Funny how Obamacare makes for strange bedfellows. After Whole Foods CEO John Mackey expressed his opposition to the administration’s health care reform plans in the Wall Street Journal, liberals have been up in arms, and as reported by Ylan Q. Mui in today’s Washington Post, a Boycott Whole Foods movement has been born:
Which has led to a counterreaction: “Now is the time for all good capitalists to shop at Whole Foods,” urges conservative columnist Kathleen Parker. Not that John Mackey is a conservative–he’s a serious libertarian and an environmental activist. He is also a health fanatic: His employees have terrific benefits and can earn 30 percent discounts if they meet weight and blood pressure benchmarks.
But it seems that for these boycotters, it isn’t enough that Mackey shares their thoughts on a greener planet. They may agree with him 90 percent of the time. But it’s not enough, so Mackey must pay a price.
For the record, I’ve been to Whole Foods–or as it is commonly known, “Whole Paycheck.” Many of the products I find annoying. Grass-fed beef is incredibly pricey (for $21 a pound, you can get dry-aged steakhouse cuts). But the wild sockeye Alaskan salmon is worth every penny.
So take Parker’s advice and support Whole Foods, even if you can afford only two diver scallops for dinner (just don’t overcook them!). And if you still aren’t persuaded to help Mackey out, allow me to share the thoughts of one boycotter quoted in Mui’s Post piece:
Now go out there and get something organic.
