Just because you can find 22,000 or more socialist on a social network doesn't necessarily mean there's a 'backlash' - it simply means that at least 22,000 people are complete idiots. I would suspect that a large percentage of those didn't read the opinion piece, and a larger percentage wouldn't understand it if they did.
Evan Meacham
· 3 months ago
hell, im going to strictly buy Whole Foods brand stuff until this crap is over.
natalie
· 3 months ago
2nd this
Rich Becker
· 3 months ago
Excellent.
deanhigginbotham
· 3 months ago
+1
Karen
· 3 months ago
he is, of course, 100% correct
Infidelesto
· 3 months ago
Interesting how you don't mention the other side of the issue which has social media implications as well. There's a Facebook group "Support Whole foods" which counters the boycott http://bit.ly/138TVo but maybe it's too inconvenient to expose both sides to your readership.
mikefay25
· 3 months ago
Great point! Thanks, for the link to the article and group. Just signed up.
frosting recipes
· 2 months ago
Yeah i agree, it's a good article, but we need to see both sides of the story. Some are for, some are against, and i think we need all the info to build a correct opinion. Thanks for the link!
Mike
· 3 months ago
Guy sounds like a real tool. I predict that this will have little impact on Whole Foods in the long run.
Christopher Reilley
· 3 months ago
The CEO of Whole Foods is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. If we stopped stuffing our face with Doritos and Twinkies while sitting in front of the idiot box for hours on end, our health care expenses would plummet.
Gerald McGrew
· 3 months ago
I think his comments are spot on. Good for him to say it in public and shame on the people penalizing a company for an executive's comments. It isn't company policy, it's his opinion.
Robert Munson
· 3 months ago
If the issue here is healthcare reform, than these folks just don’t get it. Let’s sum up their rage – they’re mad at the CEO of a high-end organic grocery store – a place where no one who really needs healthcare reform could ever dream of shopping. They protest HIM and NOT our abysmal healthcare system and those who stand in the way of reform from the candidate they so passionately supported? That makes perfect sense. Let's redirect the angst where it can REALLY make a difference!
Silencio Barnes
· 3 months ago
Oh, I hadn't read this before I posted my question right below - NOW it's making more sense :P
michael
· 3 months ago
too bad his comments are spot on... im now going to become a fan of Whole Foods on facebook
stevepohlit
· 3 months ago
John's article is outstanding. Did anyone notice what he does for his own company? What he is saying is being responsible. He has a business and decides what will work best for the people who work there. It looks to me like it works very well and other companies should take note.
Now we have the other side who feels that because somebody makes money they should take care of somebody who doesn't. Well I disagree. With most people are eating themselves to death as evidenced by the obesity epidemic in this country, i see minimal evidence of personal responsible for health. I support a system that helps those who cannot help themselves but this system is not at the federal level.
Get the government's nose out of everyday living. Individual acceptance of personal responsibility for life in an free society is key. If that does not happen then the US is destined for a dictatorship. History shows that and we are actually more there than most will acknowledge.
pfuse
· 3 months ago
I don't have a Whole Foods in my town, and I'm not even a patron of "goat roper" stores in general, but now I'm a fan on Facebook, and when I travel I will be sure to stop and buy something even if I don't need it.
baldjake
· 3 months ago
Interesting story for sure. Anyone who uses social media to broadcast their opinions through their business should be cautious.
I say good for him for expressing his opinion in this case, b/c he had a Whole Foods answer to tie up the comments. Like or hate the opinion, I admire the relevance and his willingness to speak up.
Ryan OD
· 3 months ago
What!?...Promote education and healthy living? How dare he!! I'm appalled and I am one of the 22,000! I want my cigs, Big Mac's and heart disease, and if you all can't handle paying for that when I go to the hospital then I guess the blood will be on your hands.
Really people? This is just sad and good for John. Especially if that is what Whole Foods stands for anyway then why should there be any separation between his personal comments and whole foods comments?
DH
· 3 months ago
Oh for crying out loud. What is wrong with these people? God forbid the man has an opinion. The case against Obama's health care plan is VALID and every American has the right to express their views. If I boycotted every website I disagree with I'd never be on the web. Well, I'm going to make sure I shop there this weekend.
jordankettner
· 3 months ago
I highly doubt that Whole Foods will see any loss of business from this. The people who are boycotting the store are people that probably have never been there in the first place. What he wrote is true, and I think that anyone that shops at whole foods would agree with him.
Yoli
· 3 months ago
I shop at Whole Foods and will continue to do so. However, I completely disagree with Mr. Mackey's position. If he really cared about personal responsibility, he should open up some stores in the South Bronx, south side of Chicago, and LA inner cities at affordable prices to this population. That way all of America would have access to organic food (i.e. healthy diets) and Mr. Mackey would be putting his money where his mouth is.
Smh
· 3 months ago
Amen to that. I'm so sick of white people with no common sense(I'm sorry but they're always white). THESE people here, applauding whole Foods are the same people who have never had to wait hours in line at a public clinic or bypass the doctor altogether when it was absolutely necessary. Walk in our shoes for a day...we don't all stuff our faces with Big Macs...some of us would like to be able to afford the BASIC healthcare needs you take for granted.
seakist
· 3 months ago
I'm white and I agree with you :)
donald
· 3 months ago
I stand behind CEO Mackey and the employees of Whole Foods against this ridiculous boycott.
