So You Want Health Care Reform? Boycotting Whole Foods Won't Help

The health care reform debate has provoked any number of crazy opinions, including the far-right fantasies of death panels or that Medicare isn't a government-funded program. Two weeks ago, Whole Foods founder and CEO John Mackey added his own musings to the list with an editorial in the Wall Street Journal condemning "Obamacare" and any government health care option in the U.S.

Unfortunately for Whole Foods, Mackey's foray into the health care debate hasn't gone unnoticed. Some progressives, incensed that the head of one of their preferred companies is helping pollute the debate, have expressed their ire via a boycott of Whole Foods.

While well intended, this is a bad strategy.

A boycott of Whole Foods won't make a difference on health care, and it might actually hurt something progressives care about -- organic and natural farmers.

Whole Foods Founder John Mackey Steps in It

With an audacity that borders on self-destructive, Mackey, a well-known "Libertarian," began his op-ed on U.S. health care reform with a bizarre quote from Margaret Thatcher about socialism and other people's money, and it went downhill from there.

Rather than see access to safe and affordable health care as a basic necessity in a civilized nation, Mackey calls any proposed government reform a "massive new health-care entitlement."

For many progressives, Mackey's invoking the Constitution and Declaration of Independence to deny an individual "right" to basic health care struck a powder keg of emotion. Mark Rosenthal, a playwright based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Mackey's, was one of them.

"I was disgusted," says Rosenthal after reading the editorial. "I was nauseous at the thought of shopping at Whole Foods ever again. It made me want to vomit."

So Rosenthal did want anybody who feels rage and indignation does today: he started a Facebook group.

In nearly two weeks, the Facebook boycott has garnered some 29,000 online fans, while Mackey's tirade has created a cottage industry of blog posts regarding Whole Foods, its CEO and the boycott itself.

Why They Shop Elsewhere

After weeks of watching the health care debate be dominated by town hall protesters, and seeing the potential for reform slide away into a Clintonesque compromise, Internet savvy progressives jumped at the chance to focus their anger on one of their own--Whole Foods.

As someone who works in sustainable agriculture and is a progressive Democrat, I've seen many a "friend" who has signed the Facebook page. Many are serial joiners, others have longtime beefs with Whole Foods for its perceived litany of sins, and others just like a good fight. When a protest is just one click away - why not satisfy that urge for revenge.

Target the Real Enemies of Health Care Reform

But the facts remains, no matter how many people join the boycott or wave a protest sign outside Whole Foods, it won't bring a single person in the country better health care. If progressives want to achieve a public option, they need to stay focused on the true obstacles to reform. Companies like United Health Care and the Republican party that have helped fan the flames, the Blue Dog Democrats, and the Gang of Six that have been dragging their feet on health care reform since the beginning.

One good way to do this would be to make contributions to progressive members of Congress who stand up for health care.

Another is to target the Blue Dogs. Over at Daily Kos, Markos Moulitsas is working on holding Blue Dog Congressman Jim Cooper from Tennessee accountable; while Howard Dean is mounting a Senate whip count campaign against wayward Senators to push them in support of the public option.

The public option will only come through organizing politically against members of Congress who actually vote on health care. Everything else is political theater. It may soothe the pain, but it won't actually cure what ails our nation.

Beware The Unintended Consequences

While Mackey has made his company an easy target in this debate, Whole Foods is not the enemy. The small natural foods retail company that Mackey helped found in 1980 has been a national leader in many progressive causes for years, which may be why his editorial stung so much.

But for anyone who has followed Whole Foods for any period of time, Mackey's libertarian views should not be a surprise.

And putting his politics aside, I'm far more concerned about the collateral damage that could be done to Whole Foods suppliers, mainly organic and natural farmers and some of the smaller and midsized organic companies whose products Whole Foods sells.

Despite what many critics of Whole Foods say, as a company it has done much more good than it has harm and is largely responsibly for helping popularize organic and natural foods in the U.S. In doing so, Mackey and Whole Foods have helped create a market for thousands of farmers across America to grow food in ways that do not harm the environment, farm animals or consumer's health.

And while Mackey may not support universal health care as a right, his life's work and that of his company has increased Americans access to food that is safer to eat, more nutritious, and will contribute less to the burden of the current health care crisis than his competitors.

Unfortunately, the only responsible thing left to do is to ask John Mackey to step down as the CEO of a company that he helped build and to ask him to go it alone, just as he believes the uninsured citizens of this country should do. Whole Foods, and the farmers they help survive shouldn't suffer, but the author of that WSJ editorial should for putting America's organic and sustainable farmers in harms way.

 

 

Comments

[IowaMomjtb]

Come on people. There are plenty of folks to be mad at in our fight for good eating and good health. I suggest we stay focussed on those who are farthest away from our agenda, not closest. When I drive by a stinky hog confinement, I've got other things in my mind! And hey, you all do sound a little spoiled. I live in rural Iowa and drive two hours to reach the nearest Whole Foods. Sure wish it was right around the corner!

[Mark4Boston]

I have a lot of personal admiration for Mackey, but he forgot one thing. Many of his shoppers are old lefties, and want real reform, not the BS that's on the table now . To not support single payer/govt option is an insult. I've read the WSJ piece, he promotes HSAs and high deductible health insurance over real reform. BIG MISTAKE.

Whole Foods is highly profitable. One report I read boasted a 15% profit margin. Most commercial supermarkets have a 1% margin. I don't really support a boycott of WF, but really, Mackey should think before he shoots off his mouth again. He should stick to buying up the competition and maxing ROI.

