Why John Mackey is My New Best Friend

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey recently published an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal called The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare.  The article offers eight ways to improve America’s health care system without further straining our wallets and is an obvious critique of President Obama’s public health care plan.

The basic theme of Mackey’s piece is that health care is not a birthright and that every person is responsible for his or her own health.  Public health care is not only costly and unsupported by the US Constitution…it’s just plain WRONG!

Many Whole Foods shoppers are now boycotting the company, citing John Mackey’s insensitivity toward those Americans who cannot afford proper health care as their reason.

Why Is John Mackey My New Best Friend?

I have had great respect for John Mackey ever since I learned about his support and usage of Health Safety Accounts at Whole Foods.  Even though I rarely (if ever) shop at Whole Foods, Mackey’s support of individuality and personal responsibility resonates highly with me.  His recent op-ed has only deepened my warm feelings toward him and his company.

Don’t be surprised if you see me sporting an “I Heart Mackey” shirt in the near future. ;)

Because John Mackey Believes In The US Constitution

All of the following quotes are from Mackey’s article:

Health care is a service that we all need, but just like food and shelter it is best provided through voluntary and mutually beneficial market exchanges. A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That's because there isn't any. This "right" has never existed in America.

Mackey brings up two great points here.  First, the best quality health care is provided by the private sector.  The increasing cost of insurance and care that we see today can both be linked to government intervention (an unequal tax code and the inability of health insurance companies to compete state-to-state, for instance).

And I don't know about you, but I'm not exactly 100% confident in the competency of the US government (or any governing body, for that matter).  Our own government can't even count votes accurately, for Pete's sake!

Second, there is no Constitutional right to nationalized health care in this country.  Period.

Because John Mackey Believes In Personal Responsibility

Rather than increase government spending and control, we need to address the root causes of poor health. This begins with the realization that every American adult is responsible for his or her own health.

Bingo.  Too many people forget or choose to ignore the fact that our own health is our own responsibility.

Mackey continues:

Unfortunately many of our health-care problems are self-inflicted: two-thirds of Americans are now overweight and one-third are obese. Most of the diseases that kill us and account for about 70% of all health-care spending—heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and obesity—are mostly preventable through proper diet, exercise, not smoking, minimal alcohol consumption and other healthy lifestyle choices.

Another nail on the head.  Just think how empty those hospital beds would be if everyone took responsibility instead of turning to the government and “Big Pharma” to solve their health woes.

Because John Mackey Knows True Health Doesn't Come In Pill Form

Recent scientific and medical evidence shows that a diet consisting of foods that are plant-based, nutrient dense and low-fat will help prevent and often reverse most degenerative diseases that kill us and are expensive to treat. We should be able to live largely disease-free lives until we are well into our 90s and even past 100 years of age.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.  Well, I can be a little bit more specific…

-    Eat lots of fruit
-    Eat minimal fat
-    Don’t forget your greens
-    Exercise
-    Get plenty of sleep
-    Get plenty of sunshine
-    Etc.

But if living healthfully is so simple (and cheap), why isn’t everyone doing it?

Fear Leads To Inaction, Knowledge Leads To Action

If you remember from a recent article of mine Raw Food: The New Frontier, I discussed fear and the role it plays in peoples' aversion to personal health.  Many people fear that they are not competent enough to take good care of themselves.

As a result, the general public turns to modern medicine and the government ( and your tax dollars) for help, falsely believing that fancy credentials and even fancier attire mean unending nutritional and fitness expertise.

They don’t.  The current state of human health proves that they don’t.

Take A Stand

Just as I did two weeks ago, I am encouraging CHALLENGING you to take a stand.  Arm yourself with all the raw know-how you can and become your own health guru!

Oh…and don't forget to showcase the power of personal responsibility (and support my fondness for John Mackey) by purchasing some delicious organic produce at Whole Foods. ;)