» Thoughts on Mike Daisey

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Anyone who uses a little truth, some half-truths, and some outright lies to promote their own agenda is the worst kind of liar. The fact of the matter is that Mike not-only didn't help the cause of worker's rights in China, he dealt them a heavy blow. He made himself a big, important person exploiting the stories and experiences of the very people he claimed to be raising awareness for, in addition to exploiting the allure of Apple founder Steve Jobs, and Apple itself, a household name. It's disgusting, and what's worse, Mr. Daisey, is that you won't even own up to it. You, sir, are a coward, a liar, and a fraud.

I have lost my respect for you, as have many others. If what you're doing is merely 'theatre' say so at the outset, so declare it to be factual, and then declare 'woah, woah, it's only a show' after you get caught red-handed.

Disgusting.

Foxconn Followup

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I drew some heat for my post yesterday about Foxconn from Mike Daisey. Very cool. You can read his blog here. Mike Daisey:

You do understand that we chose to put our production in a fascist country run by thugs? If you create a union or engage in union activity in China, you go to prison…so your proposal that we have no responsibility, and that people lift themselves up, is not only ridiculous, it’s actually impossible.

Mike, you are a smart and reasonable man who has been looking into this situation for years. I appreciate you championing a cause — and for what it's worth I think it's a good one. Raising awareness of situations like this is a good thing. But as you yourself said in response to Tim Worstall's condescending spiel:

Mr. Worstall must be aware that the industrial revolution wasn't alone in making those living standards what we see today. It was those economic engines coupled with a century of labor struggles to create safe, humane working conditions. Those conditions did not naturally emerge out of economic ferment, but were fought for by workers tooth and nail by organization and struggle.

That was my point in my original piece. China needs an industrial revolution. Mike, you talk about  a man who's hand was crushed while at Foxconn who got another job where he was only required to work 70hrs/week. You talk about how unionizing in China is illegal and how people who demand to be paid will be labeled "troublemakers" by the labour board and blacklisted. I do not dispute these things, and I would like Chinese workers to be treated fairly — as they deserve.

There's no debate about this—it's why these standards are embedded in China's labor standards, and in Apple's Supplier Code of Conduct. Instead of excuses and explanations for why there aren't problems, we need to admit they exist and set our shoulders to the wheel to change them. That is how things are made better.

It sounds like you want all the companies that use Foxconn (and presumably every other western company that develops products in China) to change the Government, and the Labour Board, and the laws, and every factory in China. The west cannot simply barge into another country and force it's practices and laws on them. Surely you know that.

If the cost of production in China rises too much, the production will be moved elsewhere. If the production moves elsewhere the people will be unemployed. I say again, these people are not slaves, they can choose to leave, but instead new workers are queueing up to get in. You have also said there is high turnover — so clearly many do choose to leave. The rest choose to stay.

I'm not saying it's fair. I'm not saying it's right. But everyone on the earth isn't going to stop buying things manufactured in China (much as you may want them to), so the Chinese people need to make the change from within. Changes from within are the lasting ones. Always.

Keep fighting the good fight, Mike. Raise awareness. Change the world. I wish you all the best.