19 April,2011 06:43 AM IST | | Agencies
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr addressed the US's current unemployment crisis on Friday 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.
The Republican 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." Interestingly, Jackson Jr had only last month promoted the Apple iPad and Amazon in the House.
