04-08 Lowdown.Qxd

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

04-08 Lowdown.Qxd 05-01_Lowdown_final.qxd 1/12/05 2:44 PM Page 1 GROWING UP The WITH YOUR CHIP How on earth, wondered a bunch of law-and-order bureaucrats and some elec- tronic nerds, could we get Americans to accept carry- ing ID that we can track 24/7? n Edited by Jim Hightower and Phillip Frazer n Vol. 7 No. 1 n January 2005 For the kids, that’s how! To protect your kids from terror- ists, kidnappers, molesters, and you name it, we should electronically track them. Out of love, of course. The buying of the government 2004 (Part I): Thus, the school district of Spring, Texas, is now issuing radio frequency ID cards to its school kids, so police can track each of Bush II brought to you by... them on a computer screen. Did little Jeannie stop off at her friend’s house rather than going straight home after school? With her RFID he Capitol City is swarming this month ing, like pro golfers and NASCAR drivers do. tag, the authorities know with party-hopping Republicans cele- But, of course, they’re not honest, so most Americans where she is. Indeed, brating the inauguration of their boy are unaware that many of the brand names that they buy authorities in Spring are now Bush—but the most joyous inaugural are behind Bush. Top executives of these companies rake considering having the in your consumer dollars, then donate a portion of them party of all is one that the media will RFIDs implanted under the to the GOP to produce a White House and Congress skin of each child. Then they not cover or even mention. It’s being that will rig the rules to let their corporations gut you. could track them 24/7. held in all of the private suites along Maybe you’d prefer not to do business with brand-name “It makes me feel kind of Washington’s K-Street corridor, where the corporate lob- outfits that so greedily work against your interest and val- like an animal,” observed byistsT hang their hats. These tassled-toed, cuff-linked cel- ues—or at least you might like to know who they are. one 15-year-old girl who ebrants are ecstatic, for Bush literally is their boy, bought To help, here’s a Lowdowner’s “Shopping Guide” of seems likely to rebel. But and paid for, and they’re planning to party not just for one brands that are big-time funders of Bush and the current younger kids risk growing up night, but for the next four years. Republican Congress. To help cull the list down to a man- thinking this is normal—the ageable size, we’ve included only those corporations that new American way. The pundits insist that George put up at least $75,000 in the ’04 presidential and con- won in November because of gressional elections, with at least two thirds of their MERCK EXECS’ his “moral values,” or money going to Republicans. We offer it in a handy clip- BAILOUT LOOT because he was “the and-carry format so you can whip it out whenever you’re war president,” or making a shopping decision. When drugmaker Merck because he was “a lik- None of this is charitable giving. The corpo- recently withdrew its best- able guy.” But what rate honchos, of course, recite the same old selling drug Vioxx (because really brought Bush to boilerplate response when asked about it can cause heart attacks) the White House is the the mighty sums of money they’re company executives took same thing that has shoveling into the GOP White House their time disclosing this little brought him everything in life: and Congress: “I can assure you problem to regulators, doc- Rich people’s money, specifically that GreatBigMegaCorp tors, or patients, and now the corporate funds. While some Incorporated is simply company faces federal worry that George will now interested in good investigations and thou- push a Jerry-Falwellian, government, and sands of lawsuits. ultra-right we’re delighted to Merck’s stock price has cultural be able to con- plummeted by 40 percent, on agenda, by tribute what we top of a 30 percent slide far the can toward that caused by a lack of new greatest noble goal.” products, all of which makes damage will Horsehooey. it a likely target for a takeover be done by You don’t need by another drug giant. his whole- an IQ higher than But Merck executives are hearted today’s humidity to quick on their feet when pro- embrace of know that they define tecting their own personal the full wish list presented to him by K-Streeters. “good government” as the corporate interests. Their exec retire- Bush Cheney & Company is the most corpo- agenda they attach to their checks. ment plan says that if anoth- rate presidency in nearly a century, rivaled only The top items: turn America’s er company takes over by the corrupt administrations of McKinley and Social Security fund over Merck—or even just 20 per- Harding. If George and Dick to the stock brokers; cent of it—the top 230 execu- were honest about it, they let oil, mining, and tim- tives can bail out with a gold- would