Comments on: Apple v. ExxonMobil: The Battle of Industry Titans Narrows a Little

By: Don

Don — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:56:00 +0000

Hey Chris: Where is Google in the race?

By: Chris Mooney

Chris Mooney — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:18:51 +0000

This is where I am coming from on this

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2010/10/19/apple-is-almost-worth-as-much-as-exxonmobil-and-thats-good-news-for-the-planet/

By: vrk

vrk — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:56:48 +0000

It is really confusing to see Apple being praised in the context of environmental or social justice issues. Comment #4 is spot-on, and I would also like to add that Apple has succeeded in creating a cult of followers who will buy any new gadget the company makes. Most iPhone owners will buy the next iPhone, regardless of whether they need it or not — where do the old phones go? Dumped in poor countries most likely. And not to forget:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/apr/21/apple-least-green-tech-company

By: Brian Too

Brian Too — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:12:30 +0000

While it’s a nice thought, I suspect that Apple passing ExxonMobile in market cap will be a minor event. Also, the self-interest of corporations always pushes them towards the amoral polarity, at least over the long term. Either that or they remain small and uninfluential.

By: Apple is liberal?

Apple is liberal? — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:01:57 +0000

Apple does a great job of hiring manufacturers (foxconn) whose workers kill themselves, work 18 hour days with improper toxic waste disposal facilities, and pay the employees just enough so that they can afford to live in factory-owned housing. Wait, I forgot that apple didn’t fire foxconn and instead fired a company that forged payroll documents instead….interesting morals there. If apple is liberal I’d hate to see how conservative manufacturers treat their employees. It must be full-blown slavery.

By: TTT

TTT — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:50:24 +0000

The computing companies only *seem* Dem-friendly because their work creates real social value, as opposed to the Wall Street mythmakers and sociopaths betting with other peoples’ retirements, bankruptcies, and deaths, and using all of their considerable political influence solely to lower their own taxes. But when not judged by such an unfair comparison, yeah, Silicon Valley ain’t particularly “liberal.”

By: SocraticGadfly

SocraticGadfly — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:14:19 +0000

Tosh on major corporations becoming “Democratic,” Chris. It’s because Dems are becoming more corporatist/neoliberal all the time. Otherwise, Mike says things I would say.

And, clean energy giant GE that outsources jobs, lays off employees, etc.?

“Liberal” Silicon Valley is HUGELY antiunion, too.

Really, Chris, you need to do some more reading. The Nation’s had good articles in the past on union-busting in Silicon Valley.

By: Mike H

Mike H — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:51:42 +0000

And indeed, major companies are shifting to the Democratic camp: Witness clean energy giant GE, for instance, or the fairly blue and liberal California-centered tech industry–epitomized by Apple

Doth mine eyes decieve me? Are you celebrating the triumph of regulatory capture and business government collusion from the like of GE? In all fairness, I guess its “OK” now that they are supporting democrats.