Re: [Marxism] iPods are evil

[Horacio Oliveira <horaciooliveira@xxxxxxx>]

There is more than some odd numbers going on here—personal disgust  
over generational fetishes aside.

The company makes many other products other than the iPod... 200,000  
workers would produce way to many iPods. About 50 million have been  
sold to date, that is about 250 iPods per worker... hmmm

Of course this factory is only one of many producing the iPod around  
the world so this figure of 200,00 chinese workers producing ipods  
figures is quite misleading. The factory is just another factory  
producing electronic products from ipods to blood pressure monitors.  
Much of our current consumption habits are (and arguably always have  
been) on the backs of the workers.

The point about the conditions is what is valid--not the singular  
product, be they iPods, Nike running shoes or whatever. The system  
under which the systematic exploitation of workers is seen as just  
good business, and the consumptive mindset of the USA consumer, is  
what should be of concern. Focusing on iPods is just fuel for the  
boycottistas who think if they boycott a product they are effecting  
change.

Do you think the computer you are reading this message on is produced  
any better than an iPod? Hon Hai is contracted to make ipods and  
laptops—amongst many others electronic goods, they in turn hand the  
work over to Chinese work camp companies...

BTW your students might well be listening to podcasts of Democracy Now!

On Jun 16, 2006, at 8:54 AM, Stiofan OBuadhaigh wrote:

> The Mail on Sunday reported that a Chinese factory
> that manufactures iPods employs 200,000 workers who
> live in dormitories where visitors are not permitted.
> Workers toil for 15-hour days for as little as $50 per
> month, according to the article.

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