Whole Foods CEO says Obama healthcare law is 'more like fascism'

The Hill ^ | 01/16/2013 | Elise Viebeck

[SeekAndFind]

The CEO of Whole Foods Market said President Obama's healthcare law is more like "fascism" than "socialism," a parallel he drew in 2009, to some backlash.

John Mackey made the remark in an interview Wednesday with NPR.

"Technically speaking, it's more like fascism," Mackey said of the Affordable Care Act. "Socialism is where the government owns the means of production. In fascism, the government doesn't own the means of production, but they do control it, and that's what's happening with our healthcare programs and these reforms."

The term "fascism" was first used to describe the right-wing regime of Italian leader Benito Mussolini, and was later applied to the Nazis and the authoritarian leadership of Francisco Franco in Spain.

Mackey made headlines in 2009 for a Wall Street Journal op-ed that compared healthcare reform to socialism.

[Mr. K]

This is something new: Obammunism ( Crony Socialism ). All the worst of Crony Capitalism combined with all the worst of Socialism.

[Parmy]

I would not be surprised to learn that most of Whole Foods clientele voted Democrat and love Obama care.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

This is extremely interesting coming from the CEO of Whole Foods. In most of the Whole Foods in my area, this market is sort of like a major Democrat/left wing gathering spot. The employees seem rather far left as well. It’s too bad the views of the CEO don’t filter down to the employees and customers of Whole Foods.

[Candor7]

The CEO of Whole Foods Market said President Obama’s healthcare law is more like “fascism” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

McKay is correct, read here:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html

[bobo1]

He pegged it right it is fascism.

When I was in high school and college I took history and political science courses where they would put fascism and communism on the opposite spectrums on a straight line graph.

I just laughed and told them freedom and slavery are opposites, how do you place them within the context of your graph, or maybe right and wrong, how does that fit in your theory.

I was not well liked with a lot of professors.

bobo

[ilgipper]

That’s bold. As bold as anything I have ever heard from a business leader. Given Whole Foods clientele, this is going to be a flammable situation. I may need to stop in to spend some money soon.

[woweeitsme]

I like the way the author calls Mussolini a “right-wing” dictator.

[jcon40]

Think they’re based out ot Texas. But yes their clientel sure seems yuppie leftish

[CSM]

Well, either one is only sustainable with dictators in charge, so the net effect on the populace remains constant.

[ClearCase_guy]

Many of us have said this for a long time. Maybe the concept will gain traction. As Jonah Golberg pointed out, Progressivism/Liberalism has always been Fascism. Obama has ramped it up, but he hasn't really changed anything.

You know, when Eisenhower made his remark about the "military-industrial complex" he was talking about this. It's not just Defense/Military stuff. When the government allies itself with industry, things go badly. Government should not control commerce. Eisenhower understood this -- it corrupts both government and industry. The CEO of Whole Foods gets it.

[SeekAndFind]

Well, to be compared to Benito Mussolini, one would have to stick one’s nose in the air with an arrogant look, like Benito Mussolini did. Hmmmm.....

[Grampa Dave]

“I would not be surprised to learn that most of Whole Foods clientele voted Democrat and love Obama care.”

You would be correct out here in CalifornicateU land.

These comments by the Whole Foods’s CEO has to be causing confusion amongst the left wing elites out here.

[newfreep]

"The term "fascism" was first used to describe the right-wing regime of Italian leader Benito Mussolini, and was later applied to the Nazis and the authoritarian leadership of Francisco Franco in Spain.

Fascism & Nazism are LEFTwing systems - different faces of the same coin (communism).

Either leftist bias or the writer is simply a stupid, useful idiot.

[SeekAndFind]

BUT THEN, IL DUCE, WOULD NEVER DO THIS...

[ClearCase_guy]

Yup. Political systems are either Collectivist or Individualist. It’s real clear where communism, socialism and fascism fall: they are all collectivist ideologies, and historically they have admitted this (Mussolini was open about being a collectivist; Hitler’s party was National Socialist). It’s only in the era of modern Public Relations that the Left has adopted the idea of saying, “Those guys who are bad? The guys you don’t like? Nazis, and Fascists and such? Well ... they’re ... they’re right-wingers. Yeah. That’s the ticket.”

[Grampa Dave]

[Grampa Dave]

[GraceG]

I like the way the author calls Mussolini a “right-wing” dictator.

Yeah, cause when i think of Fascist 1940’s Italy I immediately think “Limited Government” I despise the way the Left has a strangle hold on the language....