If anything, the pure schadenfreude of it all is beautiful.

A CEO has to realize that when they make any public comments, they will be seen as coming from the company itself. This is true even if the comments are the person's own opinions and not necessarily an "official" company statement. This simply goes with the territory of being the head of an organization.

I think customers who disagree with his statements should definitely boycott the company. Money seems to be the only thing to motivate many companies. I searched and found that Whole Foods trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol WFMI. I'm sure there are many investors of the company who will be mighty peeved if the CEO's comments cause a drop in sales.

Mr. Mackey should have the right to express his opinion, just as others have a right not to patronize Whole Foods if they disagree with him. I happen to strongly agree with him and will spend more of my grocery money at Whole Foods to help offset the boycott.

I agree with MrEd. For now, this is still a free country and Mr. Mackey has the right to express his opinion. For those people who are not happy with his statements, shop elsewhere.

Mr. Mackey, like most business people, know that mixing politics and business is not a good idea. Shame on him, he should have kept quiet his views.

I wonder if Mr. Mackay has ever had to try to raise a family while not have healthcare? I am uncomfortable with his belief that the poor should depend on the largesse of the rich to provide them with healhcare.
I'll spend my money elsewhere. Trader Joe's works for me.

Central Market is looking a lot better to me!

I gave up on Whole Foods and
their astronomical prices, once
Trader Joe's came along.

I spent about $6.00 on ACAI Sambazon, because TJ's doesn't carry it,
and then went right down the street
to Trader Joe's and spent $143.00,
buy grocery for the week.

Stop being the serfs on Mr. MacKay's Feudal
estate.

It's amusing and ironic to hear of these boycotters exercising their right in a free market to voice their opinion against the free market. They promote a plan in which ultimately leaves you with no choice but join the public plan. No boycotting that one. Read the bill people.

This gives me another reason to boycott Whole Foods. The other one is their ridiculous prices. My friends call it "Whole Paycheck."

Mr. Mackey has every right to express his opinions whatever they may be, but whole foods customers have the right to disagree with him. The right to free speech does not grant you freedom from the repercussions of what you say.

My Whole Foods shopping has decreased for other reasons as well. Whole Foods is heavily involved in rewriting the rules for organic so that "mostly organic and GMO" can be labeled organic (www.organicconsumers.org). Consequently, I take extra time to buy directly from farmers.

A young man I know, when hired by a Whole Foods Market, was told that he would have Sunday mornings off so that he could continue to attend services at his church. Once he began work, he was scheduled every Sunday morning and told that that was just the way it was. While WF covers employee health care, does HR saying one thing and doing the opposite indicate double-dealing in other aspects of their employee relations?

I love the comment by Ellen: 'I am uncomfortable with his belief that the poor should depend on the largesse of the rich to provide them with healhcare.' Where does she think all the tax money comes from? Welfare, foodstamps, socialized healthcare-all funded by successful people. Wake up girl: Lose the guilt, do well, and help the less fortunate. EZ.

Mr. Mackey is right. Universal Health Care is not a right listed in our constitution, this nation is a constitutional republic not a socialist republic and the legislation proposed is pure socialism. We don't have the assets at our disposal to pay for the uninsured of this country so taxes will have to be raised to pay for this legislation and the people are already taxed enough.

I'm not insured and I don't expect the government to pay for my medical bills.

Everyone knows our health care system is ridiculously over priced, but there has to be a better solution to that problem without imposing this burden on the people.

A person's free speech is not free anymore.. Othrs would like u to pay for it..AMERICA wake up!!!! Wer'e getting stupid every minute..Let us not go back to pre constitution era..

As a single woman with no health insurance, and not by 'choice' as so many viral emails contend, I am astounded by Mr. Mackey's stance. Depend on contributions of the wealthy? Really, Mr. Mackey?
The greed, and political maneuvering,of the majority of that particular segment of the population is what got us to into this mess.
Because I am a label reader and have noticed a trend toward WF's carrying food products from China, which I avoid entirely, I had already lost some confidence in Whole Foods' quality and begun to question their loyalty to their customers vs. their loyalty to the almighty dollar.
I am sure the loss of my limited grocery budget will not have a big impact on Whole Foods, but, I talk a lot Mr. Mackey, and you have lost my good will.

