Dear Jeff Immelt,
I got the letter you sent. I read over it a few times. And then a few more. I was captivated. I really read the words, allowed them to pour slowly over my mind like warm maple syrup.
I just can’t get over your dedication to your craft. I admire your will, your pluck, your courage. You are a true patriot and sweetheart of capitalism worldwide.
Right from the get go, you give Bernie the ol’ 1-2: General Electric sustains 125,000 American jobs. Take THAT, Bernie! You point out that Sanders only talks about wealth and jobs, but you actually do it. I think it was a good idea that you left out the part about how Sanders plans on funding job creation by taxing you guys at GE. It would have made it sound like you didn’t care about the estimated 13 million jobs supported if we invested your tax money in rebuilding our infrastructure. I know you better than that, Jeff.
I also think you did a good job using the word “sustains” when you’re talking about the number of jobs. Otherwise you might have to explain that they aren’t always the same 125,000 people. For example, the unionized GE plant in my town just layed off 2,500 skilled workers. We’ve been building trains in Erie, PA for 100 years. Those guys were probably bored with the same ol’, same ol’ middle class job. In their best interest, you opened a plant in Fort Worth, TX and paid those TX guys $11 hour less (even though their cost of living is higher there). Thank god there aren’t any other middle class jobs for the guys left here in Erie. They can take some well-deserved time off. I don’t know why they try to paint GE into the bad guys all the time. This is like a witch hunt.
And where does Sanders get off complaining about your sales abroad? You’re totally right, Jeff! General Electric does a lot of exporting, duh. The point of business is to sell stuff. Bernie Sanders complaining about GE keeping $108 billion stashed overseas to avoid taxation… the nerve of this guy! It’s like he doesn’t even understand economics.
Anyway, Jeff. Keep it cool, man. Stay in touch.