Friday, August 14, 2009

Children, Don't Throw Your Granola at Mr. Mackey!

On Tuesday, John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, offered on the opinion page of WSJ one of the most succinct and clear explanations of what is really needed to reform health care that this blogger has seen.

Today, ABC reports that Whole Foods is now being boycotted by those who disagree. Says one boycottist:

I think a CEO should take care that if he speaks about politics, that his beliefs reflect at least the majority of his clients.

So it's not OK for a CEO to advocate a political position that's simply good for business, unless he does so in conformity with the dogma of the left. I bought your organic oats, now vote my politics! Excellent advice from a faithful advocate of democracy and free thought.

We also are impressed by the mathematical insight of a person who demands conformity to the beliefs of "at least the majority." We suppose there could someday be something greater than the majority, namely unanimity, especially if the political rights of those who disagree are simply denied, as in Cuban presidential elections and such.

We note with sadness that from the left, the debate is ad hominem, about people who simply don't care about those who don't have healthcare and so who lie about obvious truths, while on the right it's a slippery slope, about exaggerated specters of euthanasia. Really, folks, it ought to be about the best way to improve the system, and once again, we say that the answers are utterly obvious.

6 comments:

Dr K. said...

Death Drugs Cause Uproar in Oregon
Terminally Ill Denied Drugs for Life, But Can Opt for Suicide

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5517492&page=1

Unknown said...

Really, Mackey's first point would almost solve the thing. Equalize the tax implications and this thing starts to go away.

I wouldn't want my employer (as great as it is) in charge of buying my car insurance... I want to shop around. But there's no way I'm gonna shop when an individual plan is 30% more right out of the gate due to tax reasons.

Jon A. Alfred E. Michael J. Wile E. SWNID said...

Precisely!

For us this irony is especially bitter because it has its origins in wage and price controls, another failed economic experiment in centralized control.

caress said...

I'm surprised that lefties haven't become disillusioned with Whole Foods before now. It's big buisness if there ever was big buiness. Being one who likes healthy food and healthy living but cannot help but to see the consumerism in green consumerism, I have a little pit in my stomach when I walk into Whole Foods... like I'm the butt of a marketing joke when all I want is some bulk oats.

farris said...

I'd like to talk about the implications of this at school, but from everything I've heard it does run counter to a lot of what they preach around the company. It's kind of a "reverse" culture situation where normally the governance culture is corrupt and that trickles down to the employees. Not that the healthcare stance of those upset by this is corrupt, but I think the point is kind of clear enough.

Beaker said...

What's wrong with big business? Try buying a computer without big business. Try buying a drink. Try buying a vehicle. And don't turn on the lights in the morning. Wouldn't want to send any money to any big business (the electric company or to GE for a light bulb).