Confessions of an Apple addict
Recent news reports about the deplorable conditions in Chinese factories that manufacture Apple products have this blogger rethinking her Apple addiction.
Photo: Yoshimasa Niwa/Flickr - How the U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work
- In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad
- Chinese Readers on the ‘iEconomy’
- Apple’s supply chain flap: It’s really about us
- Tim Cook: Apple cares about ‘every worker’ in its supply chain
link:
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Comments
Apple cares about the environment as much or more than any technology company. China is a manufacturing country with its own pretty much godless rules. More God, more hope for change.
Onward Christian soldiers, leading the race to the bottom. There were plenty of God fearing christians running our own sweatshops during this country's glided age. Some of those sweatshops have reorganized and operate under a thick veil of secrecy, right here at home. Of course, extreme exploitation at the hands of capitalists stops at no border and will wear the hat of any political ideology. And the first commandment? Thou shall accumulate.
If you really, truly want to do something about these conditions, then insist that Apple build all or part of its products in the USA and Canada, or even the EU. In the USA this can be done easily by simply passing a tariff on Chinese goods. Trump says 25%. I say 50% is really required. Yes, we willpay more, but will get added benefits in having millions of new manufacturing jobs back in our country. Free Trade is simply the exploitation of overseas workers and the destruction of the USA middle.... More
A tariff is a terrible idea. It should be a 'Fair Trade' tax. Basically a penalty should apply to all imported products that do not compete upon a fair basis, as a result of no pollution restrictions, safe working conditions cost, equitable minimum wage standards, health and sickness benefits and, taxed upon an equal basis.
Where those conditions are equal trade should be free, where those conditions are wildly biased in third world countries to inflate corporate profits,penalties should.... More
Boycotting Apple won't do a damn thing. However, the State and Federal Governments through policies and de/regulation could provide enough of an incentive to bring those manufacturing jobs back here. Incentives is what it's all about because corporations don't have any loyalty to any country. Just their profits.
Just another way of saying "i know about the issues and i don't give a damn, let some anonymous entity solve the issue i helped create for me". They make products for people like you, not for "the state" or "the government". But people just don't get it that they are a little piece of the problem. If people would noticeably cut into apples profits by boycotting them, then this would also send a strong signal to other companies. The consumers like you got the power but just likes to blame.... More
I don't think you are going to find a whole lot of people that are willing to boycott and harm a company that makes good products (sales and the enormous positive response of their products are a good indication that they are good).
Thinking you know all the issues, then why over the decades have manufacturing jobs been outsourced to places like China? Because maybe it's cheaper to manufacture goods over there than here? States compete with each other to have companies build industrial.... More
Regulation is not the answer, old fashioned tariff are the only effective answer. We add jobs, gain tax revenues and give electronic manufacturing, in fact all mamnufaturing a boost it sorely requires.
If you stop using Apple products, what products will you use? Almost all electronics are made in China; some even in the same factories that make Apple products. I agree that working conditions should be better for these people, but all the attention Apple is getting does not mean that other electronics providers do any better.
I agree, tariffs on ALL Chinese goods will even the playing field. I hear conditions in Sony's Chinese factories are as bad or worse.