Mr. Mackey has every right to his opinions - and his customers have every right to vote with their feet. I run a business and if I walk out on the floor with customers and spout off whatever nonsense comes to mind, it's my privilege, but I better be prepared to accept the consequences. I am a long time WF customer, businessman and old enough to know that I wouldn't hit my customers over the head in an op-ed with a quote about socialism. The debate has gotten superheated and any leader with common sense knows to protect their hard won brand. I shop elsewhere now, and the boycott page on Facebook now has 15,000 members who are learning new shopping habits. Whole Foods PR people may say there's no impact, but they've got their work cut out for them retrieving those people...

It's amazing to watch the free-marketeers drone on here, as they do everywhere else, ignorant of the enormous government involvement in our current heath care system, as in every other segment of our economy, that allows their medical coverage to exist. Without Medicare covering such a large number of our elderly, and to a lesser extent the VA covering combat veterans, our already collapsing health system would be completely broken.

A plausible free market has not existed in the industrialized world for over 100 years. The false debates we have over socialism v. capitalism are actually over what kind of socialism we're going to have. Currently we have a brand that favors the upper class at all costs. Those on here who want a real free market should catch the next ship to Somalia. And, please, take your Obama is Hitler signs with you and maybe a few books so you can learn something.

The article was right on..most Americans have been totally brainwashed...the government is incapable of making any moral judgement for any human being...we make our own decisions...fix Medicare and Medicaide and then make Social Security, Am Track and the Post Office profitable and then I might listen. Until then its more Federal employees hired with pensions and benefits guaranteed by workers in private sector.

Whole Foods's Republican John Mackey:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/19/healthcare-whole-foods-debate-mackey

The ramp-up to boycotting Whole Foods entirely:

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/consuminginterests/blog/2009/08/whole_foods_boycott.html

The Chief spokesclown of the Whole Foods conglomerant John Mackey has once again been exposed as being just another Republican corporate traitor despite the fake corporate progressive image that the company tries to convey to citizens who seek Earth-friendly and healthier foods.

Whole Foods' Republican leader John Mackey wrote an opinion piece in the right-wing extremist Wall Street Journal denouncing the health care reform efforts currently under way which would cut medical expenses for all americans, reduce the obscene profits of his fellow Republican corporate criminals, and give citizens a broader choice the free market.

Vote against Republican treason with your feet.

Whole Foods just got some free publicity out of this. I don't care because there isn't their store within 20 miles of my place. I like the one in DC, but it is mighty expensive. Trader Joe's and MOMs works fine for me. At least they haven't turned into some evil corporation yet.

Who cares enough to stop shopping there? Seriously. It makes me laugh to think that someone stops shopping at a store that they like on the simple views of the store's CEO which will make no difference whatsoever on whether Obamacare gets passed or not.

These boy-cotters obviously have their heads in the clouds, or are just so out of touch with reality that they have nothing else to spend their time on.

there are two issues here. first is the free speech issue; second is the speech itself. i'm not going to deal with what he said, rather his right to say it.

there are a ton of people in thios country who take "freedom of speech" and then add their own caveat to it in the form of..."without repercussions." however, there are serious repercussions when a CEO is intervied as a head of a corporation and injests his personal beliefs in his answers. sure, there is a boycott, but on a bigger scale, if this boycott were to take hold and the share value drops because of it, investors would then look to the CEO for not acting in the best interest of the company. and then the selloff begins and the lawsuits fly. so...the lesson here is to think about the repercussions before you exercise that freedom of speach.

If more people did their grocery shopping at whole foods or at least the produce, dairy and seafood isles or the grocery chains there would be less need for health care. Sure the food is more expensive but it is much better for you. All of the prepackaged junk in most grocery stores is sapping the life out of those who consume it. Just sit on a bench outside of most stores and watch the people waddle out of the places. The obesity of the american public is a major factor in our health care costs.

He's technically correct. The sixth amendment to the Constitution (as interpreted by the Supreme Court) provides for the right for an accused to have an attorney. The answer is to amend the Constitution so that people have the right to medical care even if they cannot afford it.

Thanks for alerting me to this, NOW I HAVE A REASON TO SHOP AT WHOLE FOODS!!!

