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Paul Buchheit reports via Common Dreams
An emotional response to any criticism of the Apple Corporation might be anticipated from the users of the company's powerful, practical, popular, and entertaining devices. Accolades to the company and a healthy profit are certainly well-deserved. But much-despised should be the theft from taxpayers and the exploitation of workers and customers, all cloaked within the image of an organization that seems to work magic on our behalf.
1. Apple Took Years of Public Research, Integrated the Results, and Packaged it as Their Own
2. Even After Taking Our Research, Apple Does Everything in its Power to Avoid Taxes
3. Overcharging Customers
The manufacturing cost of a 16 GB iPhone 6 is about $200, and with marketing it comes to about $288. But without an expensive phone contract with Verizon, AT&T, or one of the other wireless carriers, the cost to the customer is at least $650.
4. Underpaying and Mistreating Employees
5. Apple Has Figured Out How to Spend Most of its Untaxed Money on Itself
Apple's View:
The tax-avoiding, research-appropriating, cost-escalating, wage-minimizing, self-enriching Apple Corporation has, according to CEO Tim Cook,[1] a very strong moral compass.
[1] Link in article redirects.
(Score: 2, Informative) by unzombied on Wednesday May 20 2015, @06:35AM
This article reinforces a common delusion more than a Common Dream. Since 1919, a fundamental and frequent mistake in the US is presuming corporations are anything like human [wikipedia.org]. Believing a corporation will 1) not steal ideas, 2) be unselfish, 3) not take advantage, 4) care, or 5) share, is to be fooled. Again.
Corporations exist to make money, for as few people as possible (i.e. owners and shareholders). Morality, concern for people, doesn't enter the balance sheet and plays no role in decisions. Unless a law is broken, then the likelihood of getting caught and subsequent fine is balanced against the profit.
What to do about it? I don't know exactly, but surely it will have something to do with changing laws so stakeholders and consequences of corporate actions are at least as important as shareholders and owners. Preventing international agreements, new laws, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2015, @07:18AM
*SOME* corporations exist to make money.
Let me remind you that S/N tried to become a B-corporation.
Your focus could use a little broadening.
(I have more than enough cynicism for the both of us.)
-- gewg_
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2015, @01:56PM
Corporations exist to make money
Which is why I put my money into them.
My other choice is to leave my money in a bank and 0% interest. Then let inflation eat the value. Or buy yet another bobble I dont care about.
That money is going to help me live 'ok' during my retirement when I cant move very well anymore and my brain is addled because of old age.
I would rather eat steak every day than cat food...
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday May 20 2015, @07:28PM
Ramen is cheaper and I would say probably tastier.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"