Employee Freedom
Great to see mainstream media covering the "Employee Free Choice Act" on the WSJ front page Friday. Washington Post this weekend. This pro-union legislation will make it easier for Unions to turn around their steady membership decline (See our Business Week article on subject for more details). The bill alone is reason enough for any thinking business person from shop floor to CEO to not cast a vote for Obama.
- Jack Welch, August 1, 2008
The Tax Debate
WSJ today had a great editorial on just who is paying taxes in America. This should be the basis of the fall debates. High-income taxpayers are shouldering the largest load since the Carter years...BEFORE any proposed Democratic '09 tax increases.
- Jack Welch, July 21, 2008
The Right Way to Break the News
Rick Wagoner, CEO of GM, the man with probably the toughest job in business, announced another restructuring of GM today. Lost in the announcement was a CEO lesson on doing it right, as Wagoner broadcast news to employees first before meeting and informing the press.
- Jack Welch, July 15, 2008
Handing Over Votes
We just had a huge week in the presidential race. Jesse Jackson gave Barack Obama a gift of white votes by allowing him to take the moderate stand on African American responsibility. Plus Gramm, John McCain's economic advisor, helped Obama pick up even more hardworking blue collar voters by telling them they are imagining a recession. The result - more white votes from both sides for Barack Obama.
- Jack Welch, July 10, 2008
Global Warming Bandwagon
There is a thoughtful global warming piece in the July 1 Wall Street Journal (A15) comparing global warming hysteria with prior social and political movements over the past 60 years. We need more brave articles like this to expose the other side of the Global Warming issue and give voice to those questioning this runaway train.
- Jack Welch, July 1, 2008
McClellan Hearings
If there was ever any doubt about the ramifications of firing someone the wrong way, Friday's Scott McClellan hearings circus before the House Judiciary Committee would set you straight. McClellan, who wrote the recent tell-all book What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception, was called on by Congressman John Conyers, a Democrat of Michigan, to further amplify his anti-Bush administration comments over Valerie Plame and the Iraq war. McClellan is the equivalent of a disgruntled corporate whistleblower, created almost exclusively out of anger for the way he was dismissed. They're almost all in the same category.
You can read more about how to let someone go in our column The Right Way to Say Goodbye.
- Jack Welch, June 21, 2008
Tim Russert
The news of Tim Russert’s passing is crushing. He was a colleague and friend who was loved by everyone he touched. My last encounter with Tim was a month ago, and it typifies everything about him. I called to ask him to speak at a Boston charity. Although I was long-retired and someone who could do nothing for him, he didn’t say, “Let me look at my calendar.” He said, “Tell me where and when.” When he came, he drove his truck from Washington to Boston, so his son Luke would have a truck for graduation. After driving all day, that night, instead of 'mailing it in', he delivered one of the most touching, heartfelt speeches about the homeless. He received a standing ovation. Then, as the rain poured down, he left us for the airport because he had a morning meeting back at NBC news. Love of family, giving back, and passion about work -- all in a day. That was Tim Russert. Passionate and good to his toes. I loved him.
- Jack Welch, June 13, 2008
Just returned from Spain
If you think we have a housing crisis in the US, go to Spain. In the last few years, Spain alone has put up more new houses than just about all the rest of Europe combined. Vacancies are everywhere and prices are falling like a stone.
- Jack Welch, June 11, 2008
Cap on Cap-and-Trade
Congress came to its senses and last Monday's posting about the cap-and-trade vote is by the boards for now. Fortunately senators dug deeply into the issue and saw the unilateral negative competitive impact on the US. It'll be back again in some other form. Keep your eyes open to see if it contains more common sense.
- Jack Welch, June 10, 2008
But . . . What About Competitiveness??
For anyone thinking about policy answers to Global Warming, you must read today’s lead article on the Wall Street Journal Opinion page (June 2). It lays out very clearly the consequences of the proposed Lieberman-Warner Cap & Trade proposal. Sure raises questions about U.S. competitiveness.
- Jack Welch, June 2, 2008
U.S. Bargain Hunting
Today there is speculation about InBev’s potential acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. With the strong Euro, it is surprising that we haven’t seen more European acquisition activity in the U.S. Watch for a lot more!!
- Jack Welch, May 27, 2008
CEO Pay or Energy Independence?
News last week of Brazil’s major offshore oil find comes as the U.S. Congress interviews Oil CEOs on extraneous issues and ignores any real discussion of opening up U.S. offshore and Arctic sites for domestic exploration. Talk about wrong headed!
- Jack Welch, May 20, 2008
China – Looking out
Last week, we met Jack Ma, the impressive CEO of the very successful China Internet company, Alibaba. A friend asked him about China Internet censorship, and his response is illuminating to anybody doing business in China or any developing country. He said, “It looks a lot better to us looking out from China than it may seem to you looking in. It's not an issue.”
- Jack Welch, May 19, 2008
- Jack Welch, May 19, 2008
Just back from Dubai
The only word for it is, "Wow." Paying attention to India and China makes sense, but opportunities in the Gulf countries have to be seen to be believed. If you're in the infrastructure business, ask yourself: do you have enough of your resources focused on this region?
- Jack Welch, March 20, 2008
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