sew the logos of their ber giants plunder our nat- —continued p. 2 corporate sponsors all over their cloth- ural resources; protect our 05-01_Lowdown_final.qxd 1/12/05 2:44 PM Page 2 —continued from p. 1 January 2005 The Hightower Lowdown 2 en parachute of three times drug companies from consumers all possible to break the backs of machinery in the next weeks, their annual salaries, plus seeking cheaper prescription medi- unions; allow the media giants to months, and years, you can track its their expected bonuses, as cines from abroad; hold down the get tighter control of our public air- source not by looking at the name of well as stock payments. For minimum wage; promote waves; etc., etc., etc. the congressional sponsor or of the example, CEO Raymond more job-busting As you see each of these policies regulator announcing it but by fol- Gilmartin, who helped engi- trade scams and do coming out of our governmental lowing the money. neer this sweet deal, would get about $57 million to soften TOTAL 2004 PERCENTAGE his landing. CORPORATION & PRODUCTS CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOP CONAGRA $197,252 82% ONE ECONOMIC FOOD & BEVERAGE Act II Popcorn, Andy Capp’s snacks, Armour meat products, Banquet foods, Blue Bonnet FACTOR RISING margarine/spreads, Brown ‘n Serve breakfast sausage, Butterball turkey, Chef COMPANIES Boyardee, Chun King Chinese food, County Line cheese and deli products, Crunch ‘n In America, the richest Munch, Decker meats, Dennison's chili, Eckrich meats, Egg Beaters, Fleischmann's country in the world, the food spreads, Golden Cuisine, Gulden's mustard, Heathy Choice brand, Hebrew TOTAL 2004 PERCENTAGE National Kosher Meats, Jiffy Pop, Knotts Berry Farm, La Choy, Libby's meats, poverty rolls are rising dra- CORPORATION & PRODUCTS CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOP Manwich, Margherita Italian Meat Specialties, Marie Callenders frozen foods, Orville matically. and shamefully. Redenbacher's, PAM cooking spray, Patio frozen meals, Pemmian jerky, Peter Pan COCA-COLA $510,164 71% peanut butter, Ranch Style beans, Reddi-Wip, Ro*Tel tomatoes, Rosarita, Slim Jim, The number of poor people A&W, Barcardi Mixers, Barq's, Canada Dry, Coca-Cola, Coke (Diet, Cherry, Vanilla, Swiss Miss, Texas Signature Foods, Van Camp’s Pork and Beans, Wesson Cooking Oils, is up by 4.8 million in the last Caffeine-free), Dannon, Dasani, Delaware Punch, Dr Pepper, Evian, Fanta, Fresca, Wolf Chili, Wolfgang Puck Frutopia, Five Alive, Hi-C, Minute Maid, Mr. Pibb, Mello Yello, Nature's Own, Odwalla, four years. Powerade, Red Flash, Schweppes, Sparkletts, Sprite, Squirt, Sunkist, Surge, GENERAL MILLS $185,640 72% Another 39 million people TaB,Tahitian Treat Betty Crocker cereals (including Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cheerios, Chex, Kix, Lucky Charms, Total, Trix, Wheaties), Bisquick, Bugles, Cascadian Farms, Gardetto's, Gold are “working poor,” meaning PEPSICO, INC $392, 949 68% Medal, Green Giant, Haagen Dazs, Hamburger Helper, Muir Glen, Nature Valley gra- their jobs pay so poorly that Pepsi (Diet, Edge, One, Twist, Vanilla, Wild Cherry), Mountain Dew, AMP, Mug Root nola bars, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Progresso, Totino's and Jeno's frozen pizzas, Yoplait Beer, Slice, Mirinda, Sierra Mist, Lipton, Aquafina, Frappuccino, DoubleShot, and Columbo yogurts they cannot afford the basics Tropicana, Gatorade, Lay's, Baked!, Cheetos, Cracker Jack, Doritos, Funyuns, in life. GrandMa's, Munchies, Rold Gold, Ruffles, Sabritones, Santitas, Sun Chips, Tostitos, CHIQUITA BRANDS $175,402 98% Bananas, grapes, and other fruits But our mass media most- WOW!, various salsas and dips SMITHFIELD FOODS $130,920 85% ly ignores poor people. We PILGRIM'S PRIDE POULTRY $303,826 97% Smithfield meats, Farmland meats, John Morrell meats, Gwaltney meats, Patrick just had a national election DEAN FOODS $276,500 69% Cuhady meats, Cumberland Gap meats, Quik-to-Fix meats, Krankus meats, Stefano that supposedly was about Alta Dena dairy products, Barbe’s, Barber’s, Bonus, Brown's Dairy, Carb Conquest, Foods moral values, yet neither Creamland, Cremora, Dairy Ease, Dean's Dips, Dean Specialty Foods, Healthy Shake, NESTLE $99,500 75% Hershey's Milk and Milkshakes, Horizon Organic, Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms, Marie's Very Best Baby formula, Carnation, Coffee-mate, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Nestle party even mentioned the Dips and Dressings, Mayfield Dairy, McArthur Dairy, Meadow Brook Dairy, Meadow Crunch, Kit Kat, Wonka candies, Power Bar, Lean Cuisine, Ortega Mexican foods, immorality of rising poverty Gold, Melody Farms, Mountain High Yogurt, Oak Farms Dairy, Price's Creameries, Purity Stouffers, Juicy Juice, Nescafe, Nesquik, Nestea, Taster's Choice coffee, Nestle Water Dairies, Rachel's Organic, Reiter Dairy, Robinson Dairy, Schepps Dairy, Silk Soymilk, in the midst of plenty.
