Charlie Rose

Phil  09/19/2008 06:42 PM Report

Jeffery, when are you going to wake up and realize that the average Americanis not buying MSNBC or NBC"s line of BS? I am amazed that you, of all people , buy into the Democrat party philosophy that "What was yours is now ours-(our meaning the Governments) ????

Faraz Hussain  12/04/2007 02:02 PM Report

Good interview, very practical and down-to-earth insights from the GE CEO. I liked how he hardly used any corporate jargon, very few CEO's can do that, i.e bottom line, at the end of the day, vision, etc.

Allan Ramesh  12/04/2007 02:46 AM Report

What is GE's solution for health care access? It appears he recognizes that there is a need to run health care it better. You won't get any objections to making the system more efficient. However, he does not have a solution for the most important problem. How do we provide health care for the unemployed, the ones who work for companies that do not offer health insurance, and others who slip through the cracks? Health insurance is notorious for cutting people off when they need coverage the most. The concept of pre-existing conditions being a basis for denying health coverage is horrendous. We need a more dramatic stab at solutions than what Immelt suggests.

Thierry  11/10/2007 06:21 PM Report

Great interview! How can someone like the CEO of GE say that universal healthcare would result in waiting lists? This is disspointing; this guy is supposed to understand healthcare better. Do you know why there are waiting lists in Canada (in some area)? Because the US is dragging all human resources away from Canada. France or the UK don't have this problem like we do in Canada. And who can blame those doctors? They follow the money as they should. But are the US lacking humand resources and equipment now? [No I presume\ Then why would they go elsewhere when the US joins the civilized world? Those resources will still be there. Where would they go? Maybe doctors will be less attracted to the US and that's it. Rich don't want to pay for the poor, that's the sad reality. The fact of the matter is that a private system is better business for GE, all that matters are the investors' interests.

Gary Gauntt  11/10/2007 04:43 PM Report

I spent most of 20 years living and working in the Middle East, the subcontinent and the Far East. I was embarrassed at was either your lack of understanding or your unwillingness to question Jeff Immelt's disingenuous "salesman" approach to GE's approach to "globalisation". Their "innovative" approaches yield nothing more than short term benefits from cheap labor that eventually develop international competitors that destroy their US "mentors" and competitors.

I was sickened to watch countless US companies try to imitate programs such as GE's outsourcing in India and China that ultimately cost more than if they had left the jobs in the US. Of course, the reality in what happens is covered up by accountants to keep people like Immelt looking good. I can promise you people like Immelt understand the damage being done to the US and its economy but put their own remuneration ahead of this.

When you let him get away with his explanation of why the Americans would not "wait a week for an MRI" as grounds for dismissing universal health care, I nearly gagged. I have been back in the US for nearly 5 years now. My experience is that the health care here is not nearly as thorough as overseas because the doctors rush you through and do not follow up. You are discouraged from pursuing anything that is not major due to the exorbitant cost. Getting an appointment with a GP is a one to four week process while a specialist is one or two months. Surely you and your staff are not so wealthy and well connected that your medical needs are being met so much better than the common folk. How could you let him dismiss such a substantive issue with an insulting justification like that???

Peter Muer  11/10/2007 03:06 PM Report

That was a great interview with Jeff Immelt.

It is nice to know we have such a good hearted,

humble, and bright man leading GE, one of

America's great companies. In a time where

self-advancement and greed seem to have taken

on way too much importance, it is really great

to see someone putting the interests of his

employees, customers, and the communties they

do business in first.

Ray Carlson  11/10/2007 02:34 PM Report

I enjoyed Jeffrey's interview. He was honest about the incentive to move the stock price above the S&P but I have never favored that practice. I recall years ago I purchased a high quality auto which was a real lemon and learned years later the manager of that division had cheapened the car to make a nice a nice bonus. The company has suffered for years with complaints.

I am sure Juffery is above any of those practices.

i plan to take a good look at the stock and stay with it as long as he is around.

Greta  11/10/2007 04:09 AM Report

Because GE is huge, it is not surprising that most of Mr. Immelt's answers were often generalities, but while listening a few questions that some might consider tangential occurred to me.

Jeffrey Immelt says globalization is here to stay, but did not say get into how globalization will be impacted by the higher shipping costs due to increased fuel costs.

Because I heard this week that there was an area in the oceans twice the size of the state of Texas where plastics outnumbered plankton six to one, and because the price of oil went up to $100, while listening to this, it occurred to me that technology will have to move away from plastics but that rise in oil prices might also drive the quest for efficient means of recycling plastics.

Assuming that no cheap efficient means of recycling plastics is found soon, would Jeffery Immelt would say the manufacturer is partially responsible for cleaning up the debris in the oceans because the manufacturers do not supervise the shippers as much as they should? As a global citizen, what does Mr. Immelt think can be done to reduce the pollution and amount of rubbish being dumped in the oceans?

Victor Abraham  11/10/2007 02:50 AM Report

Charlie, you surpassed yourself with Jeff Immelt and Jay-Z interviews. BRAVO!

Ben Sandzer-Bell  11/09/2007 03:22 PM Report

As always, a deft and enjoyable interview by Charlie Rose. I do however have a couple of reactions:

1) what is the fascination with asking anyone who is cogent and mature whether they aspire to US political leadership? I thought that asking Immelt about his interest in a personal role in politics was unnecessary but that he gave a strong answer around the theme that 55% of his employees live/work outside the U.S.

2) Immelt gave a broad and deep review of GE's Ecomagination activities. Beyond the advert for GE's product lines (i.e. wind energy, locomotives etc...), the more inquisitive tack might have been for Charlie Rose to pursue this industrial leader down the path of $100 oil and his thoughts on oil depletion. This is after all THE central topic that our generation will grapple with -- not just oil demand growth coming from GDP growth in China and India, but also flat supply of oil, and therefore the end of "cheap oil", with all the societal adjustments this will entail.

Charlie: when do we get you to interview though leaders of the Peak Oil movement, such as Matt Simmons or Richard Heinberg?

john  11/09/2007 02:11 PM Report

Having lived and worked outside the US in 4 countries, and having seen more of a world view than when I had only lived in the US, I really appreciated Immelt's viewpoints: of business, of human priorities, of the world ahead of us. His views on healthcare, people as 1st priority, where internationalism is going, etc, are just excellent. Thank you a million, Charlie. YOu are the best interviewer on TV, hands down. I'm sending the interview URL out and around bigtime.

john c nov 9 2007

Tommy 2z  11/09/2007 02:06 PM Report

I must say that I am amazed at the flexibility and dexterity of Charlie and of the show. This week we've seen candidates for the Presidency, comedians, corporate executives and next a rapper/entrepreneur...and Charlie not only interviewed them well, but showed a level of knowledge and familiarity that I am impressed with.

This interview was very interesting to me, I enjoyed both Mr Immelt's personality but was also very interested in his opinions and insights into Globalisation, the "green" economy and health care. Strong stuff. I especially was interested in the insight offered as to GE's committment to educating America's next generation of engineers, and the simple fact that in a world market we will need to address our education system as well as our value system to continue to be the strong player that we are now! I hope the other Corporate and Government leaders listen, challenge and act upon ideas like these.