Not so much a retraction, but just an apology, Shout Bits seems to have gotten the wrong impression of John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO. Yesterday, Reason.TV posted a must see interview with Mackey in which he displayed his libertarian bonafides. A prior Shout Bits entry accused Whole Foods of being a pile of BS, and we sincerely regret the friendly fire.
In a dialogue supporting his famous Wall Street Journal op-ed, Mackey defended capitalism, individual choice, and market based health care reform. Generally validating this blog’s opinion of Whole Foods’ customers, the op-ed generated a firestorm of indignation from the left. The call for a boycott has largely faded away, as these suburban leftists like their granola more than their Guvera.
How to reconcile the lies upon lies that make up Whole Food’s marketing and image with it’s CEO’s patriotic individualism? Simple, it is not a company’s job to tell its customers what to want; it is a company’s job to deliver what customers want even if it does not always make sense. Mackey is just a smart businessman, the backbone and unsung hero of the world.
Most people do not need a Hummer SUV, a .44 magnum pistol, or bottled French water, but the US system of free choice demands that nobody stop them from wasting their money on whatever they want. Even though most people cannot tell the difference between organic produce and much less expensive FDA approved equivalents, they must be free to waste their money if the US is to survive.
So, Mr. Mackey, we are sorry, we simply did not understand you. Still, don’t look for rational consumers to buy into the whole organic/green thing (although your pizza rocks).
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