These are valid points and I don't think this comment merits being down-voted, especially without any replies. Outright calling Apple a parasite might not be particularly tactful, but it's hardly deniable. In fact, even if some of these statements were doubtful or deniable, this comment shouldn't be down-voted. We don't down-vote based on whether or not we like a comment, but on whether or not a comment contributes to a discussion.

To be honest, the person you're responding to either doesn't actually know much about Apple or is being disingenuous. Essentially everything they said about Apple is wrong:

Apple pays taxes. Labor is cheaper in places other than China, but nowhere else has the ecosystem to support integration and assembly of consumer electronics. Apple is one of the few companies that is taking steps to ensure that their entire supply chain treats their workers well. And Apple has been an innovator when it comes to implementing environmentally friendly manufacturing practices and product packaging materials. Oh yeah, and they are making serious efforts to build enough renewable energy to offset their energy needs.

I'll (of course) agree that they benefit wealthy shareholders more than other people, but it seems a stretch to say that they only benefit the wealthy. They employ lots of people. They make phones/etc that people like. They match employees charitable contributions. Blah blah blah.

Let's thank god Apple is an american company paying a shitload of tax to america so they can support all the handouts you want the american gov't to pay for.

Companies like them are the reason we can borrow $20T at super low interest rates to continue the spend spend spend of the last 30 years while true parasites continue to scream "what can my country do for me" instead of "what can I do for my country".

How is that Apple's problem? They don't write the tax laws, and there were numerous squandered political opportunities to extract real concessions from them, most recently during the December tax giveaway.