Timothy P. Carney: How GE's Green Lobbying Is Killing U.S. Factory Jobs (this one is important)

WashingtonExaminer.com ^ | August 28, 2009 | Timothy P. Carney

[khnyny]

WINCHESTER, VA--“Government did us in,” says Dwayne Madigan, whose job will terminate when General Electric closes its factory next July.

Madigan makes a product that will soon be illegal to sell in the U.S. - a regular incandescent bulb. Two years ago, his employer, GE, lobbied in favor of the law that will outlaw the bulbs.

Madigan’s colleagues, waiting for their evening shift to begin, all know that GE is replacing the incandescents for now with compact fluorescents bulbs, which GE manufactures in China.

Last month, GE announced it will close the Winchester Bulb Plant 80 miles west of D.C. As a result, 200 men and women will lose their jobs. GE is also shuttering incandescent factories in Ohio and Kentucky, axing another 200 jobs.

GE blamed environmental regulations for the closing. The first paragraph of the company’s July 23 press release explained:

[khnyny]

This isn't about "green" jobs or "green lobbying", but about money. Loss of jobs for Americans and money for GE. I will post other links that will lead everyone down the rabbit hole - it's a long hole.

[Earthdweller]

I’ll burn a candle in memory of GE tonight. I hope the crooked company dies a rapid scamers death.

[NorwegianViking]

Please add me to your list when you post more on this. Thanks.

[autumnraine]

“Two years ago, his employer, GE, lobbied in favor of the law that will outlaw the bulbs.

Madigan’s colleagues, waiting for their evening shift to begin, all know that GE is replacing the incandescents for now with compact fluorescents bulbs, which GE manufactures in China. “

What an interesting tidbit.

I feel like I watching rats jumping off a ship. I don’t quite know when it’s time to jump myself.

[Nuc1]

To those of you affected, remember the Dims did you in. Never vote for them at any level. Punish them, shun them, destroy them. After all they are happily destroying your life. And your country.

[Da Coyote]

GE has given up the consumer market, so I don’t know what I could do to not purchase from them... but as a very highly regarded EE, I’ll be sure to find fault with any GE stuff that I ever see in a hospital (that is, if the Obamaloon care allows me to go to one).

Keep it up, Obamaloons, your time is coming.

[Marmolade]

Please ping me to your other links when you post them.

[DTogo]

GE to Obama is the continuation of what Heinkel was to Hitler.

[khnyny]

Sure.

Here's a link and some comment:

http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE55P4ZT20090626
GE's Immelt says U.S. economy needs industrial renewal

In the above article Immelt says that American manufacturing jobs should rise from 10% to 20%....

At the same time, Immelt is closing manufacturing plants here in the US, but to be fair, says he has plans for new ventures . Of course a company this large makes business decisions based on what's best for the bottom line, but there seems to be more than a bit of disingenuousness to Immelts comments. GE proudly proclaims on its own website that more than half of its revenue is currently earned outside of the United States and that this figure is growing.

Immelt also has DEEP ties to the Obama admin and is a member of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Immelt has also been appointed to the board of the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The investigation of accounting fraud recently by the SEC at GE almost cost Immelt his job, but all seems to be forgiven. Busy guy.

[khnyny]

They’re not even really green. I loved this part:

[Why did GE, founded by Thomas Edison, lobby to kill the incandescent light bulb?

The company said in 2007 it wanted to make sure it was working under a single federal efficiency standard, rather than a patchwork of state regulations. GE also touts its compact fluorescents as one of the green products in its “eco-magination” initiative.

The workers don’t buy the green arguments, pointing to the mercury gas that’s in the fluorescents. “It’s illegal to dump mercury in the river, but not in the landfill,” two of them say in unison—it’s become a dark joke at the factory.]

So, cheap labor in China and dump all the mercury you want. Perfect.

[dbrew2u]

How is everyone diggin the Green Jobs so far ? This getting back to nature thing is turning out to be drag for whats left of manufacturing.

[rawhide]

I have enough incandescent bulbs to last me the rest of my life. I also have only one florescent fixture inside my house, and that is in my kitchen. If I could figure out how to replace it, with something that would give out enough light, I would.

[Free_SJersey]

I have been actively trying to avoid any GE products or networks for a few years now and encourage those around me to do the same. I take the same stance on Disney.

[outhousepatrol]

Keep up this crap and a disgruntled Union worker will go postal!

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

Let’s see, could this possibly have anything to do with the fact that GE will now sell only the bulbs that cost SIX TIMES what the old incandescent bulbs cost?!!!! Next thing you know, they will be selling exclusive “disposal bags” that we will be required to buy to dispose of the mercury tainted bulbs.