Greg
· 3 months ago
That's what you get these days for speaking the truth.
russ960
· 3 months ago
Personally I'm adding myself as a fan of Whole Foods.
phineaspoe
· 3 months ago
I am as well. Seemed very reasonable to me.
Bruce Colwin
· 3 months ago
Just did.
John B.
· 3 months ago
Me too. He is right. Do you really want a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington deciding how and when you get treated if you get sick?
We have too many people drinking the Obama Kool_Aid.
bejou
· 3 months ago
Yes, I actually do. The Govt. isn't in it to make a profit.
John B.
· 3 months ago
PS 27,000 boycotter's? How many people are NOT boycotting? How many Whole Foods shoppers are even aware of the comment?
Noisy minority.
raj
· 3 months ago
as much as I love the Whole Foods selection, they're extremely expensive. So their "approach" to health isn't exactly feasible for everyone.
Vicki
· 3 months ago
If I had money to shop at Whole Foods, I'd probably have health insurance. Single parent, two jobs, grow my own organics. :o)
vegas
· 3 months ago
"Instead, we should be trying to achieve reforms by moving in the opposite direction—toward less government control and more individual empowerment"
This.
charlesneville
· 3 months ago
Would be interesting to see how many of the 22,000 in the boycott group are/were also fans of Whole Foods on Facebook.
Evan Meacham
· 3 months ago
are people mad because its true? it doesnt mean you have to buy from Whole Foods, whats the big deal???? its funny because people say "oh yea, health care for everyone!" yea, only if your government thinks your life is worth it.
Bri
· 3 months ago
So I'm guessing it's mostly fat people that are protesting?
David Shantz -Magnity
· 3 months ago
People who disagree with the man's viewpoint should boycott John Mackey vs. Whole Foods. If the man had any sense he would stop using his WholeFoods soapbox for his private political views... It is ultimately a very poor choice on his part, as he is using his shareholder's equity as collateral. You can see the temptation, with that many followers in social media. Certainly few would fault him if he were trying to Save an Endangered species etc.
Matt Seddon
· 3 months ago
Notice how the first thing you defend is the Shareholders equity, rather than the 50,000 employees as the Whole Foods "response", tries to do. As for that response from WF and the comments about the loyal employees, if Mackey gave a hoot about them - he would NOT have submitted and Opinion to the Wall Street Journal . And for the shareholders... I guess it's time to sell.
scribble
· 3 months ago
American Corporations should speak up more often favor of their customers' interests and needs. If GM had spoken up in favor of public health care and in opposition to high interest rates, they would have helped their customers, and their customers would have purchased even more cars from them. With more insightful support for their customers, GM probably would have avoided bankruptcy.
Whole Foods is in a similar position. WF should advocate for its customers' interests and needs, but the CEOs op-ed piece is not good customer advocacy. He brought no new insightful business knowledge to bear on the problem he addressed. It is just a verbal tantrum that he should have known goes against his customers' interests. Whole Foods should fire him.
sc
texastaxman
· 3 months ago
I will shop at Whole Foods exclusively to help offset the cost of these "sheep-like" idiots who think they have been betrayed by one of their own. These are mindless robots of the left who latch on to something, try to hijack it and rule the day. We see them for the sheeple they are.
Jason Rukus
· 3 months ago
I agree we are all entitled to our opinions and so we may all band together and act on them if we disagree with someone else's. People seem to forget freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequence. Call me a cynic but his comment wreaks of marketing disguised as an opinion anyway. Yes if we all eat healthier we wont be sick... all it's missing is a buy Whole Foods slogan at the end.
I think it's also interesting he mentioned intrinsic rights given his companies goal to starve people by charging more for food than your local grocery store and continuing to perpetuate the complete fallacy that so called "organic" food is somehow better for you and society at large. The reality being the complete opposite which makes it partially responsible for economic and hunger issues related to the food industry.
Furthermore it's a very basic requirement of civilized society to provide services to it's population, health care being one of them. This benefits society as a whole and adds to the value of our nation. It's difficult to be productive when your suffering. I believe education should also be one of them so people will actually start reading these plans the government devises instead of listening to Fox news and then repeating the sound bites... There aren't any death panels people, read the fricken plan!
The organic movement has become some sort of ill informed cult society so a boycott of Whole Foods for whatever reason is a fantastic thing.
Greg
· 3 months ago
Bold words, but you're wrong. Organic food is indeed better for you: becuase it isn't irradiated like the conventional stuff, it retains its enzymes, which your body needs. Since it's non-GMO it is less likely to have weird side effects (GMO corn, for example, is linked to infertility in mammals) Next, there's a lesser toxic load resulting from organic farming. The reason organic food costs more is because it's more expensive to produce. If you can't afford it, too bad. Or am I just ignorant, man?
Cait
· 3 months ago
Actually, no. You're the one misinformed. Keep up with the news, Greg. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine recently published a study which only corroborated earlier studies. Organic food has NO nutritional or health benefits over ordinary food.
Sure, the environmental benefits of organically grown food are better than factory farming practices, but that's something else entirely.
Jason Rukus
· 3 months ago
Sadly it's also more damaging to our environment for a multitude of reasons but I think one of the most prominent is it uses more water than newer farming techniques. A resource we do not have an abundance of.
Also let's not forget how many people would starve to death if we switched over to organic farming.
