Caterpillar 2011 Annual Report Download - page 6

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WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS | 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW
Chairman’s
Message
Construction
Industries
Customer &
Dealer Support
Financial Products &
Corporate Services
The Caterpillar
Foundation Leadership Performance
Resource
Industries
Energy &
Power Systems
Chairman’s Message 6
3. More energy. The world population is expanding and so is the middle class. Growing, modern economies need energy. This
is why we promote a broad energy portfolio. Alternative fuels and advanced technology offer some exciting possibilities, but
we also need to invest in tried and true resources like coal and natural gas. These fossil fuels can be very efficient, clean and
sustainable, and companies like Caterpillar are hard at work to deliver sustainable solutions in terms of traditional resources
and alternatives – we need both.
4. Lower corporate tax rates. The United States currently has one of the highest corporate tax rates, and it’s affecting investments.
When you look around the world, those countries with lower corporate tax structures have a distinct advantage when attracting
investment.
5. Improved education system. We talked about how policies and governments need to change with the times, and the same is
true for our education system. Today’s jobs are high-tech. We need scientists, engineers, mathematicians, but we also need
more people going into the skilled trades. These aren’t the jobs they were before. They are high-tech, skilled, safe jobs that can
provide a good living. It’s true all over the world.
Quite a list, right? We’ve got work to do here in the United States, and around the world. These aren’t easy issues and there are
no quick fixes, but there is a proven path for success – partnerships between the public and private sectors and individuals. At
Caterpillar, we make our positions known. We educate our employees, our communities and government officials. If we don’t tell
our side of the story, who will? If we don’t look out for the best interests of our company, our employees, our communities and
our customers, who will? It’s up to all of us to become educated, to get involved and to work together – that includes the
private sector, the public sector and individuals.
Will 2012 be the new normal? Probably not. We will be focused on growth and investment in our products, our processes and our
people. These are all investments that pay dividends well into the future.
So what is the new normal? The new standard will be a flexible, agile Caterpillar that is squarely focused on our customers and on
what the world needs. Our opportunities are limitless – we just have to go after them.
Douglas R. Oberhelman
Chairman and CEO
Caterpillar Inc.
Message From Our Chairman (continued)