Another black eye for Apple

Remember when 1984 wasn't going to be like 1984?

The New York Times is relentless in reporting how the iEconomy enriches the few at the expense of the many.

In this case, it involves Apple workers in the U.S., not China, who suffer low comparative wages, workdays without breaks and dismissal for getting sick.

In essence, salesmen and women, called "specialists," at the sleek-white Apple stores earn about as much as real apple pickers in Washington State.

In a story titled "Apple's Retail Army, Long on Loyalty but Short on Pay," the Times notes that one worker at an Apple store in New Hampshire sold more than $750,000 worth of product in a three-month span. Yet, he makes $11.25 an hour and no commission.

Meanwhile, the long story notes, Apple CEO Tim Cook made the equivalent of $570 million last year.

Welcome to income disparity, American style.

Also, there is no reason for a decent salesperson to work for Apple when you barely make enough money to live on.

You would make more at Costco, a company that does quite well and pays its employees decently.

It is "cool," though, to use Apple products and even cooler to work at a place that only sells Apple products.

But, cool has its price, for the buyer and the lowly seller.