Nope. It’s exactly right. All that social justice/eco stuff carries a price tag.
We are STILL looking for your any proof of your allegations. How about a breakdown of what percentage of the cost of an iPhone or an iMac is spent on what you claim is "social justice/eco stuff"?
Political donations are not made by Apple Inc., but are made by the employee controlled Apple Employees PAC. . . from donations by employees. By law, Apple Inc cannot put any money into it.
Only in the past two years has Apple started matching employee charitable donations. . . and that is ANY charitable donation to ANY 501(c)3 tax deductible charity, regardless of purpose chosen by the employee. The Apple Employee PAC does not qualify.
Prior to that, Apple simply did not donate cash to much of anything except business and standards organizations, preferring to donate hardware, software, and expertise.
In fact, in 2011, Apple was roundly criticized by Business Ethics experts for not donating much at all to anything worthwhile (even mischaracterizing what they thought a "good" worthwhile donation from the Apple Employees PAC to oppose California's Proposition 8 as being an Apple corporate donation, which would actually have been illegal if it had been made by Apple itself!).
A Google search question will return that if asked in 2003 if Apple made donations to charities resulted in a flat respone of "No." However, that was not quite true. Prior to Steve Jobs death, Apple donated computer equipment and software for specific areas:
Apple Computer does make corporate donations, mainly to educational programs, through the Worldwide Corporate Affairs and Worldwide Community Affairs departments. They also support programs in which Apple employees act as teachers and mentors in local schools.One major exception to cash donation prohibition is Apple's participation in "Product Red" products where the profits from the sales of these special "Red" colored iPods, iPhones, IMacs, etc., are donated to the charity.Electronic Network to Aid the Hungry and Homeless
"Apple Gives Grants To Nonprofit Groups
Under the Community Affairs program, Apple Corporate Grants awards computer systems to nonprofit social service and arts groups. Awards are made in five categories: the arts, the disabled, citizen action, research and development, and innovation challenge (innovative uses of computers in the nonprofit sector). Groups are working in such areas as housing, substance abuse, the needs of the elderly, and refugeeism. Guidelines require, among other things, that groups be classified as 501(c)3 by the IRS, have full-time paid staff, maintain regular office hours, and have annual budgets of less than $500,000.
The program emphasizes the awarding of computer systems to networks of groups that are working on similar problems. The intention is that networking via computer will enable groups to share resources and information, to collaborate on major projects, and to access centralized sources of information.
Community Affairs grantees are located throughout the United States. The Cupertino office can provide interested parties with information about groups in their geographic area or area of social service. Deadlines for submitting proposals are November 15 and April 15. For complete guidelines and application forms, contact Apple Corporate Grants, 20525 Mariani Avenue M/S 5-B, Cupertino, CA 95014."
Apple iLife Educators Award
"Apple wants to celebrate YOU and your commitment to education! Send them your innovative, curriculum-based iLife projects and lesson plans for a chance to win fantastic technology for both you and your school. In addition, winning projects will be published and highlighted on the Apple Education website for educators across the globe to replicate."
After resuming control of Apple in 1997, Jobs initially eliminated all corporate philanthropy programs. Jobs's friends told The New York Times that he felt that expanding Apple would have done more good than giving money to charity Later, under Jobs, Apple signed to participate in the Product Red program, producing red versions of devices to give profits from sales to charity. Apple has gone on to become the largest contributor to the charity since its initial involvement with it. The chief of the Product Red project, singer Bono, cited Jobs saying there was "nothing better than the chance to save lives", when he initially approached Apple with the invitation to participate in the program. Through its sales, Apple has been the largest contributor to Product Red's gift to the Global Fund, which fights AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, according to Bono. — Wikipedia: Steve Jobs
Apple has raised over $75 million to fight these diseases.
As I told you earlier, unlike all other major tech companies, Apple did not even maintain a lobbying office in Washington. How could they be so powerful in affecting legislation without one? Simple answer. You're wrong.
And, no, they did not donate software, services, or equipment to the DNC or any candidate.
These are historical, checkable facts, Norm. Against which you post rumor, inuendo, and FUD. . . backed by what? Nothing except more rumor, inuendo, and FUD written by people in an echo chamber writing to others who want to believe what they want to believe. The ultimate in confirmay bias.