John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, complained that “socialists” are taking control in the United States during a podcast appearance on Thursday.
Mackey made the comment during Reason Magazine’s podcast. Mackey is a critic of socialist policies. He has used the term “conscious capitalism” as a description of his preferred approach to economics.
Mackey said that “my concern is that socialists are taking control,” Nick Gillespie, Nick’s host, stated. They’re marching through institutions. They are…taking over education. They seem to have taken over many corporations. They seem to have taken control of the military. It’s only getting worse.
“I believe in liberty and capitalism, which is why I am a capitalist by nature”. These are my twin values. He said that he feels like, you know what, freedom of speech and the movement for gun control are threatening a lot of the liberties I have taken for granted my whole life.
Mackey has warned Americans for years about the rise in socialist sentiment in America. Mackey will retire at the end of August from Whole Foods, and he promises to be more vocal about his beliefs after he leaves.
Mackey described “conscious capitalism” as an American way to maintain American business culture and focus on more than profit in the past.
From an investor’s point of view, the purpose is to maximize profits. However, that is not the purpose of other stakeholders–for customers and employees, suppliers and the community,” he stated in a 2005 debate alongside Nobel laureate Milton Freidman. “Each group will determine the purpose of the company based on its needs and desires. Each perspective is valid and legitimate.”
Mackey repeatedly argued that capitalism is “the greatest thing humanity has ever done.” Mackey has also criticized the academic community for spreading socialist ideas. He said that it was “generally hostile towards business.”