Recommended publications
  • US Firms Performance During Recessions: a Comparative Case Study
    US firms performance during recessions: a comparative case study by Catherine Obiribea Ofori-Bah B.A., University of Ghana, 2017 A THESIS submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Agricultural Economics College of Agriculture KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2020 Approved by: Major Professor Dr. Vincent Amanor-Boadu Copyright © Catherine Obiribea Ofori-Bah 2020. Abstract With the majority of economists predicting that the US economy will experience a recession by 2021, it has become increasingly important to explore how well firms do during recessions. Improving understanding of firm characteristics that sustain performance during recessions could provide some learning from the strategies pursued by these firms that maintain their performance during recessions. The study is a case analysis of six US firms, four in the agri- food sector, and two in the technology sector. While numerous performance measures exist, the study intentionally uses return on sales as the performance measure of interest because of its unique characteristic of capturing firms’ current situation over which they have current control. Return on sales, defined as the ratio of net income to sales revenue in the current period, limits performance assessment to current results, allowing for the direct impact of recessions to be measured. The study theorizes that certain firms fare better than others because of their product mix. It also hypothesizes that return on sales as a performance indicator during recessions is determined by how well firms do with their assets and other financial resources. These are tested using 30 years of financial data from Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS), hosted by the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
    [Show full text]
  • Conagra Foods Through the Years 97 Percent of America’S Households
    Brand Book December 2011 One company. One goal. What’s Inside Making the food you love. 3 Meet Our Leaders 26 Commercial Foods ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) is one of North 4 Quick Facts America’s leading food companies, with brands in 27 5-8 ConAgra Foods Through the Years 97 percent of America’s households. Consumers 9 Feel Good About the Food You Love find Banquet®, Chef Boyardee®, Egg Beaters®, 10 Consumer Foods 28 Healthy Choice®, Hebrew National®, Hunt’s ®, Annual Retail Sales* of More Than $100 Million Marie Callender’s®, Orville Redenbacher’s ®, PAM ®, Peter Pan®, Reddi-wip ®, Slim Jim®, Snack Pack® 11 19 29 More of the Food You Love and many other ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and 12 20 club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other 13 21 vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators 14 22 and commercial customers. ConAgra Foods reports its 15 23 34% operations in two segments: ® 66% Consumer Foods and 16 24 Commercial Foods. 2010 Continuing Operations Net Sales 17 25 66% Consumer Foods 34% Commercial Foods 18 *Annual retail sales based on latest IRI data, 52 weeks ending June 27, 2010, for food, drug, mass (FDMx) and convenience for total U.S. Brand Book 2 Back to Table of Contents Meet Our Leaders John Gehring Gary Rodkin Executive Vice President and Doug Knudsen Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer President, ConAgra Foods Sales Gary Rodkin, chief executive officer, joined ConAgra Foods in October John Gehring was named executive vice president and chief financial Doug Knudsen was named president of ConAgra Foods Sales in 2005, 2005.
