Comments on: Reprioritizing http://susiemadrak.com/2008/05/16/09/59/reprioritizing/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:36:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: palamedes http://susiemadrak.com/2008/05/16/09/59/reprioritizing/#comment-143560 palamedes Fri, 16 May 2008 23:10:51 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/?p=24878#comment-143560 GE's been gearing up for this move for a long time. The Nation did a fair overview of the battle over GE's high-end refrigerator plant in Bloomington, Indiana a while back. The union and management were told that they had to cut costs by a specific amount or else, the two sides worked together to make it happen, and GE shut them down anyway. GE figures they're too big to fail, and that one way or another Uncle Sugar will save their hides. My employer took over its major domestic competitor at that time because that was their mentality, and it left them eventually atrophied and unable to maneuver when things became difficult. GE’s been gearing up for this move for a long time. The Nation did a fair overview of the battle over GE’s high-end refrigerator plant in Bloomington, Indiana a while back. The union and management were told that they had to cut costs by a specific amount or else, the two sides worked together to make it happen, and GE shut them down anyway.

GE figures they’re too big to fail, and that one way or another Uncle Sugar will save their hides. My employer took over its major domestic competitor at that time because that was their mentality, and it left them eventually atrophied and unable to maneuver when things became difficult.

]]> By: Snarki, child of Loki http://susiemadrak.com/2008/05/16/09/59/reprioritizing/#comment-143554 Snarki, child of Loki Fri, 16 May 2008 21:42:33 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/?p=24878#comment-143554 d'oh! You're right Izquierdo. d’oh! You’re right Izquierdo.

]]> By: Izquierdo http://susiemadrak.com/2008/05/16/09/59/reprioritizing/#comment-143546 Izquierdo Fri, 16 May 2008 18:42:20 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/?p=24878#comment-143546 <i>this move may mean that the american consumer is wising up, or that the weak dollar has made *good* imported appliances affordable.</i> Actually, it works the other way -- a weak dollar makes imports expensive. That condition should help domestic manufacturers. Maybe GE would rather deal with government contracts than with consumers. this move may mean that the american consumer is wising up, or that the weak dollar has made *good* imported appliances affordable.

Actually, it works the other way — a weak dollar makes imports expensive. That condition should help domestic manufacturers.
Maybe GE would rather deal with government contracts than with consumers.

]]> By: Snarki, child of Loki http://susiemadrak.com/2008/05/16/09/59/reprioritizing/#comment-143538 Snarki, child of Loki Fri, 16 May 2008 17:16:55 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/?p=24878#comment-143538 I always hear that "we bring good things to life" in a Peter Lorre-esque voice. It works <i>so</i> much better that way! (Followed by: "Attach the electrodes, Igor!") Hasn't it been GE's strategy for some years that they were determined to be #1 or #2 in any market that they were in, otherwise they'd sell out? Because their appliances are ubiquitous, and often have good features, but are at the low end of the reliability range (IMO). This move may mean that the american consumer is wising up, or that the weak dollar has made *good* imported appliances affordable. Good for the consumer; sucks for the factory worker. Assuming they haven't already had their job shipped overseas. I always hear that “we bring good things to life” in a Peter Lorre-esque voice. It works so much better that way! (Followed by: “Attach the electrodes, Igor!”)

Hasn’t it been GE’s strategy for some years that they were determined to be #1 or #2 in any market that they were in, otherwise they’d sell out?

Because their appliances are ubiquitous, and often have good features, but are at the low end of the reliability range (IMO). This move may mean that the american consumer is wising up, or that the weak dollar has made *good* imported appliances affordable.

Good for the consumer; sucks for the factory worker. Assuming they haven’t already had their job shipped overseas.

]]> By: Redstar http://susiemadrak.com/2008/05/16/09/59/reprioritizing/#comment-143529 Redstar Fri, 16 May 2008 14:59:08 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/?p=24878#comment-143529 Bombs are obviously a key part of their "bringing good things to life" approach. Bombs are obviously a key part of their “bringing good things to life” approach.

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