Destroying American Jobs (ie Kodak)

[Lamplighter]

If most of the story was false, how is it "too bad" that the episode is being retracted ?

I suspect many more people saw (or later heard about) the original episode
than will take notice of this retraction or any subsequent airings on TV.
The damage to Apple's reputation is done...

On the other hand, Apple did respond to the criticisms, first by publishing
it's entire list of suppliers, and then opening all of them to public inspection.

Even Bloomberg News has taken note:

Bloomberg
Adam Satariano and Peter Burrows
2/26/12

No Company Follows Apple’s Expanded China Factory Audits

Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s rivals aren’t rushing to emulate the iPhone
maker’s decision to subject supplier factories to audits by a labor group.
Instead, they’re sticking to internal checks that may leave room
for violations -- and negative public relations fallout.

Apple said on Feb. 14 the Fair Labor Association had started independent audits
amid criticism of conditions at its plants in China.

Companies including Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Dell Inc. (DELL),
Hewlett-Packard Co. and Samsung Electronics Co. rely on their own evaluations,
based in part on guidelines from the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition,
which they say are sufficient to prevent abuses.

Though Apple’s decision to join FLA may not root out all instances of labor abuse,
the EICC’s member companies may open themselves to even harsher criticism.
While the EICC sets standards for ethics, worker safety and labor practices,
it doesn’t require members to disclose findings and it lacks enforcement powers.
The result is a disjointed system of self- imposed regulations that fail to hold
companies accountable when abuses arise, according to labor advocates and technology executives.
<snip>

I feel a lot what is going on in these Mac vs PC episodes
are much like the old Ford vs Chevrolet squabbles in the past.
Most of the well-known companies probably have suppliers-in-common,
and are equally responsible for whatever problems exist.

As this episode is retracted, maybe the issues will be re-examined
for the entire industry, both inside and outside of China.