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People need to realize that companies like Boeing, GE, etc. are hardly even viewed as "American" overseas. We (Americans) like to think they are, but these comp
by cylinder 13y ago
People need to realize that companies like Boeing, GE, etc. are hardly even viewed as "American" overseas. We (Americans) like to think they are, but these companies are decidedly multinational with huge operations in many, many countries that employ thousands. They also make lots, if not the majority, of their revenue in non-US markets. Their headquarters may be in the US (not always), but they could easily migrate elsewhere, and would, if it were in the best interests of the corporation. In fact, as the rest of the world develops and grows economically and the US becomes a smaller share of the global pie, many may choose to abandon the US market if it's no longer worth the hassle should an oppressive regulatory scheme develop.
- tobltobs 13y agoThere are only a few companies which are viewed as more "American" than Boeing or GE. MacDonalds and CocaCola maybe.
- kunai 13y agoOr Apple. (ducks)
- marcosdumay 13y agoWhy duck? Apple is a reasonable example.
- wil421 13y agoApple has had a renaissance lately. I believe they are more of a world company based in Cali.
- jacalata 13y agoWhat does 'having a renaissance' have to do with whether they are American or not? If anything, they are becoming more 'American' with their high-PR plans to build stuff in the USA. Their products all have 'designed in California' etched on them. They are, and they want to be, American.
- wil421 13y ago>Maybe the younger generation, much more focused on and exposed to computer/electronics brands, doesn't care much for Boeing or GE. But to anyone here over 30, Boeing is pretty damn 'American'. This is why I said that, younger people see Apple more than older people do because of the "renaissance." You could easily counter with the Apple 2 in the 80s... Edit: they want to be Californian, they are different note how it doesnt say designed in America.
- sanoli 13y ago>note how it doesnt say designed in America. Ha! I hadn't thought about that untill your post. What the hell is this 'designed in California' thing? Boy, Apple really does try hard to look cool. Someone probably said "why not 'designed in Silicon Valley'?" and he/she was fired for not knowing that it was too bourgeois.
- jacalata 13y agoI don't remember the 80s, so I don't know what you would say about the apple 2 :) as a non-American under 30, I consider apple very American. California is American like Hollywood and NYC.
- sanoli 13y agoAs a brazilian, I have to say you're right. Maybe the younger generation, much more focused on and exposed to computer/electronics brands, doesn't care much for Boeing or GE. But to anyone here over 30, Boeing is pretty dammn 'American'.
- Zarathust 13y agoThis only makes them "more american". Many people feel that they are the extension of the US government abroad since they collaborate with the US so closely.
- wil421 13y agoIn a sense they are. Most of these companines are limited by what tech they can and cant export and who they are allowed to export to.
- nether 13y agoI worked for Boeing, we definitely considered ourselves an American corporation. Because of ITAR [1] we could not simply pick up with all of our IP to another country. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITAR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITAR
- jeltz 13y agoSwede here: Boeing and GE are viewed as about as American a company can get.
- mogrim 13y agoBoeing are certainly regarded as a 100% US company in Europe.
- leoedin 13y agoAs nether indicated, they are definitely viewed as American. Why? ITAR. Anything that's even been near America (or worked on by an American, or contains a tiny American component) suddenly becomes poisonous. While you might be right about some classes of large corporation (oil companies, banks etc), the defence industry has a HUGE divide between American and non-American.