Would You Boycott Apple?

I just got an article in my email from CNet that talks about a move  to boycott Apple because Apple outsources their manufacturing overseas. As a result, the workers who manufacturer Apple products in China work under the most dreadful conditions; cramped and overcrowded factories and inhumanely long hours, workplace hazards and accidents. Americans would not work under these brutal conditions, and it is our responsibility to boycott any company that knowingly allows these conditions to continue. There’s only one problem with boycotting Apple.

Apple is not alone in this practice. A lot of computer companies outsource their manufacturing overseas. And the computer makers are not alone either. Almost no matter what product you want to buy, electronics, kitchen appliances, clothing, and food, is made by workers who live in developing countries and work for pennies. So to pick on Apple doesn’t make much sense. But what do you do? Stop buying anything made overseas? You couldn’t do it because we need those products. But you shouldn’t boycott Apple unless you’re boycotting every company that makes any and every product you use.

No. We’re basically stuck. And it’s hard to point blame. All people, no matter where they’re from, want a better life. We want to provide for our families the best products we can afford. So what we do is go to our employers and ask for raises. And when raises are not forthcoming, we organize unions to gain a bigger voice. But many people criticize unions but they’re basically after what all Americans are after. More money for a better life. However, unions have asked for, and gotten too much.

There are retired union members who live on very generous pensions. More than non-union members do. And when, for the sake of the solvency of the company they work for, they’re asked if they can accept less of a raise (but a raise non-the-less), or give back a small portion of their retirement, they refuse; and for the company, bankruptcy looms. They want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. It’s exasperating.

So naturally what happens is that manufacturing in this country is more expensive. The companies have to pay more to make the things we want. But remember what I said about providing for your family. You can now buy a 32” HD TV set for a few hundred dollars because that TV set was made by someone who works for a dollar a day. If it had been made right here in the United States, for $35 - 40 an hour, how much would it cost? I can hardly guess, but I can guess that we would not be able to afford it. At all. Forget about that TV.

I am not a big fan of Apple computers (I like, and own an IPhone, and an iPod) because I think their computers, although very fine computers indeed, are not really any better than PCs, but they sell for a premium price. And Apple, in my opinion, has a irritating habit of putting on airs. But should they be boycotted for doing what everybody else does?

Not in my opinion.