Whole Foods Founder John Mackey On Fascism And 'Conscious Capitalism'

[Brewman_Jax]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/01...capitalism

From the article:

Quote:Whole Foods has played a key role in propelling organic foods into the mainstream. The specialty supermarket chain has more than 300 stores and plans to continue expanding. But outspoken founder and co-CEO John Mackey is not the crunchy granola liberal one might conjure while perusing aisles of earnestly labeled blue corn chips and gently misted red peppers.

In fact, he's a self-styled libertarian: a vegan who sells sustainably raised meat, a man who compares the government's health care overhaul to "fascism" but wants to improve American diets.

And he thinks big businesses have an obligation to change customers' perception that big corporations are "primarily selfish and greedy." (Not that he's opposed to profits. In fact, Whole Foods posted a 49 percent boost in quarterly earnings in November.)

Mackey sat down with Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep to discuss his philosophy and the new book he co-authored, Conscious Capitalism. Part 1 airs Wednesday, Part 2 on Thursday.


...

Like too many of his corporate counterparts, he has a very low opinion of labor, and even less respect for PBO, referring to the ACA as fascism. Of course, he'll require labor and the public to take the brunt of health care costs by raising prices and cutting wages. Ever notice how no corporate executives or boards have gone on record and offered to cut their exorbitant compensation to help their corporations and employees?

[Willinois]

Here's his quote:

Quote:"Technically speaking, it's more like fascism. Socialism is where the government owns the means of production. In fascism, the government doesn't own the means of production, but they do control it — and that's what's happening with our health care programs and these reforms."

He's right that it's not socialist. It's not fascism either though.

Trying to convince people that corporations aren't greedy is even more idiotic. Corporations exist to make a profit. They are what they are.

[pappy]

(01-17-2013 09:34 AM)Willinois Wrote:  Here's his quote:

Quote:"Technically speaking, it's more like fascism. Socialism is where the government owns the means of production. In fascism, the government doesn't own the means of production, but they do control it — and that's what's happening with our health care programs and these reforms."

He's right that it's not socialist. It's not fascism either though.

Trying to convince people that corporations aren't greedy is even more idiotic. Corporations exist to make a profit. They are what they are.

He is only partially right about the definition of Socialism, especially as it is practiced in democratic countries today.

Socialism advocates for government ownership OR regulation of "production, distribution, and exchange" of goods or services.

In some cases ownership is now and has always been an accepted practice in society. In fact it often is the preferred method. A few examples are obvious, police and fire protection come to mind.

In other cases regulation is preferred. Banking and food safety are good examples we take for granted need government intervention and regulation.

Socialism and capitalism can and do exist within virtually all economic and political systems at work in our world today. They are not mutually exclusive systems.

[janedrake]

Quote:"Well, I think that was a bad choice of words on my part ... that word has an association with of course dictatorships in the 20th century like Germany and Spain, and Italy. What I know is that we no longer have free enterprise capitalism in health care, it's not a system any longer where people are able to innovate, it's not based on voluntary exchange. The government is directing it. So we need a new word for it. I don't know what they right word is," Mackey says.

When I read ignorant nonsense like this, it makes me wonder how people who think this way manage to tie their shoes, let alone found a billion-dollar enterprise. This guy remains an idiot -- and since I've never liked Whole Foods stores, I have no problem with not contributing a dime, ever, to Mackey's bottom line.

[azmouse]

Looks like even the BC comic strip thinks Whole Foods is overpriced junk.

[janedrake]

That is a hoot!

[Brewman_Jax]

I've never been overly impressed with Whole Foods. Their prices are ridiculous! The local health food stores and farmer's markets do just as well without the insanely high prices. Another reason not to contribute to Whole Foods' corporate account.

[Willinois]

And it turns out he's a climate change denier too. He's spouting the "natural cycles" nonsense that Rush and the rest of the oil crew have resorted to.

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey knows what’s best for you, and fighting climate change ain’t it

Quote:What I am opposed to is trying to stop virtually all economic progress because of the fear of climate change. I would hate to see billions of people condemned to remain in poverty because of climate-change fears.

How come these guys are never worried about people being pushed into poverty by more frequent and more severe wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and droughts?