Posted on 08/19/2009 9:38:51 AM PDT by La Lydia
Now is the time for all good capitalists to shop at Whole Foods. Not only will you get great produce, fresh meat, fish and healthy to-go meals, but you'll irritate those who think that President Obama's health-care plan isn't quite progressive enough. John Mackey, co-founder and chief executive of Whole Foods Market -- green missionary and exemplar of corporate compassion -- has riled hard-core reformers by endorsing free-market principles over government-managed health care.
Well, knock me over with a wakame frond. (That's seaweed for you tofu-averse.) ...If you're unlucky enough to live in a city without a Whole Foods store, you may not be able to fully appreciate the deliciousness of this food fight. When it comes to corporate responsibility, Mackey's company's core values read like a Happy Face Manifesto, pledging allegiance to sustainability, caring about our communities and environment, even "delighting our customers." But also -- brace yourself -- "creating wealth through profits & growth."
Is there room in a post-compassionate-conservative nation for a caring capitalist? Whole Foods...is what we used to call a "health food store," though Mackey's creation feels relatively mainstream compared to the early granola boutiques that made you feel like you have to assume the lotus position to gain entrance...
"Comprehensive" may be the scariest word in the English language when it tumbles from the lips of a politician. Instead of trying to revamp every aspect of the health-care system, Congress should follow Mackey's lead and tackle a few fixable problems with consensus and support from Americans, who, though frustrated with the status quo, aren't quite ready to surrender self-determination.
Mackey's ideas aren't necessarily the only route, but they offer a path that is pro-market, pro-individual and pro-choice -- all concepts that are organic to America and, like spinach, good for you.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Nitwit Parker trying to find the middle ground.
Wasn’t there another thread this past week asking FREEPERS TO BOYCOTT WHOLE FOODS??
I read Mr. Mackey’s WSJ editorial. I was indeed pleasantly surprised. A wealthy capitalist who actually believes in capitalism for everyone! A health food missionary who does not believe in diet coercion! I also noted the WSJ editorial blurb of yesterday that pointed out the nutroots rage against Mackey as an apostate.
Call me a “crunchy con” if you must, but I think a goodly proportion of health nutz are libertarian by nature. For those of you who swing that way, you’ll understand that nutritional supplements, organic food and alternative health treatments have been under continual siege by medical/agricultural/industrial complex for decades in a similar manner to gun rights or property rights.
Furthermore, a great many leftist arugula-eaters will fight rather than let Obama take away their food and healthcare options.
Strange bedfellows but potential allies nonetheless.
“Wasn’t there another thread this past week asking FREEPERS TO BOYCOTT WHOLE FOODS??”
The ones I saw here were pro-Mackey. I certainly am pro-Mackey. There were irritated liberals who wanted to boycott the stores. Dumbasses for sure.
I’m going to shop there, in spite of Kathleen Parker.
Stopped clock...
Twice a day...
That’s what I thought. But I loved the line about having to assume the lotus position to enter a granola boutique. Physically impossible.
Safeway grocery stores and WalMart are also BIG proponents of Health Savings Accounts, wellness and other private market solutions.
Note that nearly all HSA eligible plans cover preventive care visits and tests at 100%, with NO deductible or co-pay. They also usually have very good web based wellness programs, and deep (70% or more) drug and vision discounts.
These plans are what the government wants to engineer by mandate and a lot of your money. Yet, the market came up with them all by itself.
There should be a “no post” rule for Kathleen Parker’s boring articles - like this one. Perhaps we could have a “boring alert” tag.
They are nice stores and their cheese selection is fantastic, but they are spendy!
I usually don’t like her either. But this is one of her better efforts. If you don’t like her, instead of demanding censorship, how’s about you JUST DON’T BOTHER TO READ IT?
From one crunchy con to another, I agree.
Who wrote this blatant commercial? And is Wholefoods the only health food store? C’moooon!
I don’t know of any other chains of whole foods supermarkets, at least not on the East Coast. There used to be a very good chain, Wild Oats, but I think Whole Foods bought them.
” don’t know of any other chains of whole foods supermarkets, at least not on the East Coast.”
So it’s a local problem.
As for it being a local problem, the reason Mackey's WSJ article had so much impact is that his chain is large, operates in many states, and insures all of its employees. So no, the Whole Foods boycott isn't just local.
Oh no, never censor Kathleen Parker - she’s too much fun to poke at! It’s just that only her incendiary and bigoted columns should be posted. The boring ones will put people to sleep - hence the need for a “Boring Alert”.
I wasn’t the one who wanted to censor her. She is the Post’s idea of a “conservative.”
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