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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Whole Foods is being boycotted over this??

I've seen rumblings lately online of social media channels being used to organize a boycott of Whole Foods (so far over 33,000 people organized on Facebook to boycott). Deciding I'd better see what all the fuss was about, I decided to read the Wall Street Journal article written by Whole Foods co-founder and CEO John Mackey which started the controversy.

I won't quote the whole thing here for a number of reasons (1. It's too long 2. the WSJ should get traffic for the article they posted and 3. I won't want Rupert Murdoch suing me - heaven forbid I promote his content) but I will pull a couple of key quotes:

While we clearly need health-care reform, the 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.

And...

Health care is a service that we all need, but just like food and shelter it is best provided through voluntary and mutually beneficial market exchanges.


And...

Rather than increase government spending and control, we need to address the root causes of poor health. This begins with the realization that every American adult is responsible for his or her own health.


And...
Health-care reform is very important. Whatever reforms are enacted it is essential that they be financially responsible, and that we have the freedom to choose doctors and the health-care services that best suit our own unique set of lifestyle choices. We are all responsible for our own lives and our own health. We should take that responsibility very seriously and use our freedom to make wise lifestyle choices that will protect our health. Doing so will enrich our lives and will help create a vibrant and sustainable American society.


UNBELIEVABLE. People are boycotting over this? After reading the article I actually want to go buy overpriced soy nuts just to support this man. While I'm not in 100% agreement with him (be sure and read the article - he suggest eight points of reform) I think he's definitely on the right track: people should accept responsibility, retain power instead of handing it over to the government, and be financially responsible.

I know it's a touchy subject but I love a good debate/conversation - mainly because it helps me look at things from different points of view. Not being all that bright in general (but particularly about politics and economics), I look forward to finding some insight in your comments.

So hit the comments and let's get discussin'.