Apple CEO Tim Cook Calls For Unity in Memo to Staff Following Trump Victory

[2457282]

You are right that there has been some sort of armed conflict somewhere in the world almost continuously since the end of WWII, and that US have been involved with most of them. But the scale of those conflicts haven't been anywhere near the all-out scale of the world wars.

Yes, fair point. I was responding to the point made that we had peace since WW2, which is not actually true.

 

[5684697]

How'd that fundraiser work out Tim? Did it go the way you thought it would? No? Perhaps you should lead Apple, stay out of politics unless it's regarding the governments over reaching attempts to weaken iOS security. If you haven't noticed Tim you recently just got out Appled by Microsoft.

"Shuts so many people out" how? It's completely plausible that you simply weren't the best candidate for the job at hand. Guess what? No one owes you anything, and never did.

As for those people you seem to be incapable of not attacking for using their constitutional right to complain, don't forget that they actually made up more of the popular vote. Therefore, maybe you should work on your approach if you want the half of the country you LOST to care about you.

That's true, Obama sure cared about the 60,933,594 people who voted for Romney in 2012, right?

Hillary got over a million less votes this time than Romney did in 2012.

I don't recall anyone rioting over Obama's wins.

 

[hudson1]

Someone that actually thinks.
Republicans use divisive rhetoric when in reality the only thing they care about is money.
But now I say to those that voted for Trump and the republicans; stop talking about it and be about it.
It is easier to divide tan to unify.
It is easier to say no that the lead.
It is easier to criticize than to govern.

You have the house, the senate and POTUS; unify, lead and govern.
You say Obama did it wrong, okay go do it right and try not to wreck the country.

Remember 55% of the nation did not vote republican; Trump has an office, not a mandate.

But I'll say this, in four years:
1. When trickle down didn't work for the second time. (It did not work for Reagan.)
2. When health care is in an even worse mess. When you can't get healthcare because of pre-existing.
3. When the jobs don't come back.
4. When unemployment is higher than the peak of the last recession.
5. When the national debt is $25 Trillion

Remember - Trump said he could do it better.

When this nation entered the healthcare debate 7 1/2 years ago, the Republicans offered all kinds of suggestions on how to create this legislation. Obama, Pelosi, and Reid adamantly said they didn't want to listen to a word of it. Yes, it's easier to divide than unify and say "no" than to lead. By the way, a friend recently rigorously added up how much extra he's paid, in total, for healthcare since the ACA went into effect. The number... $25,000 for his family.

 

[5684697]

Because she was the better candidate. Tim is gay like a lot of people, and Trump's VP is a guy who believes that gay can be prayed away - which leads to many many suicides.
So yeah I can see why non-straight folk are worried. Tim seeks to calm them and I agree with that. But it won't make me buy a new MBP... maybe a new iPhone if the next one is decent enough.

Please. Pence would be kinder and more embracing of a gay person in distress than the Clinton political machine. They'd help, but only after you pay their exorbitant speaking fee.

Pence doesn't hate gays, only an anti-Christian bigot would assume that.

 

[hudson1]

Why wouldn't California make it on their own? It's larger than many actual countries, it has Silcon Valley, it has agricultural areas, it has Hollywood. In fact, it might do better if it were an independent country and didn't have to pay federal taxes.

California would quite likely do worse. It doesn't have enough water, "imports" electricity and fossil fuel, and has a huge state deficit to be added on to its inherited portion of the federal deficit. Also, the percentage of its population living below the US poverty line is the same as the nation as a whole.

 

[5684697]

I strongly disagree with companies like Apple using tax loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of taxes in the US. The solution isn't a reduction in corporate tax rates but the elimination of the tax loopholes at a global level.

Still, it's ridiculous to single out Apple while ignoring far worse offenders like Verizon, GE, and Boeing, who pay virtually no US taxes at all. Or Trump, for that matter, who hasn't paid a nickel of income tax for twenty years.