Are you going to stop doing business with the catholic down the street because she is against abortion? How about the deli owner because he likes the idea of nuclear power plants to help reduce greenhous gasses? Stop trying to "punish" people for thinking differently!You look foolish, shallow and mean-spirited.

Yes, ladies and gents this is the trickle down they always talk about, all for me and none for you. What do you expect from the money mongers in this world. It is a given right, I am my brother's keeper, remember????Pull the plug on grandma?? Yesiree, this guy has the method to do it, no insurance at all. It is a divine right for all of us to share in good health. Talk about death committees? This one takes the cake.

Yes, ladies and gents this is the trickle down they always talk about, all for me and none for you. What do you expect from the money mongers in this world. It is a given right, I am my brother's keeper, remember????Pull the plug on grandma?? Yesiree, this guy has the method to do it, no insurance at all. It is a divine right for all of us to share in good health. Talk about death committees? This one takes the cake.

2012 can't come soon enough

How many times can this guy screw up? One day he's on yahoo boards pumping his stock and gloating over himself, then onto 'conservative capitalism'... no he's offended 14,000 customers. He's a lose cannon and why I would never invest. I like to store, but their mission is just too mixed.

Just cast my vote in the poll and was surprised at the results so far. I would have thought that it would be w-a-a-y lopsided in favor of a boycott given the comments above.

A company CEO has a right to speak his/her mind, and the customers have a right to take their business elsewhere.

I completely agree with John Mackey and intend to patronize Whole Foods more frequently. As for those who intend to boycott Whole Foods, there are many more citizens that will now shop at Whole Foods because because they do agree with Mr. Mackey. Last but not least, consumers who shop at Whole Foods are healthier just because they do patronize Whole Foods.

Now I am totally convinced I do not want to shop in WF store. Not only had I heard their products may not be totally organic,not to mention how ridicuously expensive they are, but to have a CEO who blatantly demonstrates Republican ideas of health care, how many people are without health care in this country...Trader Joe's will have me as a customer.

Supervisors and managers suck!!!!!!!!!

Like MrEd, I too will increase my purchases at WholeFoods in order to preserve the profits of WholeFoods and the wealth of its shareholders. (Full disclosure: I own no stock in WholeFoods.) This is the best way to show those who believe health care is a right not a privilege that they can not inflict their selfless will upon the rest of us. Government programs like Medicare and Medicaid already do this and unfairly effect the market. If insurance companies do not wish to cover seniors and others who would not have coverage, the government should not step in and say real hardworking Americans will be forced to assist. If they can not afford individual private insurance, it is just the market's way of saying "move along."

One need only look at England to see how the public healthcare system has utterly destroyed private healthcare. America stands proudly as the number one spender for healthcare (as percent of income) and the 72nd for overall health according to the World Health Organization. We lag behind Turkey and Mexico in infant mortality. Do we wish to cede this success to government run death panels when the private sector does so well? We can not let Obama destroy this success.

Besides, as MrJones has said, boycotts never work. Think about it. When has a boycott ever changed anything in America?

I just hope people who plan to boycott Whole Foods because of this comment, and who currently aren't insured, don't actually shop there...If you are so concerned with your healthcare you should have considered shopping at another store to begin with to save money for health insurance and not trade it for fake "organic" labels

With the prices WF charges, I thought they'd have gold plated health insurance for their employees. Well, probably their chief executive! Since I don't shop there (can't afford it), I can't participate in the boycott, but I can encourage it. One of these days we're gonna realize how much we've been strangled and abused by the insurance/pharmaceutical goons and their willing partners that just happen to be rich Republicans. A single payer, Medicare for all system is the only thing that would truly work for the vast majority of people.

I am having a very difficult time believing that people want big government that controls private enterprise. Start your own business then have the government tell you what you can and can not due, is this what everybody wants? This would be stupid, think people think. Big Government means Big Taxes.

I tend to shop where the people are like-minded as I. I won't shop at Whole Foods anymore; there's a plethera of other food stores that will see my money.

Good riddance to these fruity hippies. I can shop in peace now. Impeach the One Termer!!

