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> If you don't know, John Mackey, the CEO / founder, is a major believer in conscious capitalism and of empowering his employees. http://www.huffingtonpost.com

> If you don't know, John Mackey, the CEO / founder, is a major believer in conscious capitalism and of empowering his employees. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/16/whole-foods-ceo-obamacare-fascism_n_2488029.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/16/whole-foods-ceo-oba... > “It’s more like fascism,” Mackey recently told NPR. “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.” > Mackey, a libertarian, compared Obamacare to “socialism” in a Wall Street Journal op-ed he penned in 2009. Obamacare would “move us much closer to a government takeover of our health-care system,” he proclaimed.

murbard2 9y ago
So he believes in empowering his employees, and is principled.
burkaman 9y ago
Obamacare is obviously closer to socialism, I think that was one of the main goals. His full article adds more context: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog/health-care-reform-full-article http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog/healt... I disagree with almost every word of it, but I don't think it contradicts the idea of "conscious capitalism" or treating your employees well. He also sort of regrets his "fascism" comment: > "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. - http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/16/169413848/whole-foods-founder-john-mackey-on-fascism-and-conscious-capitalism http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/16/169413848/who... Although, fascism doesn't just have "an association" with dictatorships, that's literally what it means. Government controlling industry is basically a side effect.
Applejinx 9y ago
Sounds like he's demonstrating what being 'consciously capitalist' gets you: bought out, and your lifework cannibalized to please bottom-line hungry investors. Also known as 'you can't have nice things'. So basically, leave out the 'conscious' as it is disposable. Good to know.
s73ver 9y ago
I'm happy that he's willing to give those kinds of benefits to his employees when he doesn't have to. But I cannot have respect for someone that doesn't believe that everyone should have that.

murbard2 9y ago

So he believes in empowering his employees, and is principled.

burkaman 9y ago

Obamacare is obviously closer to socialism, I think that was one of the main goals. His full article adds more context: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog/health-care-reform-full-article http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog/healt... I disagree with almost every word of it, but I don't think it contradicts the idea of "conscious capitalism" or treating your employees well. He also sort of regrets his "fascism" comment: > "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. - http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/16/169413848/whole-foods-founder-john-mackey-on-fascism-and-conscious-capitalism http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/16/169413848/who... Although, fascism doesn't just have "an association" with dictatorships, that's literally what it means. Government controlling industry is basically a side effect.

Applejinx 9y ago

Sounds like he's demonstrating what being 'consciously capitalist' gets you: bought out, and your lifework cannibalized to please bottom-line hungry investors. Also known as 'you can't have nice things'. So basically, leave out the 'conscious' as it is disposable. Good to know.

s73ver 9y ago

I'm happy that he's willing to give those kinds of benefits to his employees when he doesn't have to. But I cannot have respect for someone that doesn't believe that everyone should have that.