CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (unaudited) [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 2,063,364	$ 1,812,078
Cost of goods and services	1,283,040	1,100,327
Gross profit	780,324	711,751
Selling and administrative expenses	480,880	453,427
Operating earnings	299,444	258,324
Interest expense, net	30,027	28,318
Other expense, net	2,622	1,188
Earnings before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	266,795	228,818
Provision for income taxes	69,968	54,027
Earnings from continuing operations	196,827	174,791
(Gain) Loss from discontinued operations, net	(764)	20,114
Net earnings	196,063	194,905
Comprehensive earnings	$ 237,305	$ 266,566
Earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 0.94
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 0.92
Earnings per share from discontinued operations: [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.11
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.11
Net earnings per share: [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 1.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 1.03
Dividends paid per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.315	$ 0.275