Tell Whole Foods to stop denying Climate Change
John Mackey, the founder and CEO of Whole Foods, decided to write an op ed in the Wall Street Journal last summer decrying President Obama's health care reform ideas as "socialism." Now we find out that Whole Foods' CEO also thinks Climate Change is a bunch of bunk.
One of the books on the list was “Heaven and Earth: Global Warming—the Missing Science,” a skeptical take on climate change. Mackey told me that he agrees with the book’s assertion that, as he put it, “no scientific consensus exists” regarding the causes of climate change; he added, with a candor you could call bold or reckless, that it would be a pity to allow “hysteria about global warming” to cause us “to raise taxes and increase regulation, and in turn lower our standard of living and lead to an increase in poverty.” One would imagine that, on this score, many of his customers, to say nothing of most climate scientists, might disagree. He also said, “Historically, prosperity tends to correlate to warmer temperatures.”
Oh, and for those of you who were disappointed that Whole Foods became an anti- health care reform activist, or that its founder is pushing anti- climate change malarky, Mackey has one word for you: Safeway. You see, according to Whole Foods, they're no different than Safeway. You shouldn't perceive them as any different, or more wholesome, or green, or progressive, or nice than Safeway. They're the exact same thing - a cut throat business out for money, that's it. So please stop ascribing something more worthy and noble to the corporate mission of Whole Foods.
“I was so viciously attacked for two reasons,” Mackey told me. “One is that people had an idea in their minds about the way Whole Foods was. So when I articulated a capitalistic interpretation of what needed to be done in health care, that was disappointing to some people.” He begrudges the extent to which people have projected onto Whole Foods an unrealistic and idealistic vision of the company. “The C.E.O. of Safeway, Steven Burd, wrote an op-ed piece in June advocating, basically, market solutions to the health-care problem, and nobody gave a shit,” he said.
Oh, and by the way, note Mackey's use of the term "capitalist" to describe his take on health care reform. Do you get it? He's a capitalist, you're not. And who aren't capitalists? SOCIALISTS. Oh, and maybe the reason people are confused about what values Whole Foods holds is because you sure try to come off as a big ole crunchy progressive on your own Web site.
Perhaps it's time that all you "socialists" told Whole Foods what you think of people who deny climate change, people who think that providing cheaper and better health care to more people is "socialist." Please use the form below to write your own personal note to Whole Foods, telling them how you feel about their CEO's views on climate change and health care reform. How you feel about Whole Foods, now that you know they aren't a progressive company, that they don't have progressive values, that they're no better than Safeway or any other company simply out for a fast buck, regardless of how it affects the community around them, and the world. Your note below will be emailed immediately to Whole Foods' corporate relations team.