Thursday, August 9, 2012

Papa Johns Is The New Chick-fil-A

“If Obamacare is in fact not repealed, we will find tactics to shallow out any Obamacare costs and core strategies to pass that cost onto consumers in order to protect our shareholders’ best interests.” - Papa John’s founder and C.E.O. John Schnatter, explaining that the ACA will cost the company 11 to 14 cents per pizza.

So pouty Republican Schnatter threatens to make consumers pay more for his 'za. I don't care about paying 11 - 14 cents more for a pizza, providing it's any good (I like Papa John's pizza, for the record). Schnatter runs a business and he has to keep his shareholders happy. Fine, I get that he's beholden to them over the rest of us. But (of lesser importance) his knee-jerk naming of RomneyCare after the current occupant of the White House goes to show his political ignorance or weasely-ness (your call). More important: What else is Schnatter doing to placate his shareholders and how does that affect his customers? GMO grain in his dough? "Pink Slime" in his toppings? Underpaying employees? Unsafe working conditions? Probably not, but given his us-versus-them stance, ya gotta ask.

The bottom line of course is that we need universal healthcare. Cradle to grave assurance that we will all be covered in sickness and in health. It should not be up to employers. It certainly shouldn't be up to John Schnatter. It's our national responsibility.

It's also our responsibility to take care of ourselves and lead healthy lifestyles. I'm not entirely convinced Papa John's pizza helps achieve that healthy lifestyle.

You?