Whole Paycheck CEO, John Mackey, wrote an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal about the dangers of Obama’s health care reform plan and now his liberal-minded customers are pissed.
Mackey argues:
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.
A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That’s because there isn’t any. This “right” has never existed in America.
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.
Emily Friedman of ABC News spoke to some Whole Paycheck customers about Mackey’s thinking. Micheal Lent from Long Beach says, “I’m boycotting because all Americans need health care. While Mackey is worried about health care and stimulus spending, he doesn’t seem too worried about expensive wars and tax breaks for the wealthy…”
You have to wonder why a CEO would hang himself like this. Most wouldn’t speak out on a hot button issue for fear of losing customers, but that’s not how Mackey works. It’s clear that he’s an idealist. Yet, his ideals are different from what many of his customers expected.
Then again, maybe this will drive new customers to his stores. A quick search on Twitter reveals lots of people on both sides.