What really amuses me about this aside from how poorly informed these people are is that they still continue to go to doctors or take aspirin. You can't wage a war to return us to preindustrial times and still utilize all the benefits of modern medicine and technology.
karmachika
· 3 months ago
I agree with you, this smells of self-serving marketing tactics to me. Besides the obvious... promoting healthier diets, organic foods, and that whole lifestyle would help boost their sales... I bet there are many people out there like me... for years I couldn't afford health insurance, so if my daughter or I began to feel sick we would turn to the health food store for remedies, instead of spending a fortune at the doctor and pharmacy. But if we had insurance, I probably would have gone to the doctor more often. I think vitamins, herbs & remedies are a large part of their business and it would definitely cut into their profits if more people had insurance and went to their doctor first.
John
· 3 months ago
Like it matters. These people won't boycott Whole Foods. They just hopped on that thing called the bandwagon. Remember those Facebook groups 'Bring Back Old Facebook Or We Are Leaving!' Did they leave? No...probably Facebook's heaviest current users.
netlatch
· 3 months ago
Mouchers boycott!
Nikolay Kolev
· 3 months ago
With Obama's declining popularity (http://bit.ly/8z2rH), which is below 50% now, Whole Foods can actually gain more supporters that it could possibly lose. And people will still go buy at Whole Foods as there aren't that many alternatives.
Evan Meacham
· 3 months ago
One more thing: I suggest people take a look at a documentary called "The Future of Food".
While I'm a huge supporter of Obama, I agree with much of what Mr Mackey says. I'm a health care provider and firmly believe that people could prevent many health problems by taking better care of their body. Even a few dietary lifestyle changes could make a huge difference!! I'm addingWhole Foods Facebook page too.
Eddie
· 3 months ago
Hate to sound snobbish, but ah, what the hell! The folks that are for government run health care aren't shopping at WF anyway, so it sounds like a bunch of left wing nutjob propaganda to me.
But I do support their boycott in a different way - as I don't want them coming into my store and stinking up the place. Keep them out!
Silencio Barnes
· 3 months ago
On the issue, I lean neither this way or that...I'm more of a cynical watcher than an activist. However, and you can call me dense...but what is it in John Mackey's speech that has people banding together and boycotting?
Someone explain it to me. He seems to make very valid points *shrugs*
mom101
· 3 months ago
The issue is that he's alienated the Whole Foods core customer, who tends to be politically progressive and supports brands that align with their values. So essentially he's spitting in the face of his consumer when he leads with a quote from Margaret Thatcher and uses inflammatory and generally misleading terms like "socialism." There are any number of doctors and hospital administrators on the Whole Foods blog refuting his suggestions as "naive" and "mean-spirited" and "ill-informed."
A current Whole Foods employee named Karen Gilliland previously treated for Stage III Colo-rectal cancer commented that "It’s not so easy to get private health care when you have something like this in your past. You typically get denied by health insurance companies...High deductibles, private health insurance plans, charity, and healthy eating are not always the answer…and I’m sorry (though not surprised) that you feel the way you do and help you will educate yourself some more about the issue."
If the CEO of John Deere came out with an op-ed supporting gay marriage you could imagine there would be similar backlash. It was a dumb business move on Mackey's part -arrogant, driven by ego, and compromising the livelihoods of the 50,000 people who work for him.
Greg
· 3 months ago
Heh, almost surprising the boycotters aren't calling J. Mackey as a racist for objecting to Obama's grand plans
Jen
· 3 months ago
LOLLLLLLLLLL! Or say..."I blame Bush for Whole Foods existing."
Sandy
· 3 months ago
I totally agree with you!!!
carlyt
· 3 months ago
Mr. Mackey's millions have clouded his view of the real world. His suggestion to cover the uninsured with voluntary donations show how ridiculous his arguments are. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
Maria Popova
· 3 months ago
Oh boo hoo. Kudos to Mackey for saying what people don't want to hear but need to do.
An example: making trans fats illegal makes no difference for those who take the individual responsibility not to have them in the first place, nor to those who make the choice to have them – they'll find a way. The only group affected positively by such legislation are those who have no idea what trans fats are, and are eating "bad food" because they don't know any better. In that case, the solution isn't manipulating availability, it's manipulating awareness – education. And that's a separate kind of reform.
Government regulation of physical resources would never compensate for individual responsibility and intellectual resources. So, in that respect, Mackey was absolutely correct. Unfortunately, we – in social media especially, but also in general – tend to polarize opinions and cling to their most extreme interpretations, it's just the nature of the whole controversy-breeds-attention game.
lziskind1
· 3 months ago
Even though his PR and marketing people must be banging their heads against walls, and even though he manages to make potentially empathetic comments sound elitist and insensitive, the guy isn't totally wrong. Mackey's correct in pinpointing some of the huge health issues of much of the U.S. population- obesity, bad diet, and lack of exercise. And while I totally support some system of nationalized health care, if we don't treat the causes of poor health, we're just pouring money down a hole and cranking out an endless supply of people with obesity related illnesses. To be fair, I have noticed slightly lowered prices in WF lately, but if Mackey wanted to really make an impact, he'd put his money where his mouth is - ensure that every store has a selection of affordable, fresh, and wholesome foods. As other people's comments have asked, isn't this sort of a case of misplaced anger? Nothing is solved by boycotting WF. Raise your damn voices against the stranglehold insurance companies have on our medical care. Make them pay for wellness programs. Cheaper, and ultimately healthier, in the long run.
tessssss
· 3 months ago
"he 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.”"
That's code for: "We need more poor desperate people in the world to take advantage of. Thye need to be poorer so I can be richer"
There's nothing in the world you can eat that will prevent tuberculousis or cancer.
