Whole Foods CEO John Mackey: I Voted For Bob Barr

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey faced a vocal backlash earlier this year when he waded into the health care debate, coming out against "ObamaCare."

In a recent interview with Reason, Mackey got back into politics, revealing that he voted for former Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) in the 2008 election.

Mackey suggested that, ideally, individuals would purchase their own health insurance, because great plans like the one offered at Whole Foods might discourage people from changing jobs.

Asked about his philosophy, he said, "I believe in capitalism ... I believe in individual empowerment. ... People didn't come to love capitalism because we haven't articulated well ... what capitalism is and all the good things that it does." He did not elaborate.

As for his political affiliation, Mackey disavowed any loyalties. "I don't feel like I'm on any of those teams," he said, adding that he voted for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr in 2008. "I like Ron Paul," he added, "but he didn't get the Republican nomination."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYcFCyZC8Sc

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/15/whole-foods-ceo-john-mack_n_322193.html

And he doubles down on his other remarks....

And, afaic, he's still digging.

that had a Whole Foods but no more. I will go way out of my way.

Ron Paul?! Give me a Break.

Not according to the people I know that work/ed at WF.

He's basically admitting he's a teabagger.

Quite a business plan you have there Jonny boy.

Honestly try to figure out who your customer is. Freepers aren't exactly going out of their way to buy over priced organically grown food.

One of the Freepers own a company which sells to health food stores. He calls himself New York Ginseng or something like that. I think it's like pot- there are a lot more Republican pot smokers out there than anyone thinks. Seriously, we live in an age where the hippie look from 1970 is now the redneck look from Alabama.

Some ex hippies of course too.

Because no one is listening.

Is that NOBODY GIVES A SHIT who he voted for and what kind of healhcare he wants. CEO's top used car salesmen and telemarketers on the "most hated occupations" list, and he has more to gain by keeping his trap shut.

scores of people have posted how they will never shop whole foods because mackey came out against universal health care.

so, clearly a LOT of people, at least w/in our microcosm DO give a shit.

personally, i rarely shop there, but i don't base my shopping decisions based on CEO politics. that's silly, imo

He's been on record before.

Another greedy, stupid person that thinks capitalism doesn't have a losing side, for every winning side.

the idea that for every winning side, there is a losing side, in capitalism is false. capitalism is not a zero sum game. even opponents of capitalism (who are honest) admit this.

one can look at stat, over stat, but it's clear that capitalism has increased aggregate wealth, iow CREATED wealth where none existed, through innovation, increased efficiency, competition, etc.


to look at a small example: the stock market. the stock market is NOT zero sum. as opposed to the futures and options markets. which are.

personally, i trade a lot of futures. every futures position, as a derivative NECESSARILY has an exact opposite position. that's because they are derivatives. they are spec on the underlying, but they don't actually represent anything other than that.

same with option.

the stock market, like capitalism in general, is not zero sum. the only way it could be was if for every long stock position, there was a corresponding short stock position. in the futures markets (zero sum), ignoring commission transaction costs, no money IN THE AGGREGATE is ever won or lost. the contrary positions mean that for every $ i make, somebody else lost that $. and that's true for EVERY position.

not true in the stock market, where stocks are actual pieces of a company, and (for example), in the aggregate more money can be won than lost in a given day (or the opposite can happen). in the long run, it builds wealth.

it certainly has for me.

...just so I can STOP shopping there and be part of the boycott!

like pungent capitalism!

What a maroon.

I wonder how many others have. I was driving by the downtown one in Seattle yesterday and protesters were there with huge sign about the place. I tell you I never thought I would ever see anything like that there. I used to love the place, it was my favorite store.

I don't think he cares about people and their nutrition. All he cares about is the size of his wallet.

Now you've offended freepers. LOL

AHA-HA-HA-HA!!

and my lifetime commitment has just been sealed.

Whole Foods proves to me that nothing but evil has ever come out of Texas.

And I had planned on getting her a gift card from there for Christmas. Not anymore.