People like Mackey think about the Constitution backwards. The Constitution was never meant to spell out what government should provide for you. It was meant to limit the powers of government. That said, supporters of universal government healthcare need to keep a few universal truths in mind such as, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The government cannot create anything of value, but only redistribute the production of others. Concentrated power in the hands of the few and the elite, has, does, and always will pose the greatest danger to a free society, peace, and prosperity. And for an ugly fact no one wants to talk about, over 50% of all healthcare costs in this country are attributed to preventable diseases stemming from over eating and smoking. The US could save a trillion dollars a year on health care just by dropping our weight back to our 1991 national average. Should the responsible be forced to pay for the irresponsible?

Maybe Whole Foods should change it's name to Traitor John's.

Peeple who say that nobody should have health care should shut up. The president shoodnt even let these peeple say these hurtful things. Peeple have the right to free health care. Its not like the rich peeple have to buy it for u the government buys it for u. Sheesh.

Whole Foods is a snobby hole anyway. If people don't have a right to food and health care, then what rights are worth having?

Health care is no more a right than, say, the right to have cheddar cheese. It is a service provided on the market by qualified professionals. To truly be a right, it must not conflict with any other rights, and it must be absolute--that is, apply to all-- to avoid being arbitrary. Now what if no doctor is willing to treat someone? Does that person lose his right? Can a doctor be forced to provide health care? If so, does that not conflict with his right not to have his person be physically agressed upon? What if you live in a remote region that has no doctors? Do you then lose that right? What type of health care would fall under the umbrella of this mystical "right"? These questions and many more must be answered before we begin to call health care a "right." Not only does such an act cheapen other, real, rights, but it reveals a certain childishness in the thinking of many Americans. While I am far from a conservative, this whole "health care is a right" baloney shows the complete intellectual bankruptcy of liberalism.

It's quite simple, really.

If the CEO of a Christian Bookstore spoke out in favor of abortions and
against teaching abstinence, should Christians boycott the store? Sure.
A CEO, unlike a random employee, is the mouthpiece of the company, and
even their personal views reflect on the company. It comes with the territory.

Likewise, Whole Foods' predominately left-leaning clientele have every right to boycott
the chain for its CEO's personal expression. CEO Mackey should've known better.

I wonder if Mr. Mackay would like to depend on the largess of generous billionaires such as Madoff for HIS healthcare. Oh, wait. Only the poor should be forced to that. Of course, it will have the continued affect of killing off the poor, a result he seems quite happy with.

You DO realize we have the lowest life span of any industrialized nation, right? Wonder why THAT might be. Not because of our MISERABLE health care--but I'm sure his is fine.

He made an issue of it. I didn't go asking his politics. Now I'll spend my money elsewhere. Trader Joe's works for me.

Why is it that "successful, hard working people" always assume that the poor are lazy? Sounds similar to the crap white people say about minorities. "Successful" people sound like they're more concerned about their organic blah blah blah than another person having anything to eat at all. It's amazing what power does to people. They get money, prestige, luxuries etc. and even though they might have worked hard for it (which was probably just another process of "legal" exploitation, which is what our economy is based on), all of a sudden that $35 organic cheesecake is so much more important to the "successful, hard working" people of this country than helping people who have nothing and perhaps don't know how to get anything. When people get power over others they don't wan't to give it up. That cheesecake tastes good, hmm? It is the blood of the people you ignore. The sweetness is the pain you sustain in their lives by choosing to go ahead and "be good" to yourself... You deserve that $1,000 pair of earrings. You worked hard, paid your dues. I mean, if the system isn't fair, that's someone else's fault, someone else's responsibility! Isn't it? I'm to important and too busy to help another person. I mean, there are times you just have to look out for yourself! In the end, life is really all about taking care of yourself first, and then you can help others... I mean, I help out others... canned food drive at my son's private school... tax-deductible donations to charities, even though I don't really know where that money went to... I don't dare give money to homeless people or bums panhandling on the sidewalk or at an intersection. I mean, they are probably on drugs or they are making thousands of dollars a month; I saw that on the news... They're probably just spending it on booze... That reminds me, Dave is going to be at a meeting tonight...