    [Show full text]
  • PNC Global Investment Services Abbott Nutritionals Adobe Systems, Inc
    PNC Global Investment Services Abbott Nutritionals Adobe Systems, Inc. @griculture Online Abbott Pharmaceutical Products ADP Automatic Data Processing, Inc. 1897 Corp. Abbott Point-of-Care ADT Security Services, Inc. 19 Magazine Abbott Spine Devices Advanced Care Products 1911 Corp. Abbott Vascular Advanced Cellular Biology-San Jose 21st Century Insurance Company Abbott WallisSystem Advanced Financial Services, Inc. 21st Century Insurance Group Abell-Hanger Foundation Advanced Sterilization Products 3-Phase Systems Aberdeen, MD Water & Sewer Advanta Corp. 4x4 Magazine ABODA Property Management Advanta Growth Capital Fund LP A & E Television Networks Aboda, Inc. Advanta Insurance Company A & W ABZOL Cleaning Solvents Advanta Life Insurance Company A to Haas Access Group, Inc. Advanta National Bank A&E Television Networks Acco Advanta Partners LP A.C. Products Acco Brands Corporation Advent Financial Services, Inc. A.I. Credit Corporation ACCO World Advent HMO Corporation A.U.S.H.C. Holdings, Inc. Accurate Foaming Division Advent Investments, Inc. AAD Washington, DC Ace Books (Adult Division) Advertising.com, Inc. AB Mauri Food Inc. ACE Group Advised Assets Group LLC Abbott Aeroset/c8000 ACE INA Advisor Technologies Abbott Alimentum Advance Products Acqua Panna AE Fifteen, Inc. Abbott Animal Health Acuity Brands, Inc. AE Five, Inc. Abbott Architect Products AcuityBrands Lighting AE Fourteen, Inc. Abbott Asahi Guidelines AcuityBrands Technology Services AE Housing Corporation Abbott AxSym Acuvue Advance Aeitus Capital, Inc. Abbott Bioresearch Center Acxiom Corporation AEL American Electric Lighting Abbott Cell-Dyn Series Acxiom Digital AELAN Inc. Abbott CliniCare AD Fire Protection Aeltus Trust Company Abbott Diabetes Care Ada County Association of Realtors Aerobid Abbott Diagnostics ADA Environmental Solutions Aeroplane Monthly Magazine Abbott EleCare ADA-ES, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Spare Parts Management Potential in Production Sector
    School of Innovation, Design and Engineering Spare parts management potential in production sector Master thesis work 30 credits, Advanced level Product and process development Production and Logistics Abbas Al-Bawi Report code: PPU503 Commissioned by: Tutor (company): MDH Tutor (university): MDH Examiner: Antti Salonen 1 ABSTRACT Spare parts management (SPM) is an important branch of management which could lead the company to success or bankruptcy. It is also fill of potential improvements that can increase the company profits, productivity, and reliability. Wise inventory management would eliminate all the delay risks of unplanned breakdowns, and reduce process time and cost. To understand the importance of the spare parts, a fundamental knowledge of maintenance types, spare parts, spare parts management, spare parts classifications, ABC analysis, Economic order quantity, suppliers’ management, purchase management, and management computer program SAP, have been viewed. Companies realize the spare parts importance and try to develop the system to increase the benefits. Many ways has been taken to achieve that. Each company has it is own management system that the company has developed in years. In this research, spare parts management system of seven companies has been studied. By comparing of the management systems, we highlight the areas that would have negative or positive impact on the system. We would also analysis why the companies have chosen these systems, how they develop the system, and where they aim throw the development. Reviewing case studies would have many advantages, it would expand the vision to develop the management system and focus on the points that have permanent value instead of focus on temporary improvement.
