Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Blames iPad For American Unemploymen

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Blames iPad For American Unemployment


On Friday, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) addressed the United States's current unemployment crisis and claimed the iPad was "probably responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs."

Jackson, himself an iPad owner, expanded on his statement by pointing to the recent bankruptcy of Borders Books.

"Why do you need to go to Borders anymore? Why do you need to go to
Barnes and Noble? Just buy an iPad and download your book, download your
newspaper, download your magazine," the Congressman said.

He also cited Chicago State University's initiative to replace textbooks with iPads for freshman students. Jackson stated that the goal of the University was to create a "textbookless campus within four years."

"What becomes of publishing companies and publishing company jobs?"
Jackson asked the House. "What becomes of bookstores and librarians and
all of the jobs associated with paper? Well, in the not-too-distant
future, such jobs simply won't exist."

He also took issue with the device's production overseas: "The iPad
is produced in China. It's not produced here in the United States. [...]
There is no protection for jobs here in America to ensure that the
American people are being put to work."

According to Neowin:

It seems that Jackson has changed his views
significantly since last month when he said that the iPad was
"revolutionizing" the country" and that it would "fundamentally alter
how we will educate our children" followed by making a suggestion that
there should be an "iPad for every student in the nation".

Business Insider
reponds, "Obviously he ignores all the wealth the iPad has created in
America, and the fact that there are all kinds of other jobs that have
been created around the iPad [...]"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/17/jesse-jackson-jr-ipad-unemployment_n_850227.html

Why do you need to go to Borders anymore? Why do you need to go to
Barnes and Noble? Just buy an iPad and download your book, download your
newspaper, download your magazine,

One thing I have noticed over the years is that Jesse always seems to be part of the problem, and NOT of a solution...the old saying that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree seems to be true here.

Peter

Need2Bworking wrote:He also cited Chicago State University's initiative to replace textbooks with iPads for freshman students. Jackson stated that the goal of the University was to create a "textbookless campus within four years."

"What becomes of publishing companies and publishing company jobs?"
Jackson asked the House. "What becomes of bookstores and librarians and
all of the jobs associated with paper? Well, in the not-too-distant
future, such jobs simply won't exist."

I've wondered this point with a slightly different angle. What happens if it becomes rare to find standard print media? What if someone cannot afford to purchase an electronic reader? Will these people be less informed because the information is not available to them? For series reading I prefer to have a print copy, not electronic. Maybe the younger generations will not be that way, but I think there are quite a few older people that find the printed page easier to digest.

As far as jobs going overseas, we all know that is an issue. Every job that is sent to another country is a job that someone here doesn't have.