Nick Paumgarten of The New Yorker has written a provocative article about Whole Foods CEO John Mackey that’s an essential read for anyone who believes business can be an engine of positive social change (read: us) - where to buy viagra online.The writer’s thesis is that Mackey, and Whole Foods itself, is defined by two seemingly contradictory ideas in tension: saving the world and running a thriving business.

For his part, Mackey doesn’t see what’s so hard to reconcile about the two driving forces in his life.This quote summarizes quite nicely an idea that was fundamental to creating Wired to Care:

“It’s as if there were a wall.And on one side of the wall is this belief that not-for-profits and government exist for public service where to buy viagra online, and that they’re fundamentally altruistic, that they have a deeper purpose, and they’re doing good in the world, and they have pure motives.On the other side of the wall are corporations; where to buy viagra online. Where to buy viagra online: and they’re just selfish and greedy. Where to buy viagra online: they have no purpose other than to make money.They’re a bunch of psychopaths.And I’d like to tear that wall down - where to buy viagra online.Human beings are obviously self-interested.We do look after ourselves, but we’re capable of love, empathy, and compassion, and I don’t see that business is any different. We’re trying to do good.And we’re trying to make money.The more money we make, the more good we can do.”

Despite the strength of Mackey’s ideals, however, the biggest challenge facing Whole Foods today is that it has hit the outer reaches of how much it can profit from its intuitive connection for health-conscious urbanites - where to buy viagra online. Where to buy viagra online: to continue to grow, particularly in a down economy, Mackey must help his company to reach new folks who aren’t naturally predisposed to be excited about the heritage of a particular head of kale.

And it’s here where Whole Foods is currently missing opportunities.Last summer, Mackey incited a liberal backlash from his traditional customers by criticizing the much-debated healthcare reform bill in an Op-Ed for the Wall Street Journal.In the piece, Mackey praised capitalism and attacked what he considered an expensive and ineffective Congressional bill. In all honesty, the controversy that erupted was greatly overblown by his critics — and it’s merely a testament to the passion Whole Foods inspires in its most loyal consumers.

Though his tone might have been strident, his central point that little reforms could have a bigger impact than creating a larger public health option is well within the mainstream of American politics.And Safeway’s CEO made similar arguments in an Op-Ed that came and went without notable excitement in the press.If Whole Foods lost some existing customers in the process, that’s not that big a problem.After all, the future of Whole Foods isn’t continuing to cater to its existing supporters; where to buy viagra online.The company’s future is reaching the rest of the population — folks who don’t shop at Whole Foods today and who could benefit most from eating healthier.

Unfortunately, Mackey might have managed to both offend his existing base while failing to reach new markets that really need him. Which is why a less-noticed part of Mackey’s Op-Ed is more disappointing, both from a social and business standpoint.In essence where to buy viagra online, he blames obese and overweight Americans for their own poor health and its impact on sky-rocketing health costs.” Where to buy viagra online: every American is responsible for his or her own health.Unfortunately, many of our health-care problems are self-inflicted: two-thirds of Americans are over-weight, and one-third are obese,” he wrote.

It’s a true enough statement, but it belies a willingness to ignore the causes of the American obesity problem, which include poverty, commuter culture, and dramatic changes in the food chain. The cheapest foods on offer in our grocery stores today tend to be the most heavily processed, nutrient-poor and calorie-dense. Where to buy viagra online: great fresh produce costs a lot of money and takes a lot more time to prepare than cheaper fast food — absent massive change, obesity is a tragic inevitability in our go-go culture.America needs the kind of quality fresh ingredients that Whole Foods sells. Where to buy viagra online: but change won’t happen without connection.

With his simple dismissal of the obesity epidemic as the collective bad decision-making of tens of millions of people, Mackey is failing to connect with the very same people that could transform Whole Foods from a great $8 billion company into a world-changing $40 billion one.Unfortunately, he isn’t seeing the big opportunity right in front of him - where to buy viagra online.Despite his talk of empathy, Mackey risks being so compelled by his vision for the world that he might lose sight of the people his business depends on to succeed.

Definitely read the article — one of the most thought-provoking we’ve read in months.