I say we boycott Lanny too!

This is not an issues oriented boycott. Mackey provides health care for his workers. Where is boycott of all the companies that don't?

This is another knee jerk reaction by the Looking Glass Left that will ensure this discussion remains polemic in nature and solves exactly nothing. Anyone who advocates for a boycott of Whole Foods from the left has surrendered all credibility on this issue because it is clear they have left no room for political compromise or debate in their tactics.

At least the single payer crowd way win the war, nothing being passed instead of real bipartisan reform - just like they demanded.

The really funny part is how "we on the left" implies that he has a single, solitary principle he wouldn't eagerly pimp out for the change in a non-smoker's ashtray.

My HSA insurance, with a $5,000 deductible, costs just as much as my traditional policy with a $1,000 deductible did 3 years ago. Since my wife and kid easily run through $3-4,000 of the deductible, the HSA is costing me several thousand dollars more per year than the traditional policy did.

On the other hand, the traditional policy would cost that much more this year too. And they both will increase at the same percentage until 3 years out from now, unless the government steps in. An HSA, in other words, while it provides a bit more flexibility and some small tax advantages, does nothing to reduce the health-care budget of a family.

"lively hood"

Um......

So you're talking abut a busy part of South central L.A.?

Pretty sure you meant 'livelihood'.

Best to not question other people's intelligence after falling a wee bit short in displaying your own.

:D :D :D

Thank you.

How would the right respond if the president of NASCAR wrote a prochoice op-ed? Or if John Deere came out in favor of gay marriage? Or if a country group criticized Bush and the Iraq war? (Oops, think we might have tried that one already.)

People were threatening to boycott budweiser because it was bought by a European country and that's fine. But a boycott of Whole Foods because Mackey comes out against health care reform is inappropriate? Are the causes of the left too nuanced, is that the problem here?

My question though, why is The Wall Street Journal publishing Mackey's opinions on health care reform? Is there a shortage of medical professionals and economists with an opinion on the subject? It seems to me like the editors picked somebody who they felt would have sway over the left but opposed reform, so he got a spot.

The WSJ should restrict Mackey to writing about organic food and make George Will stick to baseball.

(Oh, Mackey claims to work for a dollar but made $2.7 last year and claims to be vegan but eats eggs. The man seems confused.)

There is nothing progressive about skewering Whole Foods over the opinions of its CEO and hurting local growers and independent food producers, many of whom rely on the chain as the primary method of distribution.

Trader Joes cost twice what Whole Foods does and is not a green company and have no policy for following sustainable practices.

They individually wrap fruits and vegetables that never uses local sources, sell nothing in bulk and private label most of their products (from a single location in the northeast) instead of carrying independent producers in many categories such as coffee. At least that has been the paradigm for the three stores I have been to in DC. I can't talk for the rest of the country.

As to the rest of your comment, it is equally salacious.

The fact of the matter is that in most markets, Whole Foods is the most reasonably priced and widest available purveyor of fresh, sustainable and in many case local food. Many times it is the only choice in places as diverse as Minneapolis and Raleigh. We know because are vacationing in southern Virginia and Raleigh has exactly one store. Whole Foods supports a huge ecosystem of smaller related companies, all trying to do the right thing by changing the way we shop and eat.

My wife is as liberal as they come and she thinks this entire line of reasoning by the Looking Glass Left is ridiculous. This sort of reaction by many liberals is damaging to your long-term goals precisely because it takes a discussion of ideas and turns it into a reason to be offended by someone's opinion. Offended by words, essentially, as nothing Mackey has actually done is out-of-line with his stated principles.

Disagree with the man's opinions on health reform all you want, but Whole Foods is still a very progressive company that is worthy of support. At least in the opinion of this loyal customer.