I'm still trying to make sense of this.
WASHINGTON, July 15 (Reuters) - General Electric Co. Chief Executive Jeff Immelt on Thursday defended the movement of some U.S. manufacturing jobs overseas and complained that the issue was being politically exploited.
Speaking at an employee forum, Immelt responded to recent criticism of job outsourcing, linking it to "minimalism" and "class warfare."
"What's important for kids in college today is (that) you don't listen to any politicians," Immelt said in response to a question from an intern.
Immelt said GE would be making high-value products such as aircraft engines, medical scanners and power turbines in the United States for a long time to come.
But, he said, in some cases, the company had to move production overseas to remain globally competitive. "I can't make an appliance in this country and make money," he said.
Has the outsourcing issue been over-politicized? Absolutely. Can it be blown off as "minimalism" and "class warfare?" I don't think so. And if that last statement is true, something is terribly wrong with this picture.