    [Show full text]
  • Managing Brand Equity
    Managing Brand Equity Capitalizing on the Value of a Brand Name David A. Aaker · THE FREE PRESS NEW YORK LONDON TORONTO SYDNEY Managing Brand Equity THE FREE PRESS A Division of Simon & Schuster Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10020 www.SimonandSchuster.com Copyright © 1991 by David A. Aaker All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. THE FREE PRESS and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster Inc. Manufactured in the United States of America 20 19 18 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Aaker, David A. Managing brand equity: capitalizing on the value of a brand name / David A. Aaker. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-02-900101-3 eISBN-13: 978-1-4391-8838-5 1. Brand name products—Valuation—United States—Management. 2. Intangible property—Valuation—United States—Management. I. Title. HD69.B7A22 1991 658.8′27-dc20 91-10380 CIP Contents Preface and Acknowledgments 1. What Is Brand Equity? The Ivory Story The Role of Brands Brand-Building Neglect The Role of Assets and Skills What Is Brand Equity? What Is the Value of a Brand? Brand Value Based upon Future Earnings Issues in Managing Brand Equity The Plan of the Book 2. Brand Loyalty The MicroPro Story Brand Loyalty Measuring Brand Loyalty The Strategic Value of Brand Loyalty Maintaining and Enhancing Loyalty Selling Old Customers Instead of New Ones 3. Brand Awareness The Datsun-Becomes-Nissan Story The GE-Becomes-Black & Decker Story What Is Brand Awareness? How Awareness Works to Help the Brand The Power of Old Brand Names How to Achieve Awareness 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix A: Top Company Summary Tables Appendix B: Full Company Profiles
    A Value Chain Analysis of Selected California Crops Appendix A: Top Company Summary Tables Appendix B: Full Company Profiles Duke University July 7, 2008 Appendix A: Top Company Summary Tables Top Five Seed Companies in U.S. Market…………………………………………………..3 Top Five Agrochemical Companies in U.S. Market………………………………………...6 Top Five Fertilizer Companies in U.S. Market…………………………………………….11 Top Irrigation Systems Companies………………………………………………………...16 Top U.S. Farm Equipment Companies……………………………………………………..21 Top Tomato Marketers, California…………………………………………………………26 Top U.S. Tomato Remanufacturers………………………………………………………...29 Top Five U.S. Feed Producers……………………………………………………………...33 Top Five U.S. Poultry Producer Companies………………………………………………..38 Top Ethanol Producers, U.S. and California………………………………………………..39 Appendix B: Full Company Profiles Monsanto…………………………………………………………………………………45 DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition…………………………………………………………49 The Mosaic Company……………………………………………………………………56 Valmont Industries……………………………………………………………………….62 Deere & Company…………………………………………………………………...…..65 Morning Star………………………………………………………………………...…...70 ConAgra Foods, Inc……………………………………………………………….……..73 Cargill, Inc……………………………………………………………………….…..…..77 Tyson Foods, Inc………………………………………………………….……….…..…81 Poet, LLC………………………………………………………………………………...87 2 Appendix A CGGC 5-1-08 Top Five Seed Companies in U.S. Market, 20071 Company Annual Revenues Relevant Market Services Provided, Notes Niche if applicable Monsanto Total sales in 2007: Genetically Research and 1st supplier of genetically
    [Show full text]
  • Programa Maestro Nacional De Camarón De Altamar
    Índice Pág. Introducción 3 1. Integración de Información de Mercados 49 2. Análisis del Eslabón de Producción 122 3. Análisis del Eslabón de Industrialización 159 4. Análisis del Eslabón de Comercialización 191 5. Análisis de Proveedores Complementarios del 237 Eslabón de Producción 6. Análisis de Proveedores Complementarios del 251 Eslabón de Industrialización 7. Análisis de Otros Proveedores 260 Complementarios de la Red 8. Integración de Información de la Red 290 9. Programa Estratégico de Crecimiento 311 10. Optimización de la Oferta 363 11. Concentrado de Proyectos 388 2 Programa Maestro Nacional de Camarón de Altamar Introducción Definición • Camarón es el nombre que reciben cerca de 2,000 decápodos del orden de del los crustáceos. Estos se caracterizan por su caparazón blando semi- producto1 traslúcido y por su cuerpo flexible. • Dependiendo de la especie pueden alcanzar un tamaño desde unos cuantos milímetros hasta los 22 centímetros de longitud, siendo entre 5 y 7 cm el promedio. • El camarón se encuentra presente en casi todas los mares (tanto en aguas profundas como bajas), así como en depósitos de agua dulce. Principales Tipo de camarón (Océano Pacífico) Imagen especies de Camarón azul (Litopenaeus stylirostris) camarón • Distribuido en el océano Pacífico (Desde Baja existentes California hasta Perú). en México • Vive en profundidades no mayores a 27 m aunque raras veces a 45 m. • Tiene una longitud máxima de 23 cm y longitud máxima de caparazón de 5. 9 cm. Camarón blanco (Litopenaeus vannamei) • Localizado a partir del sur de Sonora hasta el norte de Perú. • Vive en profundidades de hasta 72 m. • Con un tamaño máximo de 23 cm y longitud máxima del caparazón 9 cm.
    [Show full text]