To say that only people that have so much money should get health care is down right evil!
Capitalism and health care shouldn't be mixed. Take the profit out of it now!
don
· 3 months ago
So what's the issue? He's right about how we inflict ourselves with most health problems. Where he goes offside, from this Canadian's p.o.v., is renewing that old conservative shibboleth that government-supported health care is some kind of Commie plot. On that front he's well deserving of a few bricks.
don
· 3 months ago
So what's the issue? He's right about how we inflict ourselves with most health problems. Where he goes offside, from this Canadian's p.o.v., is renewing that old conservative shibboleth that government-supported health care is some kind of Commie plot. On that front he's well deserving of a few bricks.
Jen
· 3 months ago
You forgot...or rather didn't know....of the thousands of people also opposing the Obamacare horrible plan. Myself being one of them. Can we say BIAS? There was a petition circulated entirely virally that held the signatures of 31,000 doctorate level scientists that denounce the existence of global warming, and 175,000 signatures collected to boycott the movie "Orphan" for the tagline 'it must be hard to love a child that's not yours' also collected entirely by social media.
Oh how about the over 20 minute expose done by Youtuber Steven Crowder on the false perception of Canadian Socialized Medicine? You aren't fooling anyone by your insinuations.
If I believed in buying organic food...I would buy exclusively from them BASED on these statements since they're RIGHT! Heaven forbid someone speak out against the Chosen One Obama's craptacular plan and speak the truth! Ridiculous. I usually like you Mashable. This is disappointing.
BaronToler
· 3 months ago
"The consumer-driven boycott has already elicited a public response, albeit not an apology, from Whole Foods, that was shared last week via a Facebook note. "
I believe this sentence shows the bias of the author of this article. There is no reason for John to "apologize" for his political position just because some random people on facebook jumped onto a supposed boycott group.
I question the value of facebook groups like this is general. How many of the members live in the US? How many live within 20 miles of a Whole Foods store? How many have shopped there once in the past month? How many will really carry out the boycott and not shop there until John recants his offense to "the annointed one"'s healthcare proposal?
Metrics matter. That's what people forget. There are tons of people who complain about walmart or microsoft or {insert large "evil" corporation here} and THEY STILL SHOP THERE or USE OR BUY THEIR PRODUCTS! Words are nothing without action....and clicking on a "join {insert random protest/cause groupname here" button on facebook DOES NOT EQUAL ACTION IN THE REAL WORLD.
Don't believe everything you read...and don't believe everything people say...watch what they do.
brooks bayne
· 3 months ago
lemme get this straight, the ceo of one of the most responsible "green" companies with one of the highest employee ratings writes the best op-ed piece i've seen on either side of the aisle regarding the menace that is "obamacare" and ppl wanna boycott whole foods? simply amazing.
john mackey runs a company that was the was the first major retailer to offset 100% of its energy use with wind energy credits (don't forget about their initiatives to work with local sustainable and organic farmers). they cap executive pay to 14 times the lowest paid employee! they even post all the store employees salaries in the store for all store employees to see. so much effort has gone into their corporate responsibility efforts, i could list so much more.
but on this issue, here's the kicker - whole foods has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine for the last 12 years as one of the "100 best companies to work for," and in 2009 they were one of only 15 companies on their list that cover 100% of their employees' health insurance premiums!!!! a ppo plan by unitedhealthcare, no less!
how's that for honest debate? john mackey, a man whose company insures almost 50,000 employees at a rate of 100% coverage, provided an opinion about better and cheaper alternatives to govt healthcare (because govt anything is so efficient, right?). mackey provided well-reasoned options, based on his real-world experience. he didn't use hyperbole or ad hominem to make his point, and yet, his company takes a hit like this.
the ppl boycotting whole foods don't want honest debate. these ppl cling bitterly to their handouts and govt promises of "hope" and "change" (read: socialism). if u fall into this category of whole foods "boycotter", u might wanna remove the obamacare koolaid iv drip from ur brain, stat! btw, ur hammer and sickle is showing thru ur hospital gown.
as for me, i'm now mackey's biggest fan. oh, next time ur at whole foods, try the artichoke pizza with kalmata olives. it = win.
JEcuyer
· 3 months ago
Whole Foods is doing the right thing. America's businesses can't afford this fiasco of a healthcare plan.
Charlie
· 3 months ago
It's a free country. John Mackey says what he wants and I shop where I want. Somewhere, the Dixie Chicks are smiling right now with all this righty bluster.
Charlie
· 3 months ago
It's a free country. John Mackey says what he wants and I shop where I want. Somewhere, the Dixie Chicks are smiling right now with all this righty bluster.
Prstn
· 3 months ago
Love his comments.
Gov't. run companies - Amtrak, U.S. Post Office, Fannie Mae (GSE chartered by Congress), Freddie Mac (created and regulated by Congress), Medicare, Social Security, CARS (Cash for Clunkers where dealer participants have not been paid yet), and more gross failures.
Do we really want obese (Barnie Frank), tobacco addicted (President Obama), recovering alcoholic (Ted Kennedy) legislators determining what is good health care????
I love Whole Foods and enjoy chatting with the Save the Whales and No on Prop 8 folks outside. It is a great store that addresses the needs of people who have legitimate health care issues that can be helped by proper diet.
Glutten free - Union run stores have little to no selection and the "well-trained" union employees are hard to find and very unhelpful.
If I were diabetic, had Celiac's, had to go on a vegetarian or vegan diet for any reason - I would shop at Whole Foods all the time!
