Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey expressed concern that “socialists” are seizing important institutions in American society, while noting that some liberties “are under threat .”
“My concern is that I feel like socialists are taking over,” Mackey told Reason Magazine in a podcast interview on Wednesday. They’re marching through institutions. They are…taking control of education. They seem to have taken control of many corporations. They seem to have taken control of the military. It’s not stopping .”
The libertarian businessman stated that “capitalism and liberty” were his main values, but cautioned they should not be taken as a given.
” I feel that, you know with the freedom of speech today and the movement for gun control, many of the liberties I have taken for granted all my life are at risk,” he stated.
Later in the interview Mackey stated that the most difficult aspect of dealing with the coronavirus epidemic was the hiring and retention of employees in major American cities. This is especially true for younger workers.
The outgoing CEO named New York City as one of his top cities for “straining” people to work in.
He critiqued younger workers for seeking “meaningful work” in the early stages of their career and said that it was important to earn it over time .”
“Some members of the younger generation don’t seem willing to pay this price and I’m not sure why,” Mackey stated.
Mackey founded Whole Foods Market almost 42 years ago in Austin, Texas, and has since opened over 500 stores across North America and the U.K. He is set to retire on September 1.
Mackey, one of the most outspoken corporate executives, is critical of certain left-wing ideas, especially socialism. This comes at a time where more companies are adopting “woke” culture.
Breitbart news has pointed out that Mackey was criticized in the past by the left for downplaying global warming and for blaming obesity for the large number of deaths at the peak of the coronavirus epidemic.
You can follow Ethan Letkeman on Twitter at @EthanLetkeman.
Whole Foods CEO and Founder Says Socialists Are ‘Taking Control’, American Liberties are at Risk