These kind of discussions are usually filled with emotions and patriotism.
All without thinking through the various stages of the supply chain, each step providing jobs one way or another.
There are American workers in Cupertino, who work on these projects,
administrators in purchasing, accounting, sales service for these products
There are American customs clearance officers, workers unloading freight, freight forwarders, truck drivers, distribution center employees, sales people
etc.etc.
The world has become an interlinked place and corporations have the goal to make money. So, they buy where it's cheapest!
So, do the consumers.
It should all so be made clear that the world is overpopulated and there just cannot be enough jobs for everybody.
(Deduct the unwilling and incapable. Overall a small percentage)
The business climate in USA actually hinders manufacturing. Tax structures,
employment laws, zoning , environmental, education.
With ever changing technology and products the smart thing to do is not own and run a factory, but pay somebody for it.
If it's really 200 jobs, it's not better than nothing. It is nothing!
Until the fundamentals of manufacturing in the US are not changing, this will remain a PR stunt.
Apple can play a role in changing the fundamentals, but over 30 years of letting things slide by industries and governments (i.e. the people) cannot be reversed in a hurry with 200 jobs.
If one analyzes why manufacturing was lost to other countries it will become clear that too many hurdles for manufacturers were put up.
Why hassle with having a factory, when you can sell the same product made
some place for the almost same margins.
Assembly line work is hard work. (I happen to be in the contract industry) and
any time something is hard in America, people want to turn to somebody whom they can blame for the situation.
Any assembly line worker who manages to make money with 2 or even 3 jobs, spouse working too wants to make sure that her/his child has a better life.
So, guess what? They do not want their children to become assembly workers.
There are so many facets to this issue that it cannot all be discussed in this forum.
Rarara, jobs for America is not the solution.
Americans have over decades become consumers who don't want to sweat, get dirty and if at all possible want to have somebody else do the work.
Americans want to "service" or "manage" , be creative, run businesses, yet the base (as in education) is lacking.
The so called craftsmen, contractors employ are in the majority from other countries, the harvests in many parts of the country is brought in by the latinos
and working with ones hands as an American is not as widespread as it should.
When there is a task that requires physical labor, Americans need a machine.
When it gets hot they need air conditioning, etc.etc.
OSHA help, I had to bend three times in a row and now my back hurts.
Workers who come here from other developing countries are not spoiled and will do whatever a job requires.
This entitlement generation will not work on assembly lines!
People just be honest. Which of you posters would?
But, I am sure you'll want other Americans to do that.
It's good for Americans to get manufacturing jobs?
Would be nice, if they wanted them at the prevailing wages.
Even there the States and government can't agree.
The entire system has so many flaws that I find it funny that we expect Apple to be the cure all, just because it is(for the moment) a successful company.