Whole Foods CEO's Dumb, Hypocritical Conservative Talking Points

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via AlterNet:



Whole Foods CEO's Dumb, Hypocritical Conservative Talking Points

By Mark Harris, CounterPunch. Posted September 7, 2009.

Why Mackey's libertarian blast against health reform has touched a sensitive nerve with many health-conscious, reform-minded Americans.



If the CEO of a grocery giant such as Kroger or Safeway had written a Wall Street Journal op-ed opposing the “public option” in health care reform, it’s unlikely there would have been much of a backlash. Indeed, with right-wing America’s noisy revolt over health care reform in high gear, one more business journal op-ed on the topic probably would have not stirred much attention.

Not so with the brewing grassroots protest against Whole Foods CEO John Mackey’s recent Journal op-ed. Indeed, Mackey’s libertarian-flavored blast against the specter of “a massive new health-care entitlement” has touched a sensitive nerve with many health-conscious, reform-minded Americans.

In short order, a Boycott Whole Foods Facebook group signed up over 30,000 supporters. There have been protests for single-payer health care outside Whole Foods stores in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Austin. Across the country newspaper columnists and bloggers have also weighed in on the controversy.

It’s not surprising really, considering Whole Foods eco-healthy image. It’s likely many of their customers take at face value the company’s identity as a leader in “socially responsible” business. Accordingly, they might also have assumed that a wealthy businessman whose success stems from promoting “natural foods” and “healthy living” would be on the side of progressive health care reform. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/142365/whole_foods_ceo%27s_dumb%2C_hypocritical_conservative_talking_points/