See, the thing about hypocrisy is that we are all hypocrites, but not all of us are honest about it. If we can make everyone else believe that we are flawless then they will follow us. They want to know the secret to being above human. The joke is, of course, that there is no secret, that no one is flawless... except God... but that is the game we play! We are only actors on a stage... social darwinism... it's all about survival... mmm, I think I'll have some cheesecake...

Your poll question is rather contrary to any real point of view. The customers of Whole Foods should do what they feel is entirely appropriate with their spending dollars, based on a complete assessment of actual facts rather than just passionate emotion. For every boycotter leaving because they disagree with Mackey, there may well be an additional shopper willing to support his views, his company, and the fact that WFM has somewhat generous employee benefits.

I remember when locals tried to launch a boycott of Home Depot because Bush 43 had made a campaign stop at the one near Arbutus in 2004. The boycott organizers never replied when I asked them how Home Depot kept turning record profits for the years afterwards.....

I fully agree with Chris, however: If one disagrees with WFM's CEO, they can choose not to shop there. But will I be afforded the same kind of choice to boycott if "Obamacare" comes to all Americans? I seriously doubt it--and THAT"S a choice I should be able to have.

Mr. Mackey offers solutions not merely criticisms of Obamacare. I applaud his wisdom and courage for speaking out. The plan that he provides to his employees is inexpensive yet offers very liberal coverage that doesn’t invite abuse. I shop at Whole Foods, will continue to do so and will look for more ways to give them my business.

I have my own suggestions. Provide all Americans with the same healthcare coverage that the elitist Congress and the President gets or provide congress and the President with the same healthcare coverage that they want to force on us. I’ll bet that bill will be read by all of the Congressmen when it’s their own bull that’s being gored. Why doesn't healthcare reform include tort reform that dramatically increases healthcare costs via the cost of malpractice insurance and defensive medicine? Do you think it might be because overwhelmingly our Congressmen are lawyers? Why doesn't healthcare reform include controls on the amount that Medicare pays for durable medical equipment so that it doesn't exceed retail?

Definitely, I will boycott Wholefoods. To think that I even bought his CD. I can at least save half of my food by not buying from him.

Hey Sandra, based on your logic, can we depend on the largesse of the rich for defense spending? education? Look up largesse, SandraPoor or anyone should not have to beg for equality of access to health care which for poor in the USA is worse than third world countries.
Boycott the Whole Foods greedy monopoly - we can now see their real values through the miserable words of the man they choose to run their company and set its corporate philosophy

"Mr. Mackey should have the right to express his opinion, just as others have a right not to patronize Whole Foods if they disagree with him. I happen to strongly agree with him and will spend more of my grocery money at Whole Foods to help offset the boycott."

I second that and will be doing the same.

Much of "the Left" that is so 'offended' completely overlooks the higher salary, health care, support for local agriculture, and a myriad of other socially responsible practices Whole Foods has been practicing for years. If there were more companies like Whole Foods, besides obvious much needed cost and waste reforms, the whole need for even a debate on government single-payer health care, etc. would not even be necessary. I guess there is some irony in that.

It's true-- the right to health care is not in the Constitution, or the Declaration; neither is the right to education. Providing these necessities to each citizen is simply a proper benefit in our modern democratic nation.

What does Washington and the health care issue have in common? Lawyers!! It's very very rare to have a Senator or Congressman not to have a legal background. On of the primary costs of health care is malpractice.Some Doctors pay about 40 percent of their fees in malpractice insurance. If 40 percent of all healthcare transactions are subject to lawsuits, we're in big trouble. If the healthcare industry can dictate the cost of a procedure, why can't the lawyers fees be dictated as well? Percent based compensation gives the attorney motivate to go for excessive settlements. The other problem is disability. How many people on disability truely can't work?Personally, I have an illness that clearly qualifies for disability, but I don't feel entitled to it. The reason being, I can work. I can telemarket, cold call, and email prospective customers from my bedside. Solve these two problems and watch the cost of healthcare plummet.

"Conservatives are responsible with money. Liberals are responsible with people." - Christopher Robin Johnson

So what else is new? Another example of fascist socialists fighting dirty to silence those who disagree with them.