They try to help local producers (farmers, ranchers, growers, and vendors) as well as obtain foods (like bananas and coffee) from producers with a conscience.
Am going to become a fan of Whole Foods.
Josh
· 3 months ago
The people that join this boycott are destroying the spirit of open dialog President Obama believes in. Obama said "I will listen; especially when we disagree."
The way to learn more about an issue as important as health care reform is to allow all voices who are rational and intelligent to speak. MacKey's piece, whether you agree or disagree overall, was not the mad ravings of some gun-toting redneck at a town hall meeting, but had some good points that should be considered.
The boycotters, are just like the people during the last 8 years of Bush II who said to disagree with the administration was "unpatriotic". The boycotters' goals are to shut down free speech, censor, and build partisan hatred, like Rush and Ann Coulter are doing on the right.
In a nation built on free speech, it is the boycotters who are unpatriotic.
Gretchen Figueroa
· 3 months ago
In the past Whole Foods had not been my store of choice. Because of the resent turn of events I intend to spend my monthly shopping budget at Whole Foods. I will not be intimidated by these radical thinkers. They have a right to voice their opinion, but so does Mr. Mackey. Hopefully their tactics will bring more business to Whole Foods in- stead and prove just where the American people stand.
Gretchen Figueroa Fort Collins, Colorado
George
· 3 months ago
What do you expect, look at some of protest sites.. Huffington Post? Only the most backwards communist supporting liberals post there. Theres nothing fair about that site.
Lets see if I get this straight. Lets protest against Whole Foods an American company which has around 50,000+ employees, which I would guarantee most of them are tree hugging liberals, and lets see if we can hurt there business so liberal whole food employees get fired?
Your not hurthing the CEO hes loaded you tards. Liberals eat there own.
garylerude
· 3 months ago
If Mackey is speaking for himself, he has a right to his opinion, and it should not backfire on Whole Foods -- especially its employees. However, if he is speaking for Whole Foods, then let those who disagree with the position vote with their wallets.
OM
· 3 months ago
I mean, seriously, he opens with a Thatcher quote? I'm taking my mandals elsewhere.
felicity214
· 3 months ago
If you really think about it, NOTHING in that store is ORGANIC! If it is displayed or prepared in areas where there are conventional items, it has be cross contaminated! Anyone who thinks they are getting organic or non-gluten or wheat-free items is being deceived! THINK ABOUT IT!
Oh, and the "albeit not an apology" what in the world would this man have to apologize for? having and expressing an opinion? what has this country come to? maybe the writer of this article needs to apologize?
namnum
· 3 months ago
Agreed. I don't mind a writer showing her bias, but I wish more writers would state it clearly. Maybe "I personally don't agree with his position and I expected an apology". Sliding in comments like "albeit not an apology" is something I would expect of an old school media outlet not a new media outlet like Mashable.
No Jennifer, you and I don't see eye to eye on Mackey's comments, but I respect your opinion of it, and appreciate your reporting enough to read it even if you don't come in on my side of the fence. Just *please* be upfront about your personal bias.
As far as the protest against Whole Foods, people are within their rights to do what they want. I will go out of my way to get to a Whole Foods and buy some stuff this week though.
Scott
· 3 months ago
I read the article when it came out. I thought it was great and it increased my like for Whole Foods. i was surprised to read it became the catalyst for a boycott - but I guess that choice is a fair response. I have no voice to express my support for John as my purchases at Whole Foods do not register this support in any meaningful way. So I note it here.
I also believe that his comments in support of his workers was excellent as well. Way to go John - some of us are pulling for ya.
Ramona Werst
· 3 months ago
I love Whole Foods and stand behind them! I protest the Whole Foods Protest http://bit.ly/i453b
VitaminCM
· 3 months ago
I hate the wingnuts on the far left and far right of this issue. I think it's pretty funny that he gets flack for saying that people are responsible for themselves. Is it wrong to say that people who smoke, drink, overeat, and abuse themselves are causing their own health problems?
djschultz
· 3 months ago
Go Whole Foods, I don't know where the closest is to Ogden, UT, probably Salt Lake, but if I could possibly support them, I would. I realize that having a political opinion different that doesn't adhere to the present administration, especially when most of your customer base does, may not be healthy for business, but his comments make more than total sense. If most of the customer base were more interested in being healthy, than in being politically correct, it would seem that they would agree with his perspective. Whole foods promotes healthy eating and healthy living and personal responsibility to do so. Why is that such a surprise to some of their customers?
David Fauber
· 3 months ago
I hear as long as you eat right nothing can ever happen that would require medical attention.
daniel
· 3 months ago
So the CEO has an opinion, one shared by millions of people, and for that reason people are boycotting Whole Foods and putting at risk the jobs of thousands? Now thats progressive.
Name
· 3 months ago
i don't see anything wrong in what he said in the part you posted. It is most likely the truth. especially the last paragraph posted.
etanielbencyehuda
· 3 months ago
Shalom Aleichem! I used to work for this company and the execs/management/supervision DO NOT CARE about health. John Mackey made the statement, so, that more people will shop @ WFM. Please check out the CNN report made against Whole Foods. IT is very true. They have way too many obese managers/employees. Like morbidly obese, not just a little fleshy.
