The CAT in the Town

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Douglas Alexander
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Re: old fashioned
Douglas Alexander   8/24/2012 4:19:17 PM
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@Stochastic, good comment. In 1954 Cat introduced their D9 bulldozer. They have upgraded it several times and the latest changes incorporated armor so it could go into neighborhoods under live fire and knock down thousands of homes. That's right. The D9 was used by Israel to mow down private Palestinian homes under live fire. It was also used to deforest Jungle areas in Viet Nam. It is a shame that good ideas and good products can be used in both positive and negative ways depending upon who possesses the technology. That is the world we live in.

stochastic excursion
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Re: old fashioned
stochastic excursion   8/24/2012 2:27:41 PM
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One thing about brick and mortar companies making tangible goods is that they require skilled labor of the roll-up-your-sleeves variety.  Caterpillar just ended a four-month contract dispute with its machinists union.

The end result is seen as a total win for Caterpillar's management, with the union achieving no concessions, and workers swallowing a six-year wage freeze and absorbing all increases in health care costs.  Observers point out that Caterpillar has seen stellar profitability and significant bonuses were reported for senior management.  Whichever way you look at it, that Caterpillar survived the strike and still has roughly half of its manufacturing facilities in the United States is good news.

Bolaji Ojo
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Re: old fashioned
Bolaji Ojo   8/24/2012 7:50:43 AM
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Flyingscot, Brick and mortar companies have similar challenges as companies that make whati I call vaporware. Look at Hewlett-Packard. It is reeling now because it didn't change as quickly as consumers wanted. Caterpillar is in a business that doesn't for now require the same half way turn. Let's hope it keeps it up.

FLYINGSCOT
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Supply Network Guru
old fashioned
FLYINGSCOT   8/24/2012 4:02:03 AM
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Maybe I am just old fashioned, or just plain old, but I tend to favor companies that build physical stuff like Cat, John Deere and Emerson.  These companies make money by building useful things that positively impact people's lives and I can understand that.  Making money on financial derivatives or spread betting is not my cup of tea.

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