Are you buying your healthcare at wholefoods? If not, who cares. This man has a right to his views, and it's not as if he's holding an "Obama as Hitler" picture up like some of the insane right wingers- and it honestly has nothing to do with his business, unless he were to say that WHOLE FOODS supports his views, which they obviously do not. He's a business man, so of course he's going to opt for a health care policy that is a free market, because that's traditionally how Americans have made money and prospered.

I've always wondered how much of the Whole Foods hype is sheer marketing and how much stems from a genuine interest in wholesome, fresh groceries. This incident answers my question once and for all. Whole Food is nothing more than a sham,nice packaged and perpetrated by an elitist businessman; someone who has never had to decide whether to go to the dentist or buy school supplies for his children. I will never set foot in the store again -which is a relief, because I can't afford their prices anyway.

I have never shopped at Whole Foods before, but I will now. I looked up the nearest location and have emailed every one on my large address book to please do the same. Instead of boycotting why not listen to a successful businessman that really understands how to make real change.

Many people have said this, but Mr. Mackey has every right to voice his opinion. Yes, he takes a risk because he runs one of the top organic food market chains in the country, but that's obviously a risk he was willing to take.

Boycott the store if you like—it's your right!

However, let's keep in mind that if we always heard the opinion of every businessowner of every store we shop at, we'd probably be some angry consumers. Everyone has their own opinion, duh! We shouldn't let small things like this become top headlines in the media.

I disagree with Mr. Mackey's decision to make such a statement, and what he said in the statement, but hey, he's willing to take the risk involved. We'll see what comes of this. I'm sure Trader Joe's and lots of local, small organic stores are smiling all the way to the bank.

Ross Perlman (and MrJones)- when has a boycott ever worked? The Montgomery bus boycott, triggered by Rosa Parks' simple action, caused the bus company to lose profits and run deficits. It lasted a year, and ultimately led the US Supreme Court to declare segregation unconstitutional. Judging from the comments posted here, the customer base of Whole Foods seems to lean left politically, so the question is, like with the bus boycott, if a company alienates its main customers, are there enough new customers at the other end of the spectrum to take up the slack (why don't more politically right people shop Whole Foods anyway?) By the way, Sylvia, if the regulars leave whole foods to shop elsewhere, they'll still be healthy; their decision to shop Whole Foods in the first place demonstrates their commitment to good health and that won't disappear because "Whole Foods" is not on the door.

To me, all this boycott shows are that libs are so nasty.

Mr. Mackey is entitled to speak his views just as customers are entitled to shop wherever they want to shop. Boycotting Whole Foods, however, is not going to hurt Mr. Mackey as much as it will hurt the 50,000 people he employs. I respect his right to speak his mind, I respect his social consciousness and the benefits he provides his employees. Whether or not we agree with someone does not take away his freedom of speech. This boycott is simply an effort to punish someone for exercising his right to speak.

He sounds very reasonable to me.
I may not shop more in WF because of his views, but certainly I will not shop less.

The shrill and hysterical over-reaction (boycott)of the left is equivalenced also on the right .

"Whaddya mean it's not a right? Of course it's a right. And we don't care what happens to the medical system as long as everyone gets their due'.
Let the 'rich' (middle class?) pay for it !
("to each according to his needs")

Some say he expresses 'Republican' views. his views seem more Libertarian to me.

There is nothing in the Constitution about providing fire protection, police protection, public universities, or any of the many other benefits societies choose to provide their citizens. We choose to do these things so that we don't have dead people on the streets from lack of food and health care as is found in many other countries. Do we also want private fire insurance for only those who can afford it? This is a heartless and cruel idea of freedom.

This is why I signed up for our local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. I get fresh produce every week and my money goes directly to the local farmers. Hopefully, the farmers can make enough money to afford health care.

I think organized boycott's with respect to a difference of opinion is bullying. If you don't like the stance, don't shop there. Remember it's the employees you hurt, not the wealthy owner. In this case, he had the guts to speak out and offer solutions. Since when can't we tolerate that?

The libs are nasty?

Freedom fries- boycott a whole country for disagreeing with the government everyone, now, can't stand (Congress did change the name on their lunch room menu board)
Disney World- gay people wanted to gather en mass (libs didn't boycott orange juice because Anita Bryant led the charge)
PBS- a Teletubbies character may have exhibited gay symbolism
Classic books- one word in thousands deemed inappropriate for children's sensibilities
TV shows- someone didn't like something (remote/off button anyone)

These are just a few of the boycotts/bans dreamed up by the cons. Luckily, reasoned people saw their absudity and they didn't go anywhere.

