When I was younger, Redmond and Prineville and Madras were foreign countries. Especially Redmond, which was our homecoming rival, and which we automatically put down as a smaller, hickier town.
Now? It's all Central Oregon to me -- it's all part of my home territory.
So, when Apple goes to Prineville, I can't help but think that's good for all of us who live in the area.
Maybe because people from all three counties shop downtown -- it's all good.
Sometimes in the store, I'll ask, "Are you from around here?" and the customer will say, "No, I'm from Redmond " (or Sisters, or LaPine, etc.) and I'm always kind of amused and say, "To me, THAT is around here."
Heck, even Burns and John Day are kinda in my home territory. (If you want comics, say, or many of the other things I carry.)
So, Central Oregon, I mark you with this blog, You are my home territory.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
Thousands of jobs have been created because of the Apple eco system (i.e. "iTunes" store). While most of the data center jobs probably won't be in Central Oregon as the data center can be controlled from anywhere. This data center will support millions of users to deliver content to their devices.
In terms of local job creation, this new data center (aka "server farm") is nothing to get excited about.
"Thousands of jobs have been created because of the Apple eco system (i.e. "iTunes" store)."
And many more thousands of American jobs have been destroyed by Apple's decision to have everything made in Chinese sweatshops, under horrendous conditions.
"So, Central Oregon, I mark you with this blog"
Lifting your hind leg as you say that, Dunc?
"In terms of local job creation, this new data center (aka "server farm") is nothing to get excited about."
Ordinarily, I'd agree with this. But both Facebook and Apple in one small town -- that could lead to other things, maybe other companies. Even if small amounts of money, even if just the building parts, it's still a significant addition to the economy when we need it the most.
I'd be looking for some synergy.
While the iDevices, are assembled outside of the US, the vast amount of what goes into them is made in the USA. Some serious R&D $ are spent. And once sold, the iDevice owner will purchase content of which most is made in the US.
I don't think the Apple product line would exist if it had to be made in the US.We move too slow in the US due to our regulations, the analysis of paralysis and our inability to change production levels rapidly.It would surprise me if any of those jobs would have been created in the US and if Apple had tried it, an iPhone would be too expensive for anyone except movie stars to buy, even when subsidized by ATT.
Foxconn has over 200,000 employees and 60,000 or so live in their dorms. I understand their pay is about 1/10 what would have to be paid in the US, not counting fringes.
Yet, the jobs are much desired and sought after.The pay is excellent for a Chinese from the rural areas where most of the workers come from. I think your definition of sweatshop and horrid conditions are based on US mores and concepts. These are not universal. I would hazard to guess that the Apple Foxconn plants are heads and shoulders above Samsung's, Acer's,and others Foxconn plants. Apple is raising the standard of living in China.
Carl,
Just google Apple foxconn deaths, or Apple foxconn working conditions and you may change your mind on the "Apple is raising working conditions in China" statement.
Too many deaths, suicides and industrial accidents happen at Apple suppliers in Chine, that don't happen at other US company suppliers.
I talk to people who are familiar with the plants in China and Apple's are way better than Samsung and others. Also with 200K or more people, I wouldn't doubt there are suicides and accidents. My question to the in the know folks is are they proportionally any more than for a city of that size? The anecdotal answer seems to be No.I would not compare to US rates, since China is not the US.Also, Foxconn is not an Apple division, it is a contractor.
And again, if the conditions are so horrid, relative to Chinese standards, why do so many people compete for the jobs in Apple Foxconn? We're not talking 2 or 3X applicants per job, we're talking 10X or more.
The money these people earn is largely being shipped to their families mostly outside of the cities (rural areas)and it is raising their standard of living from near 18yh century to at least mid-20th century.
Living here I would like to say yes&yes,
But most important is that when ever there are NEW jobs at FOXXCONN 100's of 1,000's apply those job.
What most of you FAIL to understand is that you 'anthorporphize' your understanding of humanity, onto the chinese lifestyle.
If you were born in a pig farm, and spent your life in shit, and your best hope in life would be to be a prostitute, yet you would commit suicide, if so.
Then the dream of foxconn where you would make 10X of your peers at the pig-farm, where you would bathe daily, ... where you would have friends, where you would only work 12 hours a day 6 days a week, rather than the 7 days a week 20+ hours a day at home.
Folks you have NO fucking idea of what rural life is for rural chinese.
Buster in China.
Thanks, Buster.
I rest my case.Besides your point on the bathing each day,I might add that eating in the cafeteria(s) at Apple Foxconn also means you get meat with your rice and vegies. I doubt if many people in the US know what a great thing that is to the ordinary Chinese from the rural areas.
"I think your definition of sweatshop and horrid conditions are based on US mores and concepts."
Yeah, the Foxconn employees love their jobs and working conditions so much they're hanging themselves and throwing themselves off balconies.
I'm not talking about US mores and concepts -- I'm talking about HUMAN mores and concepts.
Your comments are reminiscent of the good old days when Americans and Europeans used to say: "Well, life is cheap over there" (meaning Asia or Africa).
"I would hazard to guess that the Apple Foxconn plants are heads and shoulders above Samsung's, Acer's,and others Foxconn plants."
According to human rights organizations, Foxconn's treatment of workers is among the worst in China.
"My question to the in the know folks is are they proportionally any more than for a city of that size?"
It can be statistically demonstrated that the rate of death among soldiers in combat is no higher than the rate of death in a typical city. The fallacy of that argument is the same as the fallacy of your argument, which is that in a city there are many old and/or sick people, whereas troops in combat or the workers in Foxconn's sweatshops are almost all young and healthy.
Carl and Buster, your arguments remind me of those advanced by King Leopold of Belgium to justify his genocide of the Congolese: "The natives are SO MUCH BETTER OFF than they were before we came!"
Back in the 19th and early 20th century we used to import Chinese to work in sweatshops here. Now we have laws against sweatshops here, so we have to export the sweatshops to China so the Chinese can work in them over there.
And we congratulate ourselves on making their lives better. It's nauseating.
MY GAWD hbm your an apologist idiot for the USA.
CHinese can only have one child, and love that child far more than US loves their children.
For a parent in china everyone will give their life to their only child.
That child takes care of its parents forever.
The USA is a pathetic shit-hole.
I think you worked the 4th estate so fucking long, you have long cognitive understanding of humanity.
"Back in the 19th and early 20th century we used to import Chinese to work in sweatshops here..."
Yes, and I am the 3rd generation offspring of one of those who immigrated to the US to toil in those so-called sweatshops. And even then the opportunity was treasured as my grandmother told us.As Buster said, I don't think you have a clue what life is in rural China.
Post a Comment