Viking layoffs
For anyone who listens to Middleby's conference call after its purchase of Viking Range Corp. (replays available), Selim Bassoul is a capitalist. (More power to him!) First, foremost and exclusively, his between-the-lines focus on shareholders' return on investment, “emerging markets” and efficiency is the antithesis of how Freddy Carl ran the business.
Freddy was content with making well-earned, good money and giving back to the community. Middleby is focused on replacing the previous “Toyota production methods” of Viking, outsourcing production facilities, lowering international shipping costs and putting the “Viking label” on products from wherever, while expanding the commercial and refrigeration market.
The real question is whether Freddy was in on the plot, or did he resign, once he realized that he'd been played?
John Galt Redux
Linda Whittington
Regarding the article “Whittington: Education proposals full of problems” (Feb. 5):
Since Rep. Linda Whittington is so concerned about education, one wonders why she has remained silent on the “cheating problem” in the Leflore County schools?
timetraveler
Editor’s note: Although it was not covered in the article on which timetraveler commented, Whittington was asked about the alleged cheating at Leflore County Elementary School. She said, “The bottom line is the students. ... We need to be paying attention to what we’re doing with our kids, and cheating is just not the way to go.”