While this group has 14k-15k people, is that enough to make a difference? Even if they all follow through and boycott, and even if those who agree with him start shopping there?

"Freedom fries- boycott a whole country for disagreeing with the government everyone, now, can't stand (Congress did change the name on their lunch room menu board)"

Um, you do know that French Fries are not actually shipped from France, right?

"PBS- a Teletubbies character may have exhibited gay symbolism"

You know that nobody ever called for any boycotts because of that , right? Or that this was reported in TV Guide long before Fallwell's mag referenced it... right?

Democrats and liberals seem to no longer care about free speech... and even if your examples were not bogus, they do nothing to change that apparent fact.

Can you believe this company?!? They hire and support gays and lesbians and give benefits to their domestic partners! They also campaign against animal cruelty and established an Animal Welfare Foundation and 5 step program for farms! How dare they give money to the poor with their Whole Planet Foundation and Fair Trade alliance! This disgusting company actually gives free insurance AND cash to help their employees pay health care INCLUDING dental, vision and prescriptions! The audacity!...the horror...the horror...and they have the most discriminating food quality standards in the industry! (no pop tarts!) They even LOAN money to local organic farmers! These left wing idiots build their stores with the E-n-viiironment in mind with their Greeeen Missssiooon...the horror... I just cant give my money to these pot head freaks (no drug testing!), with their piercings and dreadlocks! huh uh, no way man!...today, my union buddies and I are going to KROGER where the real americans shop!

I assume that those of you who are switching to Trader Joe's know who owns the chain?

Theo Albrect
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/10/billionaires-2009-richest-people_Theo-Albrecht_787P.html

One of the world's richest men, and he didn't get there by generosity to workers. If you would rather put more of your money into Theo's pocket, go right ahead.

What's that? You didn't know? And now you are going to be shopping just at food co-ops?

Sometimes sheep are so predictable...

I think everyone should boycott all these nuts that are boycotting Whole Foods.
Johh Mackey is one of my heros.

are the people who are boycotting Whole Foods against "freedom of speech???" sheesh...people only seem to jump on the freedom of speech bandwagon when it's something they agree with...stop being hypocrites people

I am not sure what he was trying to accomplish! Aside from reepating the silly "Obama is a socialist"
mantra,there is no serious argumetnt in the article.Why would he go out of his way to derail the healhcare reform and antognize his customers in such an provacative manor? He has a right to say and even write what he "believes" and i have the right not patronize his store. No more whole foods for me.

As a long - standing customer I feel betrayed when I see a CEO coming out in a debate that - if anything - Whole Foods should have been expected to be involved in on the side of urgent reforms. He should join the Insurance giants who are feverishly sweating -seeing the American small guy breaking free from the lies.Will (with regret) go elsewhere if nothing is done soon.

North Americans need to understand that 'Health Care' means just that. We need to start taking responsibility for our own health, not waiting until we are ill and run to the doctor for medications and/or surgery. That should be called 'Illness Care'. We could save billions of dollars yearly if we all took more care and put more thought into improving our own health. Many European and Far Eastern Countries spend far less than North Americans and have much healthier populations in general. The do not wait until they are ill, but they proactively take control of their personal health. We can learn a great deal from them. How did we become so helpless as a society. Take back your personal power!

Back in 2008, this Whole Foods, CEO John Mackey (how old is this kid?), was caught posting negative comments (trash talk) about a competitor on Yahoo Finance message boards in an effort to push down the stock price. So now I am suppose to take this loser seriously? Please, snore, snore.

It’s funny we hear Republicans say that they do not want “faceless bureaucrats” making medical decisions but they have no problem with “private sector” “faceless bureaucrats” daily declining medical coverage and financially ruining good hard working people (honestly where can they go with a pre-condition). And who says that the “private sector” is always right, do we forget failures like Long-Term Capital, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Enron, Tyco, AIG and Lehman Brothers. Of course the federal government will destroy heathcare by getting involved, Oh but wait, Medicare and Medicaid and our military men and women and the Senate and Congress get the best heathcare in the world, and oh, that’s right, its run by our federal government. I can understand why some may think that the federal government will fail, if you look at the past eight years as a current history, with failures like the financial meltdown and Katrina but the facts is they can and if we support them they will succeed.

