Organizing for America | Pam Okano's Blog: Whole Foods CEO Opposes Health Care Reform

Whole Foods CEO Opposes Health Care Reform

By Pam - Aug 13th, 2009 at 4:47 pm EDT

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If you haven't seen his op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal yet, you should. One of the more "memorable" lines is "Many promoters of health-care reform believe that people have an intrinsic ethical right to health care—to equal access to doctors, medicines and hospitals. While all of us empathize with those who are sick, how can we say that all people have more of an intrinsic right to health care than they have to food or shelter?" http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html

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UNFORTUNATELY, AND AS THIS | Report to Admin

By SUE DUVALL SMITH from IndianaV.O.B. Aug 13th 2009 at 5:06 pm EDT (Updated Aug 13th 2009 at 5:06 pm EDT)

HEALTHCARE REFORM BATTLE MOVES ON...YOU FIND THAT THERE IS A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF 'SELF-CONSUMED' PEOPLE OUT THERE. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ANY HUMANITARIAN SERVICES OTHER THAN THEIR OWN. HOWEVER, IF THEY DO FIND THEMSELVES JOBLESS AND LIVING IN A TENT CITY SOMEWHERE...HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE THEM TO WANT TO FIND A 'FREE CLINIC' IF THEY BECOME ILL. IN MANY CASES 'EXPERIENCE' IS CERTAINLY THE BEST TEACHER...OR...WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND! PICK ONE! BLESSINGS!

Interesting article - mixed reactions | Report to Admin

By The Bard of Wilmette Aug 13th 2009 at 6:09 pm EDT (Updated Aug 13th 2009 at 6:09 pm EDT)

Thanks for the post and the link. Actually, I agree with most of the contents of Mr. Mackey's column. The line about healthcare not being a "right" is a bit tactless, I have to admit.

The larger issue of the need for healthcare reform being fiscally responsible is absolutely true. Getting rid of the prohibition on interstate insurance shopping, enacting sensible tort reform, emphasis on prevention ahead of treatment, eliminating the tax deductibility of employer-provided health insurance... these are all measures that help in actually lowering the total cost of healthcare.

One other item not mentioned in the article is the question of whether or not somebody should be REQUIRED to purchase health insurance. It arguably makes sense for a young and healthy person to take his/her chances, but I have come around to believing (as I did not last year) that the individual mandate makes sense. A catastrophic illness or accident to a previously healthy and uninsured person will wind up costing the society a lot of money anyway, so he (or she) should be paying into the system.

Re: Interesting article - mixed reactions | Report to Admin

By Fire Is Born Aug 14th 2009 at 3:27 pm EDT (Updated Aug 14th 2009 at 3:27 pm EDT)

I also find the article interesting - despite the tactless mishap.

Recently I posted an article on globalization of health industry - it goes even further then state boundaries. An some of it is already happening.

here's the link:
Link

But I still am strongly against any mandate on buying insurance, for many reasons.

One of them is that doctors can do NOTHING for my condition (CFIDS) and I have learned it is best for me to avoid them, as they mostly do harm, if only psychological. So what you say to that, Bard?

And the truth is that doctors can do nothing on many widespread conditions, including ALL viral infections, chronic especially.

They just don't have the goods, so why must I shop there?

Surgery? - yes, they can. Worth buying.

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