Rep. Jesse Jackson JR. recently released a statement that is pretty much just a bunch of anti-tech ranting. He seems to think that the iPad is the reason people are losing jobs in the united states. I don’t agree at all and I’ll tell you why, but first read his statement for yourself:
“A few short weeks ago I came to the House floor after having purchased an iPad and said that I happened to believe, Mr. Speaker, that at some point in time this new device, which is now probably responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs. Now Borders is closing stores because, why do you need to go to Borders anymore? Why do you need to go to Barnes & Noble? Buy an iPad, download your book, download your newspaper, download your magazine.
Chicago State University, in my congressional district, in freshman class, they are not being given textbooks any longer. They are all being given iPad’s as they enter school. President Wayne Watson hopes to have a textbook-less campus in four years, where at this state university they will no longer have textbooks.
Well, what becomes of publishing companies and publishing company jobs? And what becomes of bookstores and librarians and all of the jobs associated with paper? Well, in the not too distant future, such jobs simply will not exist. Steve Jobs is doing pretty well. He’s created the iPad. Certainly, it has made life more efficient for Americans, but the iPad is produced in China. It is not produced here in the United States. So, the Chinese get to take advantage of our First Amendment value — that is to provide freedom of speech through the iPad to the American people. But there is no protection for jobs here in America to ensure that the American people are being put to work.”
I will now begin my systematic ‘burn’ of Mr. Jackson JR. I will show you why he is wrong in every single argument he makes and why tablet-pc’s are a much better alternative to books. Just for kicks I’ll also show how those people he’s afraid will lose their current jobs can adapt to this new e-book market.
Firstly, Boarders and Barns&Noble don't make up even .1% of the job market and never have. So their closing stores doesn't really affect the American job market in any serious way.
Secondly, Schools should be textbook free, what is the real downside here? The companies that publish school books are pathetic in my opinion. Richard Feynman wrote about this in his book; Surely You’re joking Mr. Feynman. Feynman said that after being asked to be part of a board that reviews books so the school district could choose which to purchase, he couldn’t find one that was worth the money. They were all just a waste of time and had no real educational value. Some were even filled with just downright 'wrong’ information. He also mentioned how school book publishers try to bribe members of the board in order to get what they know are garbage books with useless information in them bought up. So teachers can regurgitate it into your kinds brains. Successfully dumbing down the country to the point people think technology is scary and too complicated to understand.
So according to Jesse Jackass Jr. over there your kids should be learning from these seedy, greedy pathetic excuse for human being publishers. Instead of skilled individuals who write about personal expertise. If a book-less school system was introduced not only would it save paper, it would also help teachers find better content, at affordable prices and pay the author direct instead of going through some bullshit publisher.
Thirdly, where was Mr. Jackson when Boarders was closing down small book stores left and right after being bought out by Kmart in 1992? Nowhere. What has Rep. Jackson done to prevent the closing of libraries and the hour cut-backs they’ve been suffering recently? Nothing.
He doesn't care about your damn job he’s just scared of technology, all politicians should be scared of technology. If the pen is mightier than the sword than the internets a fucking nuke. The internet can topple governments and change the course of history with a few Tweets or a well written e-book in a matter of weeks. Think about how long it would've taken the protestors in Syria, Egypt and Iran to organize the things they did if everyone who wrote had to go to a publisher get something printed and then wait for the physical copy of their message to be delivered in some way to people all over their countries. Odds are they would’ve been murdered at the print shop by one of their dictators supporters or they would’ve have ran across the wrong publisher and been tortured and killed by their governments. Some things are more important than the American job market and people like Jackson are too self centered to see beyond that.
Finally, who the hell cares where the product is manufactured? Ok so China is stealing our freedom of speech by mass-producing a tool that allows it? Is this guy retarded? This claim makes so little sense and pisses me off so much it’s…whew ok I calmed down. China may manufacture the iPad but they did not invent it. Steve Jobs is not the only one who benefited from the success of the iPad either. What about the app developers? The writers who get paid more because their not getting ripped off by a publisher? The publishers who are saving money on not having to print physical books?
Technology can benefit everyone and I think the worse thing people can do is be afraid of it or think it’s going to cost you your job. No matter what your role is, Librarian, Book Publisher, Writer, Editor or Bookstore there are ways you can fit in to the new digital media craze. Here’s a few simple examples:
- Librarians: You can find work editing peoples e-books.
- Book Publishers: You can now sell directly to your customers, and the best part you don’t pay for anything more than the cheap costs of running a website and serving your books.
- Writers: You no longer need publishers, you can sell your books directly and do your own promotion. Take back control of your art.
- Editors: You are still in the same role, you can just probably work from home now.
- Bookstores: Close your physical locations and put that money toward building and promoting a website (if you don’t already have one). It’s much cheaper than paying rent.
- People in paper: Offices will always need you. Besides you should go out of business, paper is a waste.
So there you have it, no need to freak out or panic. The iPad is not going to cost you your job anytime soon…unless your on the PlayBook team that is 
Rep Jesse Jackson Jr. Your statement has been pwned.
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