Just last
month, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) created a proposal that would provide an iPad for every student across the
United States in an effort to guarantee all Americans the equal right to an
education. Now, Jackson is quickly turning against the iPad, saying it is
killing jobs.
In the
beginning of March, Jackson proposed the idea to amend the Constitution so that
every American has a chance to obtain an equal education, and under this
amendment, he suggested that the federal government provides an iPad, Kindle, or Nook for every child
in school in the U.S.
Jackson
even praised the iPad and devices like it on the House floor. He noted that the
iPad and other similar gadgets are "products
of the First Amendment," and that they maintain the rights of the First
Amendment.
"Let
me be clear about a few things," said Jackson. "These devices are
revolutionizing our country - and they will fundamentally alter how we will
educate our children. Yes, there will be a cost, but if we can find the money
for the wars, if we can find the money to bail out Wall Street, certainly we
can find the money to educate our kids at an equally high-quality level."
Now, only
one month later, Jackson is changing his tune entirely. On the House
floor this past Friday afternoon, Jackson threw the iPad under the bus and
opted for a more negative viewpoint on the device's influence.
"A
few short weeks ago, I came to the House floor after having purchased an iPad
and said that I happened to believe, Mr. Speaker, that at some point in time
this new device, which is now probably responsible for eliminating thousands of
American jobs," said Jackson. "Now Borders is closing stores because,
why do you need to go to Borders anymore? Why do you need to go to Barnes &
Noble? Buy an iPad and download your newspaper, download your book, download
your magazine."
Jackson
went on to express concern for publishers, libraries and paper companies that are
being affected by the iPad. According to Jackson, Chicago State University is
introducing iPads to freshmen in an effort to achieve a
"textbookless" campus in a four-year period, which will also hurt
publishing industries.