How does shouting down to stop the conversation of the healthcare debate at town hall meetings, endears them to anyone. Especially when the organizations that are telling them where to go and what to do and say are Republicans political operatives, not real grassroots. How does shouting someone down or chasing them out like a “lynch mob” advanced the debate, it does not. So I think the American people will see through all of this and know, like the teabagger, the birthers, these lynch mobs types AKA “screamers” are just the same, people who have to resort to these tactics because they have no leadership to articulate what they real want. It’s easy to pickup a bus load of people who hate, and that’s all I been seeing, they hate and can’t debate. Too bad.

Free speech and opinions are a beautiful thing. Dont punish the charities,the local farmers, employees, animal rescues, the enviroment, etc just because you disagree with one person's opinion. I will NOT boycott its a very ridiculous reason to do so. I encourage you to research WF for yourselves-dont be followers! Dont be used as pawns for the competitors and unions to take all the positive and good things WF provides. Thats my opinion.

I never shopped Whole Foods in my life until last week. Outside a store, I saw a bunch of wild people holding signs. A lot of women with mustaches and men with squeaky voices. I supposed it was some big promotion for a new store or something. So I figured there must be something good.

Wow. I bought all kinds of cool stuff. And I didn’t need anything. I just bought stuff and gave it away to my family and friends. And the air conditioning in the store was great, nice and cold. After I finished my snacks, I just threw the wrappers out the window, which is pretty cool too.

I am now hooked on Whole Foods.

BTW

Socialized government healthcare – to insure the 25 million illegal aliens in the US – would lead the US faster to ruin, which is what liberals want because they hate the US and its history.

The polls prove it – most Americans don’t want government run health care.

The people who want it had never heard of “health care” before until Al Gore invented it a few years ago. Or was that the Internet, I forget?

I am a Moderate Democrat BTW.

So a bunch of socialists (most of whom don't even know they are socialists) assert their free-market right to boycott someone for defending free-market principles. Talk about hypocrisy!

And I do get a kick out of all the people who are switching from Whole Foods, a company publicly owned by thousands of their fellow Americans, to Trader Joe's, a company privately owned by a secretive German who once served in Hitler's army and happens to be the 9th richest person in the world. How do you suppose HE feels about "universal health care" and "social justice"?

Anybody who can afford to shop at Whole Foods can afford to buy their own health insurance. Of the 10% of Americans who are uninsured, at least 70% would qualify for Medicaid if they chose to sign up and half the rest can afford to buy their own but prefer to take their chances and spend their money on more fun things. The number who really need the help DO need help, but destroying health care and choices for the rest of us is not the way to do it.

Mackey's proposed reforms would go a long way toward solving the problem, instead of just socializing it. But that's exactly why left-wing extremists hate his ideas.

We are all adults here, and as adults we know there are consequences for are actions, so if you do not agree with CEO John Mackey views on healthcare, you can a) do nothing, b) shop there, c) not shop there, d) protest and picket the stores, its your choice, live the dream!

On Aug 20th 7:35 PM
DRH posted:
Can you believe this company?They hire and support gays and lesbians ...campaign against animal cruelty ...5 step program for farms...give money to the poor...gives free insurance ...to help their employees pay health care ... the horror...the horror...today, my union buddies and I are going to KROGER where the real americans shop!
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You forgot to mention the mockery on us all - how DARE John Mackey take $1 salary. What is he trying to do - shove in our faces how rich and thoughtless he is? What a jerk.

Have fun. At least hte parking lot will have ample parking. Mr. Mackey can say, and should say, whatever he wants to say, as those who find his comments offensive are allowed to say, and should be allowed to say, whatever they want.

And now my personal opinion: I find that highly Liberal (or open-minded) people are the most highly offended bunch i've ever met, and walk the line of hypocracy minute by minute.

I can't participate in the boycott, but I can encourage it. One of these days we're gonna realize how much we've been strangled and abused by the insurance/pharmaceutical goons and their willing partners that just happen to be rich Republicans.