WFM is a place of hypocrites! EVERYONE, PLEASE LEARN TO GROW YOUR OWN ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGGIES! A lot of the (overpriced, unclean) foods in the Prepared Foods one can make on their own. None of the recipes are complex, the least bit. Don't believe the hype of Whole Foods. Trader Joe's and your local co-ops are much better choices. TJ's prices are cheaper and they have quality foods. Your local co-op usually has a genuine concern for community and humanitarian issues. Let's be smart and wise in these days. Thank you!
felicity214
· 3 months ago
f you really think about it, NOTHING in that store is ORGANIC! If it is displayed or prepared in areas where there are conventional items, it has be cross contaminated! Anyone who thinks they are getting organic or non-gluten or wheat-free items is being deceived! THINK ABOUT IT!! Anyone who shops in that store is a fool who doesn't mind getting RIPPED OFF!
Deemo
· 3 months ago
Typical liberal blog. Only shows one side which benfits the librals. I have talked to several people who have never been to a whole foods, and are now going because of the Comments. Wow, where is that statistic on here. Oh right, its a liberal bunch who probably all eat organic, but just to follow suit as all Democrats do, regardless of the issues, they now are joining the boycott. Dems are trying to make this a health care issue, we have the best health care in the world. Problem is those of us who have it are not going to pay for those who dont want to work and pay for it like we do.
Michael
· 3 months ago
The FREE MARKET is what gave this company its position! The CEO is fair and just with all his employees. Giving them and those who WORK health care. We need to put people back to work! This country is not a GIVE AWAY. Many of our grandparents/fathers and mothers came here from other countries, mine included. My grandmother came from Norway...Socialist in nature to seek a better life. She worked on a farm while learning English! She cleaned for others and never took anything from her new found country except what she earned. She loved this country and one own freedom to excel or fail. Yes we need reforms in health care....NOT a socialist over hall. This isn't about HEALTH CARE, it's about control over our money and lives.....
TexasTaxMan
· 3 months ago
I will shop at Whole Foods exclusively to help offset the cost of these "sheep-like" idiots who think they have been betrayed by one of their own. These are mindless robots of the left who latch on to something, try to hijack it and rule the day. We see them for the sheeple they are.
rawprincess
· 3 months ago
Weeds are free and help health immensely if they aren't sprayed with pesticides. The fact that Whole Foods sells "golden" broccoli (read: expensive) doesn't demonize them in my books for what they've been quoted as saying here.
Holistic wellness based lifestyle can and does cut down on western medical prescriptions, surgeries and whatnot. Not to be ungrateful for those chronic situations where emergency medical measures certainly save lives. Insurance is good. (Meaning I feel "safer" if I've got it even if I don't use it.)
I'm a fan of Whole Foods and definitely want to see us as a society head into less processed, denatured and devitalised, refined foods which apparantly (supersize this) cause health problems!! *weeeeee*
Brett Borders
· 3 months ago
Whole Foods sucks. Rip off store for rich yuppies.
Peter
· 3 months ago
I saw a YT video and I'm voting for Obama! I saw a YT video and I'm boycotting Whole Foods! NOT!!!!! C'mon people, stop the madness and start exercising freedom of thought. What's wrong with one person's exercising freedom of speech? Personally I'm doubling down on my Whole Foods budget in support of freedom of speech and an introduction of thoughtful discourse on a broken 'legislative' process that is being rammed down our throats.
FLaWLiiSs
· 3 months ago
WOW ever think how old people lived so long even though whole foods or much organics were'nt around? this is a free country do what makes you feel good (dose'nt mean it is always good for you) but this country still sells ciggaretes even though they are a death trap. besides do you really want to live long enough for your family to put you in a nursing home and grt beat to death that would be a waste of money if you think about it ........
Marie
· 3 months ago
He is right - and i bet money that the people who are in this group are those who are lazy enought to solely rely on government aide and arent willing to work more than 40 hrs to maintain health insurance. People who really need health care / insurance are being pushed away due to those who have "self-inflicted" issues that can be stopped! Damn lazy people who rely on everyone but themselves to make things right. i believe in a reform- but our government cant solve anything - if they could have THEY WOULD HAVE
daytime77
· 3 months ago
Whole Foods boycott reaching 33,000 Facebook members. The hubris with which CEO Markey suggested that if everyone ate his food we would be healthier AND his comments on offering the rich better tax deductions, so they could make enough donations to cover the uninsured, was enough to get me to join the boycott!
scgreetings
· 2 months ago
It just goes to show that we are losing our freedom of speech and is that really America to those who disagree are for no freedom of speech
RIPPER
· 1 month ago
I will support Whole Foods. They have just opened a store 5 miles from where we live. I'm really tired of these Neo-Fascists (Democrats) attacking our freedoms. The Whole Foods CEO spoke the truth. The Neo-Fascists can't handle the truth or facts. I guess because of my and me the # of 22.000 not shopping at Whole Foods is now down to 21,998. Maybe those who don't agree with the Neo-Fascist agenda should begin our own boycotts. GE might be a good company to sart with.
All Comments
Just because you can find 22,000 or more socialist on a social network doesn't necessarily mean there's a 'backlash' - it simply means that at least 22,000 people are complete idiots. I would suspect that a large percentage of those didn't read the opinion piece, and a larger percentage wouldn't understand it if they did.
Now we have the other side who feels that because somebody makes money they should take care of somebody who doesn't. Well I disagree. With most people are eating themselves to death as evidenced by the obesity epidemic in this country, i see minimal evidence of personal responsible for health. I support a system that helps those who cannot help themselves but this system is not at the federal level.
