In an interview with NPR opens in a new tab on Wednesday, Whole Foods Market co-CEO John Mackey discussed his new book, Conscious Capitalism opens in a new tab, along with other topics such as health care. Today, John revisited his remarks on the Huffington Post opens in a new tab and we are sharing them here.
I made a poor word choice to describe our health care system, which I definitely regret. The term fascism today stirs up too much negative emotion with its horrific associations in the 20th century. While I'm speaking as someone who works hard to offer health care benefits to more than 73,000 team members, who actually vote on their overall benefits packages, I am very concerned about the uninsured and those with preexisting conditions.
I believe that, if the goal is universal health care, our country would be far better served by combining free enterprise capitalism with a strong governmental safety net for our poorest citizens and those with preexisting conditions, helping everyone to be able to buy insurance. This is what Switzerland does and I think we would be much better off copying that system than where we are currently headed in the United States.
I believe that health care should be competitive in the open market to promote innovation and creativity. Despite the criticism of me, I am encouraged that this dialogue will bring continued awareness and a better understanding of viable health care options for all Americans. There is an alternative to mandated health care in free enterprise capitalism based on voluntary exchange for mutual gain. This alternative allows individuals and businesses to innovate and develop customized solutions to health care where a “one size fits all approach” fails. Creativity and progress are stifled when government regulations dictate the parameters of what health care plans can be offered. Creative businesses, and the people who work them, can make something that has value for all stakeholders.
I need a new word or phrase to describe the state of health care now because it is something that I, like all folks entrusted with the wellbeing of a team, grapple with daily in this era. I think for now I will simply call it government-controlled health care to distinguish it from free enterprise capitalist health care. Clearly, I would prefer free enterprise capitalism in health care because it would greatly increase innovation and progress —just like it does in every other aspect of our lives, wherever it is allowed to exist. I hope those who are my critics, would recognize that we are all after an improved state of society, and not be distracted by the poor use of an emotionally charged word.
If you would like to hear more from John, you can listen to him here:
CBS This Morning: “Bad Choice of Words” opens in a new tab
Huffington Post opens in a new tab
NPR Interview Part 1 opens in a new tab
NPR Interview Part 2 opens in a new tab
You can read more about John, his philosophy and his new book, Conscious Capitalism opens in a new tab at:
Forbes: “Why Companies Should Embrace Conscious Capitalism” opens in a new tab
Financial Post: “Making Money Need Not Be A Zero-Sum Game” opens in a new tab
Investor Business Daily “John Mackey Built Healthy Food Empire” opens in a new tab