[auntcloud]

Mr. Murphy, the cardinal sin of activism is poo poohing the work of others. All credibility comes from genuine work, and when you sit on your hands and then tell others that what they're doing is wrong, it sends a terrible signal.

I didn't know about the Wholefoods boycott until today, but I'm willing to get behind it, especially because I know that Wholefoods flourishes because of its public image. If you take away the public image, you take away their profit. Their shoppers tend to be progressive, and most of them probably want healthcare reform.

[letsgetback2work]

It is too bad that when someone offers an opinion they are attacked. Mr. Mackey offered some solutions to our heath care problem. If goverment heath care is so good, why do people from Canada and the UK come here for heath care? Nothing is free and in most cases people who get things for free abuse them. Section 8 families on food stamps can find a way to rent limo for a birthday? I want heath care reform and I want everyone to have access to it. I do not want government controlled heath care. What I see is the government giving themselves pay increases, while the rest of us are losing our jobs and taking pay cuts. There seems to be a cry to eliminate profit and capitalism, when other countries, after years of socialism, because it failed and are now turning to capitalism and their people are moving from their third world status! I've never shopped at WF before, but I will go to one now.

[tweedledeedumb]

I'm not going to stop eating well, I'm just going to stop buying it at Whole Foods.

[SaltySaltillo]

Let's analyze this: I buy organic and eat lots of fruit and vegetables. I stopped buying at Whole Foods but continue to buy the same food at other sources. I still have a refrigerator full of good organic produce that I was able to buy at a produce co-op and at a local farmer's market. How is my boycott of Whole Foods hurting the farmer that grew that food?

[snesich]

And, Dave, we can do all of the things you suggest to bring about genuine health care reform in this country AND boycott Whole Foods; they're not mutually exclusive.

I've been doing everything you suggest, and more AND I'm no longer shopping at John Mackey's store. You can do all of these at the same time. It works.

[snesich]

Nonsense, Dave. There are numerous alternatives to Whole Foods for organic products, in every geographic market in the country. They're easy to find. And they're usually cheaper than WF.

If you want to keep shopping at Whole Foods, despite Mackey's repulsive comments, go do so. But this is a bad argument on your part.

[SaltySaltillo]

For most people, boycotting Whole Foods doesn't involve a change in eating habits. So how are the farmers hurt?

[Paz3]

I can't speak for other regions, but here in the Portland, OR area clear up to and through Seattle, WA we have many alternatives to Whole Foods. Many, if not most of these are locally owned or are regional stores only (Portland's New Seasons Markets comes to mind).

As to organic farmers who sell to Whole Foods, they will find outlets as consumers leave WF and shop elsewhere.

As to WF employees, they will find work at non-compromised organically oriented stores and outlets as business leaves WF and goes elsewhere. After all, those boycotting WF shoppers seeking better food and organic and sustainable nutrition will not go back to Safeway. Also, many large chains (The Kroger family of stores come to mind) are expanding their lines of organic and sustainably produced food and other items. And many are unionized.

[gfs5541]

Bulls**t. Organic Farmers will find and have found other venues.

[ClareD]

I'll add my voice to the disagreement of Mr. Murphy. When business owners do something morally reprehensible like speak out against better health for millions, it is our duty to voice our opposition. A boycott and the negative press that goes with it might make Mr. Mackey think twice about opining against progressive causes. If that is the result of the boycott, then it is a success.

Whole Foods has only ever pretended to be "one of our own". Only a great fool would think otherwise.

If this is bad strategy, Mr. Murphy, then maybe you need to rethink and remember (if you ever knew) what a good, progressive strategy is. Meanwhile, I'll continue to boycott Whole Foods.

[WaddleOn]

I come from and area where organic foods are not popular and very difficult to find. I have oodles of allergies and am not able to boycott Whole Foods.

I for one will not boycott them. If WF goes under, there are numerous other people this impacts. I would feel terrible if the people who are working, not sharing the same views as their CEO, will have to pay if WF goes under. Ultimately, the CEO does not hurt from this -- he'll be fine. But, the employees -- they are the ones who are affected the most.

If you can come up with a plan that directly affects the CEO and does not have incidental consequences, then I'll consider that plan.

[V4Vigilance]

"...progre­ssives jumped at the chance to focus their anger on one of their own--Whole Foods."

BZZZT! WRONG! What this op-ed and previous stances on labor issues have made clear is that as a corporate citizen WF is NOT progressive. They are the wolf in sheep's clothing, the Wal-Mart of natural food retailing. As for the organic/natural farmers and companies you express concern for, I'd urge them to do the same soul searching I did. Shopping @ WF isn't consistent with my values, is distributing their products via WF consistent with their values?

[boboyaya]

Soryy, but the only thing WF did in my neighborhood was to put the Green Grocer out of Business. A ' for real , organic food store. And boycotting WF may not affect health care reform, but it sure makes me feel a lot better

[condor101]

Whole Foods Boycott page on Facebook has this far, over 30,000 members that are NOT buying anymore at Whole Foods.
So much for your theory that the boycott will not be effective.
I hope we can get the membership up to over 100,000.

And by the way, for every one person on that found and joined that boycott page on facebook, there are probably hundreds, maybe thousands of people that have already decided to boycott Whole Foods.

This facebook group also has a website at http://wholeboycott.com/
The site looks great and very well organized.

Let's take the Health Care debate to Ground Zero......­...in Front of every Whole Foods in America!!!