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Recently at Reason.tv: John Mackey's Conscious Capitalism and Whole Foods and Health Care
In late September, Mackey sat down with Reason's Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie to talk about health care reform, corporate social responsibility (on which Mackey has written for Reason), why government interventions rarely achieve their goals, and how Mackey came to his unstinting belief in free markets. Approximately five minutes. Shot by Dan Hayes and Meredith Bragg. Edited by Meredith Bragg.
This is an abridged version of an hour-long conversation with Mackey. For the full interview and downloadable versions, go here.
In August, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey argued in the pages of the Wall Street Journal that the solution to America's health care crisis was to be found in "less government control and more individual empowerment." His own company's unique health care plan, Mackey wrote, covers 90 percent of employees, costs less than health insurance plans, and provides a "very high degree of worker satisfaction." But for the sin of not supporting a government take over of health care, labor unions and left-wing activists called for a boycott of Whole Foods, claiming that Mackey's solutions were unworkable and his employees were unhappy.
Reason.tv talked to protesters, Mackey, and employees about "the Whole Foods alternative to ObamaCare." Produced by Michael C. Moynihan and Dan Hayes. Edited by Dan Hayes. Approximately 5 minutes. (Full disclosure: Mackey has contributed to Reason Foundation, the nonprofit that publishes this website.) For podcast and downloadable versions of this video, click here.
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|10.22.09 @ 3:56PM|#
Mackey's "unique" health plan is a private group insurance plan little different from any other private group insurance plan. That's a free market solution, by the way. Providers and the insured are free to participate or not and services are charged at market-based rates. Never miss an opportunity to be an asshole, however. Keep up with the unreason, "Reason!
jtuf|10.23.09 @ 11:55AM|#
Never miss an opportunity to be an asshole
I see you lead by example, but I for one don't plan on following.
GILMORE|10.23.09 @ 3:11PM|#
DRINK
|10.22.09 @ 4:10PM|#
Dupe!
hmm|10.23.09 @ 11:23AM|#
I think the girls song name game has overcome the Reason office so they decided to rehash old material to at least get something done.
|10.23.09 @ 11:25AM|#
To whomever keeps reposting Reason.tv bits again and again
FUCK YOU
¢|10.23.09 @ 11:28AM|#
I really want to hear more about this. Or the same stuff again. Whatever's easier for you guys.
Kyle Jordan|10.23.09 @ 11:31AM|#
I'm with hmm
|10.23.09 @ 11:31AM|#
Ray, your usual trolling makes no sense this time. Get in the game, dude.
|10.23.09 @ 11:43AM|#
Yaaaawwwwwn...what was that "Ray?"
jtuf|10.23.09 @ 11:52AM|#
I'm all for private business owners being altruistic if they want. I'm even OK with corporations doing the same if that is in their charters. However, isn't it a breach of duty for a CEO to use corporation funds for altruism if the corporate charter does not call for it?
hmm|10.23.09 @ 12:38PM|#
Put this video up, at least it's new.
Only in MO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhQ4dE_RGnQ
hmm|10.23.09 @ 12:39PM|#
And RFT is a great rag.
anonymous|10.23.09 @ 1:59PM|#
"I'm all for private business owners being altruistic if they want. I'm even OK with corporations doing the same if that is in their charters. However, isn't it a breach of duty for a CEO to use corporation funds for altruism if the corporate charter does not call for it? "
Doesn't public altruism constitute a form of PR or customer/employee appreciation? All those things are legitimate uses of corporate funds, even if the payoffs are highly subjective.
BakedPenguin|10.23.09 @ 2:09PM|#
There's a potential payoff for the potentially benevolent payout: employee satisfaction may be higher, and turnover may be lower. Granted, the skill sets required in a grocery store are such that training new employees isn't the cost drain it is in high skill industries, but lowering turnover still counts for something.
Calpico|10.23.09 @ 10:54PM|#
That hipster in the 2nd video sounds so dumb. Stupid liberal hipsters.
LA lawyer|10.24.09 @ 1:25AM|#
Health care reform is a necessity and I believe we should all contribute our ideas to find the solutions to our dilemma and hopefully reap the benefits of our efforts in the future.