The jobs issue is even harder to fix. There's no way Apple could manufacture iPhones or MacBooks in the US while maintaining the same level of quality and innovation and without substantially increasing their already high prices (which, in turn, would substantially reduce the volume of units sold and the company's overall financial performance).



Those who believe Trump is going to do anything to materially improve the lives of low and middle income workers are in for a rude awakening. But hey, this isn't anything new. Many gullible, low income Americans have been voting for Republican politicians for a long time.

It isn't Trump's job to materially improve their lives, it's his job to remove the impediments to progress and advancement so they can improve their own lives.

Creating incentives for corporations to keep jobs in the US is one of them.

 

[0098386]

Please. Pence would be kinder and more embracing of a gay person in distress than the Clinton political machine. They'd help, but only after you pay their exorbitant speaking fee.

Pence doesn't hate gays, only an anti-Christian bigot would assume that.

I've read up on Pence, I don't listen to his speeches or any propaganda. Just repeating what he's done and said.

 

[George Dawes]

Pretty sure cook's political leanings will miraculously dissipate as he gets all of apple's offshore dough taxed at 10%...

 

[DUCKofD3ATH]

Spoken like a true MacRumorite—a species unto itself. Want to increase your election prospects in the US? Talk about dating your daughter and deny global warming, apparently. Or why not gleefully celebrate torture or call anyone different a rapist. Land of the free and the home of the misogynist.

With logic like that, it's no wonder that Americans had no choice other than to elect Hillary in a landslide.

 

[jimbobb24]

Why wouldn't California make it on their own? It's larger than many actual countries, it has Silcon Valley, it has agricultural areas, it has Hollywood. In fact, it might do better if it were an independent country and didn't have to pay federal taxes.

It has water problems and would not have control over rivers entering it. But it is super rich - however once it broke up the state would probably be three pieces soon. Northern CA has little love for SoCal.

 

[hudson1]

I'm not sure why everyone gets so hung up on where these things are screwed together. I'm not sure that is a huge part of the cost. The R&D, Component Costs, Marketing, Sales mark up, etc... are at least 85% of costs of the final product.

If that overhead is 85% of the final cost then doing the assembly in N. America or Europe can't add all that much to the final cost, can it?

 

[jimbobb24]

You're making a bad argument. No one US manufacturer can reasonably hand the production of 72 million iPhones per year.

You mean I am not making your argument? I guess so. I am saying the US manufactures lots of stuff because you said we suck at it. Well, suck to the tune of making the most I guess.

 

[Phil in ocala]

This is an example of the kind of empty neoliberal rhetoric that led to Trump getting elected.

A company that touts diversity, yet from an economic standpoint, shuts so many people out.

Dr. King was about racial AND economic justice, a Civil Rights Movement AND a Poor People's Campaign, but Tim Cook and his mealy-mouthed subordinates wouldn't understand that.

++++++++++++++
Here is what I understand as an Apple Stockholder....the stock is crashing

 

[Nefilim]

you are wrong, mac pro is us made...

Not really. It is assembled in the US. Others (like Motorola back then with one of their phones that flopped once more) failed miserably at that practice, Apple has the cash to make it work anyway.

On the other hand, I can't wait to see Americans realize that "made in USA" will come with a hefty price tag.

 

[blacktape242]

Are you an Apple corporate employee? Unless you are, then you're not the intended audience anyway. So whether you care or not isn't relevant.

oh im sorry for my comment, i thought this was a forum.... my apologies.

BTW, i still don't give a F about what tim has to say about polical and social issues to either his staff or the public.

 

[r.harris1]

...The pubic are sick of the rich elite running the show without putting the neds of everyone first.

Jesus. Is the "pubic" aware of who they voted for and exactly who's needs are going to be put first?

 

[i.mac]

This is an example of the kind of empty neoliberal rhetoric that led to Trump getting elected.

A company that touts diversity, yet from an economic standpoint, shuts so many people out.

Dr. King was about racial AND economic justice, a Civil Rights Movement AND a Poor People's Campaign, but Tim Cook and his mealy-mouthed subordinates wouldn't understand that.