Get the government's nose out of everyday living. Individual acceptance of personal responsibility for life in an free society is key. If that does not happen then the US is destined for a dictatorship. History shows that and we are actually more there than most will acknowledge.
I say good for him for expressing his opinion in this case, b/c he had a Whole Foods answer to tie up the comments. Like or hate the opinion, I admire the relevance and his willingness to speak up.
Really people? This is just sad and good for John. Especially if that is what Whole Foods stands for anyway then why should there be any separation between his personal comments and whole foods comments?
We have too many people drinking the Obama Kool_Aid.
Noisy minority.
This.
Whole Foods is in a similar position. WF should advocate for its customers' interests and needs, but the CEOs op-ed piece is not good customer advocacy. He brought no new insightful business knowledge to bear on the problem he addressed. It is just a verbal tantrum that he should have known goes against his customers' interests. Whole Foods should fire him.
sc
I think it's also interesting he mentioned intrinsic rights given his companies goal to starve people by charging more for food than your local grocery store and continuing to perpetuate the complete fallacy that so called "organic" food is somehow better for you and society at large. The reality being the complete opposite which makes it partially responsible for economic and hunger issues related to the food industry.
Furthermore it's a very basic requirement of civilized society to provide services to it's population, health care being one of them. This benefits society as a whole and adds to the value of our nation. It's difficult to be productive when your suffering. I believe education should also be one of them so people will actually start reading these plans the government devises instead of listening to Fox news and then repeating the sound bites... There aren't any death panels people, read the fricken plan!
The organic movement has become some sort of ill informed cult society so a boycott of Whole Foods for whatever reason is a fantastic thing.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32205139/
Sure, the environmental benefits of organically grown food are better than factory farming practices, but that's something else entirely.
Also let's not forget how many people would starve to death if we switched over to organic farming.
What really amuses me about this aside from how poorly informed these people are is that they still continue to go to doctors or take aspirin. You can't wage a war to return us to preindustrial times and still utilize all the benefits of modern medicine and technology.
its on hulu. cant hurt, right?
http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food
But I do support their boycott in a different way - as I don't want them coming into my store and stinking up the place. Keep them out!
Someone explain it to me. He seems to make very valid points *shrugs*
A current Whole Foods employee named Karen Gilliland previously treated for Stage III Colo-rectal cancer commented that "It’s not so easy to get private health care when you have something like this in your past. You typically get denied by health insurance companies...High deductibles, private health insurance plans, charity, and healthy eating are not always the answer…and I’m sorry (though not surprised) that you feel the way you do and help you will educate yourself some more about the issue."
If the CEO of John Deere came out with an op-ed supporting gay marriage you could imagine there would be similar backlash. It was a dumb business move on Mackey's part -arrogant, driven by ego, and compromising the livelihoods of the 50,000 people who work for him.
An example: making trans fats illegal makes no difference for those who take the individual responsibility not to have them in the first place, nor to those who make the choice to have them – they'll find a way. The only group affected positively by such legislation are those who have no idea what trans fats are, and are eating "bad food" because they don't know any better. In that case, the solution isn't manipulating availability, it's manipulating awareness – education. And that's a separate kind of reform.
Government regulation of physical resources would never compensate for individual responsibility and intellectual resources. So, in that respect, Mackey was absolutely correct. Unfortunately, we – in social media especially, but also in general – tend to polarize opinions and cling to their most extreme interpretations, it's just the nature of the whole controversy-breeds-attention game.
To be fair, I have noticed slightly lowered prices in WF lately, but if Mackey wanted to really make an impact, he'd put his money where his mouth is - ensure that every store has a selection of affordable, fresh, and wholesome foods.
As other people's comments have asked, isn't this sort of a case of misplaced anger? Nothing is solved by boycotting WF. Raise your damn voices against the stranglehold insurance companies have on our medical care. Make them pay for wellness programs. Cheaper, and ultimately healthier, in the long run.
That's code for:
"We need more poor desperate people in the world to take advantage of. Thye need to be poorer so I can be richer"
There's nothing in the world you can eat that will prevent tuberculousis or cancer.
To say that only people that have so much money should get health care is down right evil!
Capitalism and health care shouldn't be mixed.
Take the profit out of it now!
Oh how about the over 20 minute expose done by Youtuber Steven Crowder on the false perception of Canadian Socialized Medicine? You aren't fooling anyone by your insinuations.
If I believed in buying organic food...I would buy exclusively from them BASED on these statements since they're RIGHT! Heaven forbid someone speak out against the Chosen One Obama's craptacular plan and speak the truth! Ridiculous. I usually like you Mashable. This is disappointing.
I believe this sentence shows the bias of the author of this article. There is no reason for John to "apologize" for his political position just because some random people on facebook jumped onto a supposed boycott group.
I question the value of facebook groups like this is general. How many of the members live in the US? How many live within 20 miles of a Whole Foods store? How many have shopped there once in the past month? How many will really carry out the boycott and not shop there until John recants his offense to "the annointed one"'s healthcare proposal?
Metrics matter. That's what people forget. There are tons of people who complain about walmart or microsoft or {insert large "evil" corporation here} and THEY STILL SHOP THERE or USE OR BUY THEIR PRODUCTS! Words are nothing without action....and clicking on a "join {insert random protest/cause groupname here" button on facebook DOES NOT EQUAL ACTION IN THE REAL WORLD.
