doing what they did, but I'm sure their bottom line is fatter. Not that I care. They can stick their business model and outlandish prices where the sun doesn't shine. As many have already said, Trader Joe's is far better for the money.

[MADem]

128. "Self professed libertarian" = Republican who wants to smoke pot.

Mackey can take his Whole Paycheck overpriced, halfassed, nose-in-the-air grocery store and stuff it. Away all dopes!

[geomon666]

129. Another on the boycott list

Keep outing yourselves fuckheads.

[jonthebru]

131. I won't be shopping there anymore.

[Permanut]

132. Okay, so supply and demand at work here..

and I have no further demand for Asswhole foods (thanks, Cowscamehome!)

also Chick fil A
Papa John's
Nike
Staples
Koch Brothers brands

[Art_from_Ark]

133. Wait a minute-- I thought Obamacare was *socialist*

Now they're saying it's *fascist*

I am confused

[gtar100]

134. You know that analogy is completely off base. Makes me wonder what his real motives are.

These business owners that complain about Obamacare are so wild in their accusations but I have yet to hear anything substantial. None of them care to address the need for health care. They only complain about being "forced" to provide it. As far as I'm concerned, if they can't come up with an alternative that is reasonable and workable in today's crazy reality (i.e, a country in which health care is a privilege but owning a gun is a right), then they are just whining about paying for it. Well, businesses have forced us into this system where health care is really only affordable for most people when it is a "benefit" from a job so they can just eat it if Obamacare raises their rates. They were just being cheap motherfuckers in the first place. I can guarantee that after they start paying the employer portion of health care, none of those assholes like John Mackey will be having to choose between Raman noodles and can of beans for dinner. Just a bunch of self-serving, greedy jerks.

This pisses me off enough to gladly take my business elsewhere.

[Warren DeMontague]

137. Whole Foods is overpriced- and sucks, too.

Trader Joes
Costco

[Le Taz Hot]

138. I haven't gone into a Whole Foods for years.

Just not into paying $3.00 for a potato. Whole Foods can only survive in areas where there is a mid- to high-level population base which means there will also be local alternatives available to consumers. In my area it's Kristina's -- everything WF has but without the attitude. That's over and above our great local Farmers' Markets.

[mwb970]

141. Another entry on my No-Go List.

Is there a website somewhere that lists these corporations run by right-wing assholes? I'm starting to lose track. It would also be nice to have a list of companies that are definitely progressive in outlook.

I hate giving money to right-wingers for anything. HATE it.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

142. What gets me...

...is that Whole Foods not only pays exceptionally well (the lowest paid employees start at $10/hr), but they have a GREAT benefits package to boot (great health coverage, fully paid by the company after 5 years of employment, small out of pocket that goes down every year before that). The ACA won't effect them in any way whatsoever. John Mackey should really keep his mouth shut before he ruins his brand.

It was the best job I ever had (worked there for about 6 or 7 years before our store was shut down when the economy started going to hell (2007ish).

[bucolic_frolic]

143. He's got it backwards

Fascism is when business owns and controls the government.

[SHRED]

144. Print this article out...

...make it part of a pamphlet...hand it out to customers entering the store?

[SHRED]

145. Limousine Libertarian

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/forums/?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3a338a2432-3a3c-459f-9c58-00df096792c5Forum%3a624bcd7f-b978-4ad6-996c-450fba4971f9Discussion%3a1148d32c-6b16-4fdc-8a28-31ac3d17a729&plckFindPostKey=Cat:338a2432-3a3c-459f-9c58-00df096792c5Forum:624bcd7f-b978-4ad6-996c-450fba4971f9Discussion:1148d32c-6b16-4fdc-8a28-31ac3d17a729Post:87b9e7d4-55d5-4ea7-bdf5-bed9d36c33af

[WranglerRog]

146. Technically speaking.....

Shut Up!

[AlbertCat]

148. Obamacare Is ‘Like Fascism’....

.... as apples are like hammers..... or something.

[mr.ed]

151. Can't go

I can't go to Whole Paycheck (six blocks away) because the markup makes me swoon.

[Still Blue in PDX]

152. I never shopped at Whole Paycheck anyway. nt

[The Midway Rebel]

154. You should hear the NPR interview.

He informs about how Americans are "addicted to food".

[Starry Messenger]

156. Time for my favorite video-

[RILib]

157. China Foods

Fist he developed foot in mouth disease a few years ago about organic foods being a ripoff and WF customers being stupid, then I learned a lot of the "organic" food at Whole Paycheck they buy from China. That's when I stopped shopping at Whole Foods. Trader Joe's plus my local health food store plus even big supermarkets carry Amy's, and I'm good to go.

[radhika]

161. Weaning myself from Whole Foods..I'd rather support other providers

Farmers markets, CSAs, food-coops, Trader Joe's. I will survive.

I'm happy to see mainstream supermarkets really expanding their organic and gluten-free offerings. If they are willing to start stocking the brands that customers like me request, they should be rewarded with patronage.

[tomtharp]

162. I just emailed my boycott to WF

I will never again shop at Whole Foods, bye bye .

[DeSwiss]

163. Dear 1%er Mackey:

Fascism is when you have a one-party, authoritarian government that won't let you say what you just said without getting yourself sent to a reeducation camp.

Or, as in your case an education camp.

- And fascists always wear funny hats......




K&R

[BainsBane]

164. He certainly doesn't know his customers

What an idiot. His sales will tank worse than Papa Johns and Applebys.

[grahamhgreen]

167. His stores have gone downhill anyway. Bye bye WF.

[stlsaxman]

168. This is the last thing i heard on NPR... EVER!

Inskeep was/is totally reprehensible and irresponsible and apparently uninformed about the definitions of "fascism", "socialism" and "corporatism".

I have turned off NPR before and sworn never to turn it on again, to no result... maybe this time.

oh- and I was never a fan of Whole Foods... so, never shopping there ain't a problem.

[LWolf]

169. Further and further

through the looking glass.

I WISH we had socialized medicine.

[Paladin]

170. Mackey Just Got A Gift-Wrapped Interview Segment On "Morning Joe"

Mike Barnacle and S.E. Cupp practically gave Mackey on-air blowjobs this morning, nothing but softball questions. His clumsy damage control efforts continue, aided by the conservative media types....

[stlsaxman]

171. The original Inskeep interview link...

http://www.npr.org/2013/01/17/169580493/part-2-conscious-capitalism

[drynberg]

172. BYE BYE MACKEY, AND BY THE WAY

U R full of it. Dead Wrong.