How the US Lost Out On iPhone Work

Hugh Pickens writes "Not long ago, Apple boasted that its products were made in America. Today, almost all of the 70 million iPhones, 30 million iPads and 59 million other products Apple sold last year are manufactured overseas. 'It isn't just that workers are cheaper abroad,' write Charles Duhig and Keith Bradsher. 'Rather, Apple's executives believe the vast scale of overseas factories as well as the flexibility, diligence and industrial skills of foreign workers have outpaced their American counterparts so much that "Made in the U.S.A." is no longer a viable option for most Apple products.' Apple executives say that going overseas, at this point, is their only option and recount the time Apple redesigned the iPhone's screen at the last minute, forcing an assembly line overhaul. A foreman immediately roused 8,000 workers inside the company's dormitories, and then each employee was given a biscuit and a cup of tea, guided to a workstation and within half an hour started a 12-hour shift fitting glass screens into beveled frames. Within 96 hours, the plant was producing over 10,000 iPhones a day. 'The speed and flexibility is breathtaking,' says one Apple executive. 'There's no American plant that can match that.' Apple's success has benefited the U.S. economy by empowering entrepreneurs and creating jobs at companies like cellular providers and businesses shipping Apple products. But ultimately, Apple executives say curing unemployment is not Apple's job. 'We don't have an obligation to solve America's problems. Our only obligation is making the best product possible.'"

Comments

Yeah...but

[Moby Cock]

It is true that it is not Apple's job to cure America's ills. But, if you could use some of that famed 'war chest' of cash to at least try, it would make you less of a bunch of dicks.

Re:Yeah...but

[FreeCoder]

Living costs are also much lower in China. And are you saying that there isn't a single job available in the US, not even in industries that aren't directly what you want to do or that require lots of manual hard work? People just don't want to do them if it doesn't interest them, isn't available where they happen to live or there's prejudices and "I'm too good for that job" against the work (ie., working as a burger flipper or a stripper).

Re:Yeah...but

[Jackie_Chan_Fan]

Get fucked in the mouth you fucking traitor

Re:Yeah...but

[Anonymous Coward]

IF we keep putting politicians beholden to the Unions in power (in all levels), this problem will continue. Case in point: Politicians and 'Card Check' laws--where all votes for a union in a company are wide open and everyone knows how another votes. How about the 'right to work law' in Indiana (which is designed to eliminated 'closed shops'--where every eligible employee is required to be a union member if there is a union) and the fact that the Democrats have walked out of the open House session until that is off the table; thereby negating the ability of the Indiana House to do ANY work.

Democratic Leader Bauer said, “Working families want good-paying jobs, not lower paychecks. Their response to the Governor is simple - Don’t Touch My Paycheck. Instead of playing partisan, political games, let’s work together to boost our small businesses, support our workers, and create jobs right here in Indiana.”

Re:Yeah...but

[FreeCoder]

I worked minimum wage jobs when I came to America, and I've climbed, by studying and hard work, to where I am now (pretty at the upper middle class bracket.) I can tell you that you simply cannot live at a hamburger flipping salary. How? You cannot even pay rent with that. People who have those jobs (and I know because I've been there) have to lump themselves together with relatives or friends and edge a meager existence.

So not only did you succeed improving your own life and getting a better job after a while, you also provided solution to the renting costs - just rent out the place with a few friends, girlfriend or relatives. What is so horrible about that? Why do you need your own place, especially when you're young. The only reason for that is entitlement thinking and not wanting to work towards getting those things later.

Re:Yeah...but

[nurb432]

he greatest insult of all is that in this great country so many people cannot afford the most basic of medical care. Jesus Christ, my country of origin is the second poorest in the western hemisphere, and the average city dweller has basic medical access more readily available and affordable than his/her American counterpart. How can we explain that????

I explain it as you lived in a socialist nation. Myself i will give up health care in exchange for freedom.

Also, you are incorrect since anyone can get care in this nation if they need to. Just drive down to the hospital and they WILL treat you, regardless of your ability to pay.

Re:Yeah...but

[midicase]

"I can tell you that you simply cannot live at a hamburger flipping salary. How? You cannot even pay rent with that."

Sure one could. Last year, a university (University of Missisippi?, cannot find link) released a study comparing a single parent that held minimum wage jobs vs a single parent that had a degree and a professional job. 15K vs 68K respectively.

Since the "burger flipper" is considered "poor", they qualified for many government programs. Rent subsistence, food stamps, health care, utility assistance, Earned Income Credit, etc. The result was that this class of worker had 38,000 USD of disposable income each year.

Since the professional at 68K does not qualify for any of these programs, their disposable income each year is 34K.

If someone knows the study, please correct my mistakes as I am going from memory.

Re:Yeah...but

[oleop]

Or, rather Apple is not trying to build the system which will require less streneous work condition. All this audit supply garbage is just a legal protection - face it, it is just another (and being successful - most errogant) ruthless corporation.

Re:"We don't have an obligation..."

[Jackie_Chan_Fan]

How about we make fucking children legal? That will solve our economy. I mean why not? We have no fucking morals or ethics at all any more, might as well start selling the pretty children to rich pedos

Re:Prove your absurd prices

[Jackie_Chan_Fan]

Dont buy American, dont buy chinese.

Dont buy anything. Fuck them. Let them all go out of business. Fuck technology.

We dont have to let corporations profit. We can simply let them fucking die by not buying their slave built goods

Re:Surprise, surprise...

[Jackie_Chan_Fan]

Gooks are cheap. You think Apple gives a shit how many of their gook slaves throw themselves off a building? Apple doesnt give a FUCK.

Apple would fuck your children for a dollar.

Re:An interesting metric

[FreeCoder]

So now you just need to live with another guy and it's again back to 25%. Or with more people and it goes even lower. Why do American's need own places when in Asia it's perfectly fine to live with other people, and actually even preferred way of living.