Just a little word about commodity fetishism

There are no "good" companies. When confronted with that statement, fellow students invariably bring up one of two companies to attempt a rebuttal - Apple or Google, both using bright colors and simple logos, both positioning themselves as tools for hipper, smarter, more eco, and less evil people. That doesn't mean it's true.

For a better take on this tired old rant, see Gawker's inspired diatribe , "Apple Fetishists: Grow Up," which inspired me to post this before breakfast (ugh!). As for Google, you can probably google up their various offenses, just like you can't do in China.

Your favorite propagandists [Karl Rove included] love the sleek design and friendly usability of Apple products. Crypto-fascists—they're just like us! Which brings us to this plea: can we please, please end the tiresome trope of Apple having any sort of hip sensibility?

Apple itself is a gigantic technology manufacturing company. Which means they're killing the planet! Computers, computer chips, computer batteries, cell phones—all are made of poison. And all end up in landfills. Apple will recycle your old computer, btw, if you promise to buy a new one, from them. (Our boss doesn't care for this line of criticism against the technology industry, pointing out that they've reduced paper usage, but paper is made from wood pulp, not mercury.) But Al Gore's on the board! And they had some sort of corporate initiative with the word "green" in its name. Just like G.E.!

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We're just sick of people thinking that because some marketing firm lackey introduced his boss to Feist, or because Apple hired a designer who's heard of Bauhaus, that that makes them a more creative, liberal, or hip company than, say, Dell. At least Dell doesn't condescend to us.