Love That iPod? See What Happens Behind The Scenes...

[sharkmansix]

Haliburton does a lot of things that have nothing to do with oil.

From Wiki:

Halliburton Energy Services (NYSE: HAL) is a multinational corporation with operations in over 120 countries, and is based in Houston, Texas. Halliburton operates two major business segments: The Energy Services Group provides technical products and services for oil and gas exploration and production, and their KBR subsidiary is a major construction company of refineries, oil fields, pipelines, and chemical plants. Their 2005 revenues were $20.99 billion USD and they employ over 106,000 people worldwide.

Everything deals with oil.

I love how Haliburton gets bashed so much, but by all accounts they are a great company to work for.

Sure I would imagine they are a great company to work for, considering all of thr government contracts that get tossed their way. They'd better have some cash to spread around!

Other than the fact that Richard Cheney once worked there, I don't really see why such venom exists towards them.

Once again from Wiki:

Halliburton is the only company mentioned by Osama bin Laden in an April 2004 tape in which he claims that "this is a war [in Iraq] that is benefiting major companies with billions of dollars

So the one major terrorist that started the whole 'War on Terror' claims that Halliburton is dirty and you wonder why there's venom? It looks bad and feels even worse.

Speaking of refining, that's another huge problem. Our most recent refinery was built more than 20 years ago. We have far too limited refinement capacity and that's driving costs up as well. It's also causing more pollution because the new refineries we could be building - if not for environmentalist special interest groups - would be more technologically advanced and therefore contribute less pollution.

IMHO it's either we focus on ethanol or we build better refineries. The problem is that everyone wants cheap gas but no one wants a refinery in their backyard (and the risks that go along with it.)

[Sankofa]

Everyone wants cheap gas but no one wants to buy a car that would use less of it when they can get a Hummer instead.

[bassjones]

that too Sankofa. That's why I drive a Honda - my beater is an old Buick, but even that gets pretty good mileage for an old domestic. At the same time, I'm not in favor of any laws restricting which vehicles anyone drives - I'm a Libertarian after all.

And Jay, I don't care what excuses Bin Laden used or who he mentioned. He is a man full of hatred, and that hatred is targeted at whomever is convenient at the moment, Saudi's, Hussein at one time, us, everyone else who does not belong to his group of criminals, and even Muslims who don't subscribe to his sectarian view of Islam.

Sankofa, are you familiar with Sen's Human Development Index? I've been reading allot on it lately, and find his model most impressive. Basically, he's come up with a model to measure several human needs that should be met to go along with economic development. Cost of living, average income required to live up to basic standards in that community, literacy levels, life expectancy, etc... all factor in. The U.N. uses it to help developing economies, and the more I read, the more I believe U.S./multinational companies need to invest in human development as they invest in economic development. Doing so has also been shown to speed up and aid in economic development as well, as people develop the ability to purchase needed commodities and then invest in goods and services beyond the basic commodities necessary. Anyway, I'm going to gather what I have and post it on here soon - maybe this weekend.

[Sankofa]

Sankofa, are you familiar with Sen's Human Development Index?

No, but it does sound interesting. I typically find myself stumbling around until I get my philosophies and later learn somebody in a scholarly field figured much the same thing. What can I say? I'm hardheaded and need to learn things first hand. I can't see companies investing in a model which would increase the quality of life when their primary interest is having a good quarterly report. Try telling the stockholders that their blue chip will honestly become that much stronger in 50 years and to wait on the temporary downswing. As long as there are countries where the quality of life is lower, there will be factories to cheaply manufacture goods which then get sold to already prosperous (or at least able to get lines of credit) countries.

It's a strange game.

[bassjones]

Funny you mention quarterly profit reports...

That has been discussed at length in my ethics and corporate culture classes. Short-terming often leads to unethical behavior (Enron, et. al), a poor corporate culture, and ultimately, long-term instability and failure. When businesses operate with long-term success models they behave more ethically, employees report more satisfaction with the company, and they generally succeed in the long-term. The quick buck approach lends itself to get-rich-quick style business decisions, short cuts, and unethical or even criminal behavior.

Yet, some companies are now releasing monthly profit reports. For the small company, this is necessary to stay afloat, but for larger companies, this leads to short-sighted behavior.

Good business is ethical and ethical businesses are more successful. At least long-term.

[Sankofa]

Good business is ethical and ethical businesses are more successful. At least long-term.

Which companies would you say work within that realm? It seems to me that almost everyone is into a get rich quick scheme, whether low level or with accounting hijinks.

[WBOB]

sanofka wrote:

bassjones wrote:
Good business is ethical and ethical businesses are more successful. At least long-term.


Which companies would you say work within that realm? It seems to me that almost everyone is into a get rich quick scheme, whether low level or with accounting hijinks.

Actually much more that you would think.
Since they're quietly being profitable, running smoothly and
doing what they're supposed to, nobody pays attention.
Under the radar = "no press"

I run a service/sales department and we work with
many "long term" customers in a highly ethical successful
manner. Repeat sales = posititive testimonial(s).

Doing the right thing isn't always the easiest way,
but definitely the most rewarding.

[Sankofa]

sanofka wrote:

dammit, even on message boards my name gets mangled!

YOU ARE ALL GOING TO PAY DEARLY

















































































































for what, I am not sure

[=^-..-^=]

Someone said that the Chinese peasants will rise up and do something about their repressive situation.

No, most revolutions do not spring from the poor; they are too busy surviving to talk of political action. Oppressors know this.

Revolutions come from the 'Gatekeeper' classes (ala Howard Zinn) the doctors, lawyers, college students, and teachers. These people have the resources, knowledge, connections, and spare time to foment revolution. These people have to be agitated against the status quo.

It is when this class rises to significant numbers in China (pre-Tiannenman Square levels) that political change will occur. We are funding our own ruin by sending our manufacturing to China, and slowly funding their eventual revolution.

Gas prices are high because China is buying the same oil we used to use to run our factories for their factories to ship us consumer goods.(generalization).

[WBOB]

Sorry Sankofa!

fingers got stuck in the keys.

Where do I send the check for payment??

[Sankofa]

Sorry Sankofa!

Where do I send the check for payment??

Hand deliver it to Mid City this Saturday around 10pm.

Nobody will collect it, but you'll see a dope show.

[WBOB]

Got it!

[sharkmansix]

So Apple released a statement on thi issue:

Apple has responded to the recent claims of poor working conditions at iPod factories in China, stating that it takes the allegations seriously and that it is looking into the charges. “Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible,” Apple said in a statement. The company said it is “currently investigating the allegations regarding working conditions in the iPod manufacturing plant in China. We do not tolerate any violations of our supplier code of conduct which are posted online.”

http://www.apple.com/environment/

^ Apple's Code of Conduct and whatnot.