Don't believe everything you read...and don't believe everything people say...watch what they do.
john mackey runs a company that was the was the first major retailer to offset 100% of its energy use with wind energy credits (don't forget about their initiatives to work with local sustainable and organic farmers). they cap executive pay to 14 times the lowest paid employee! they even post all the store employees salaries in the store for all store employees to see. so much effort has gone into their corporate responsibility efforts, i could list so much more.
but on this issue, here's the kicker - whole foods has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine for the last 12 years as one of the "100 best companies to work for," and in 2009 they were one of only 15 companies on their list that cover 100% of their employees' health insurance premiums!!!! a ppo plan by unitedhealthcare, no less!
how's that for honest debate? john mackey, a man whose company insures almost 50,000 employees at a rate of 100% coverage, provided an opinion about better and cheaper alternatives to govt healthcare (because govt anything is so efficient, right?). mackey provided well-reasoned options, based on his real-world experience. he didn't use hyperbole or ad hominem to make his point, and yet, his company takes a hit like this.
the ppl boycotting whole foods don't want honest debate. these ppl cling bitterly to their handouts and govt promises of "hope" and "change" (read: socialism). if u fall into this category of whole foods "boycotter", u might wanna remove the obamacare koolaid iv drip from ur brain, stat! btw, ur hammer and sickle is showing thru ur hospital gown.
as for me, i'm now mackey's biggest fan. oh, next time ur at whole foods, try the artichoke pizza with kalmata olives. it = win.
Gov't. run companies - Amtrak, U.S. Post Office, Fannie Mae (GSE chartered by Congress), Freddie Mac (created and regulated by Congress), Medicare, Social Security, CARS (Cash for Clunkers where dealer participants have not been paid yet), and more gross failures.
Do we really want obese (Barnie Frank), tobacco addicted (President Obama), recovering alcoholic (Ted Kennedy) legislators determining what is good health care????
I love Whole Foods and enjoy chatting with the Save the Whales and No on Prop 8 folks outside. It is a great store that addresses the needs of people who have legitimate health care issues that can be helped by proper diet.
Glutten free - Union run stores have little to no selection and the "well-trained" union employees are hard to find and very unhelpful.
If I were diabetic, had Celiac's, had to go on a vegetarian or vegan diet for any reason - I would shop at Whole Foods all the time!
They try to help local producers (farmers, ranchers, growers, and vendors) as well as obtain foods (like bananas and coffee) from producers with a conscience.
Am going to become a fan of Whole Foods.
The way to learn more about an issue as important as health care reform is to allow all voices who are rational and intelligent to speak. MacKey's piece, whether you agree or disagree overall, was not the mad ravings of some gun-toting redneck at a town hall meeting, but had some good points that should be considered.
The boycotters, are just like the people during the last 8 years of Bush II who said to disagree with the administration was "unpatriotic". The boycotters' goals are to shut down free speech, censor, and build partisan hatred, like Rush and Ann Coulter are doing on the right.
In a nation built on free speech, it is the boycotters who are unpatriotic.
of events I intend to spend my monthly shopping budget at Whole Foods. I will not
be intimidated by these radical thinkers. They have a right to voice their opinion, but so
does Mr. Mackey. Hopefully their tactics will bring more business to Whole Foods in-
stead and prove just where the American people stand.
Gretchen Figueroa
Fort Collins, Colorado
Lets see if I get this straight. Lets protest against Whole Foods an American company which has around 50,000+ employees, which I would guarantee most of them are tree hugging liberals, and lets see if we can hurt there business so liberal whole food employees get fired?
Your not hurthing the CEO hes loaded you tards. Liberals eat there own.
No Jennifer, you and I don't see eye to eye on Mackey's comments, but I respect your opinion of it, and appreciate your reporting enough to read it even if you don't come in on my side of the fence. Just *please* be upfront about your personal bias.
As far as the protest against Whole Foods, people are within their rights to do what they want. I will go out of my way to get to a Whole Foods and buy some stuff this week though.
I also believe that his comments in support of his workers was excellent as well. Way to go John - some of us are pulling for ya.
Is it wrong to say that people who smoke, drink, overeat, and abuse themselves are causing their own health problems?
WFM is a place of hypocrites! EVERYONE, PLEASE LEARN TO GROW YOUR OWN ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGGIES! A lot of the (overpriced, unclean) foods in the Prepared Foods one can make on their own. None of the recipes are complex, the least bit. Don't believe the hype of Whole Foods. Trader Joe's and your local co-ops are much better choices. TJ's prices are cheaper and they have quality foods. Your local co-op usually has a genuine concern for community and humanitarian issues. Let's be smart and wise in these days. Thank you!
Yes we need reforms in health care....NOT a socialist over hall. This isn't about HEALTH CARE, it's about control over our money and lives.....
Holistic wellness based lifestyle can and does cut down on western medical prescriptions, surgeries and whatnot. Not to be ungrateful for those chronic situations where emergency medical measures certainly save lives. Insurance is good. (Meaning I feel "safer" if I've got it even if I don't use it.)
I'm a fan of Whole Foods and definitely want to see us as a society head into less processed, denatured and devitalised, refined foods which apparantly (supersize this) cause health problems!! *weeeeee*
They have just opened a store 5 miles from where we live.
I'm really tired of these Neo-Fascists (Democrats) attacking our freedoms.
The Whole Foods CEO spoke the truth. The Neo-Fascists can't handle the truth or facts.
I guess because of my and me the # of 22.000 not shopping at Whole Foods is now down to 21,998.
Maybe those who don't agree with the Neo-Fascist agenda should begin our own boycotts.
GE might be a good company to sart with.
RIPPER