Sometimes people blabber incongruous words thinking that makes them look smart.

Quite the opposite.

 

[hudson1]

Or work for the wages that would be paid for people who took these jobs? Nope.

Isn't that better than the government taking money from people who work and giving it to other people so they don't have to work (and don't want to work)?

 

[i.mac]

Jesus. Is the "pubic" aware of who they voted for and exactly who's needs are going to be put first?

Exactly.

 

[Aldaris]

So far I have read every post on this thread.

I think if the US government (oehas this much power to disrupt ones life it has too much power. It needs to go back to local areas-let people live their own lives.

It simply amazes me how many people here seem to know what's best for everyone else...

 

[tigres]

Tim Cook should **** and stay out of politics- period.
Run Apple or go into some other line of work.

 

[avanpelt]

Team,

I've heard from many of you today about the presidential election.

---------

Really? Why are "many" of the employees at Apple bothering the CEO about an election?! Those employees need to grow up and focus on their jobs. Talk to your family and friends about politics...not the CEO of one of the wealthiest companies on the planet!

 

[downpour]

I'm not American, but I'm surprised any of you guys want Chinese style labour to come to your country. Sure you could put prices up even further to improve working conditions, but then nobody would buy the products, so there would be no new jobs.

We are only a few years away from all manufacturing being completely automated anyway, so relying on it for jobs is not a forward thinking strategy.

What you need to do is improve your education system to ensure the next generation are highly intelligent, creative and flexible, (as all low-skilled work will be taken over by AI). Trump and his science denying republicans are sadly not going to help you in this regard.

Trump is a man of the 80's in every way, from his sexism, to his ridiculous boasts, and terrible hairstyle ...but as he will soon discover, things have changed quite a bit since then, and are about to change even more.

The more your county moves backwards, the more it's going to hurt when you are left behind by the rest of us.

 

[acslater017]

As an outsider (not a US citizen or resident) I find it either comical or worrying that he feels like there is a need to do that.

There was an election and a candidate has been selected. Some people are happy about it, other aren't (welcome to democracy, the first group needs to know it doesn't mean everyone things like them, and the second one needs to accept their ideology is not the winning one this time).

If people on both sides can't ignore politics in the workplace there is a serious lack of maturity and professional skills on their part. And if they are already ignoring it, what does a CEO need to send this kind of message to his employees?

You apparently haven't been paying attention the past year. It's not about "some people aren't happy" with the candidate who won. The winning candidate is genuinely frightening - and not in an abstract political way. More like, "This guy will enable a future where my rights, my equality, and my physical safety are threatened".

The winning candidate based his entire campaign on mainstreaming racism, xenophobia, and misogyny. He proposed banning Muslims. He proposed deporting American citizens he deemed "anchor babies". He's tried to use the power of the FCC to fine his critics and attacked judges based on their race. He has threatened to jail his political opponents and encouraged his followers to use violence. He has threatened torture and the killing of enemy's families. This is all not only unethical (with horrifying historic comparisons) but also against the Geneva Convention and unconstitutional - in violation of free speech, equal protection, and the separation of powers.

He's bragged about sexually assaulting women and constantly degrades them based on their weight and appearance. He praises the authoritarian leadership style of Vladimir Putin. The future VP believes in conversion "therapy" for gay people. And on top of all this they deny climate change and want to abolish the EPA when the earth needs protection the most. So no, it's not about simply being on the losing side and being unable to keep politics out of work. It's about the most powerful leader in Apple's home nation literally threatening every citizen that disagrees with him or isn't white, male, and straight.

 

[jasonklee]

Mr. Cook, I think you've done a great job as CEO despite all of the hyperbolic naysayers. But, um, you do realize that your super progressive lord and savior Obama has deported more undocumented immigrants than any other president in US history, right? But I guess that's okay, since, you know, he's a Democrat. Sorry you felt the need to whine about how someone with different opinions than yours won president. In the meanwhile, could you have Jony Ive and team focus on a better product lineup for next year? Thanks.