Steve Jobs is dead at age 56. While I’ve used a Mac at work, I’ve never been an Apple user. At the same time, it’s impossible to deny this great man’s impact on America and the world. The Apple computer led the way to personal computing. The iPhone blazed the trail for smart phones. And the iPad did the same for tablets.
Even during his illness, Jobs kept his innovative spirit. He embodied the world where people can communicate and create anywhere. Jobs evangelized technology, and the world followed (often with cheaper, knock off brands). It was interesting to learn that, like his rival Bill Gates, Jobs quit school, a college drop out who had thousands of MBAs answering to him.
The Apple legacy isn’t pure. I’ve written about labor abuses at production units in China. What role did Jobs have in that part of the company? History will work that out. Today is time to mourn the loss of a great innovator and cheer his life.
Calling out Apple
Tags: Apple, child labor, Ed Schultz, Ed Show, Mike Daisey, Steve Jobs, workers rights
On his TV show, Ed Schultz interviewed Mike Daisey who traveled to investigate conditions at Apple’s manufacturing plant in 2010. He found workers as young as 12-14 years old. Daisey returned to America, wrote, and performed a monologue entitled The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,” which is he is now releasing with a common use license (the opposite of copyright), allowing anyone to perform his work.
Apple has decided to let investigators audit their plant because of consumer complaints. Daisey was a big force in their decision. His action is proof that people of conscience – including consumers – can change the lives of working people. Somewhere, Harriet Beecher Stowe is smiling.