New law requires gadget companies to disclose 'conflict mineral' use
By Sean Hollister 
posted July 26th 2010 7:12AM
posted July 26th 2010 7:12AM
posted July 26th 2010 7:12AM
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Next time do not elect a socialist leaning president who bows to the liberal left!!
@nastro
And who was the opposition? McCain + Palin?
Lol.
@nastro A Republican, on Engadget? How on earth did this happen?
@nastro Really? It's the best thing happening to the US, especially after last the incredibly thick liberal right president....
@archkron
At this point a toilet seat is better than Obama. I think the "educated" not brainwashed few realized this guy is a liberal jackass...like most liberals!!
@RincewindWiz
A liberal flang boy on Engadget ;)
@nastro The beauty of democracy is that your opinion doesn't mean anything unless people agree with you.
@nastro It's cute how you guys toss around words like socialist/communist/fascist pretending like you know what they mean.
@nastro
Wait, did I miss the downside of trying to reduce dependence on / raise awareness of gadgets that are filling the pockets of murdering warlords? Wait, how is plastic any better? Isn't that made from oil? The substance that has been behind most of the conflicts of the 21st century? Although I'm all for most of Obama's plans, this one is looking like an awfully slippery slope.
@nastro
It's people like you who give Republicans a bad name.
@nastro Wow you are a idiot Obama may not be the best but we have gotten more then we have from the last Presidents since Roosevelt. It is not even the issue that we have no clue as Americans(most not all) what goes on in the rest of the world, it is are totally lack of memory we have short term memory about past problems and short term vision to fix future ones. This is why regretfully I don't see my country lasting another century just because of this lack of thinking.
@VJmes Wow you can spell!
@TheOne
Gotten more or lost more? Do you work? Have responsibilities? Or are you the typical American who "feels" but do not THINK. I gather from your response you are a filled with feelings and nothing else. America is doomed if we continue producing people like you!
@nastro I still find it funny that a left wing American is basically the same as a right wing British politician. Britain's still here by the way, socialist ideas like the NHS haven't, contrary to popular belief, caused us to explode...
@Wezzuz Marxist reform!!!!!!!!!
@Wezzuz We're clearly Stalinists. In the Soviet United Kingdom, NHS fixes you! Oh, wait...
@SolidSnake
i'm pretty sure ALL republicans give republicans a bad name. :/
@Wezzuz
yeah, most people here in the US don't have as much knowledge of the conservative party, labour party, and the lib dems across the pond. It's funny when I've listened to the policies of these political parties on BBC news, because my "liberal" leanings in the US closely align with the a lot of the conservative party's policies in the UK.
I think if the right wing "conservatives" in the US hear some of the Lib Dem Policies their heads might literally spontaneously combust.
@nastro : What's a "liberal flang boy"?
@ravissimo It's one of the most ignorant aspects of the American right-wing, honestly. They run around accusing the American left of being some sort of extremism, when on a global scale the American left is still VERY conservative. U.S. Republicans have no idea, whatsoever, what the political compass really looks like in the world, and it's no wonder that the majority of people who vote republican have never left the country.
@koehler83 We don't live in a Democracy. We live in a Representative Republic. Look it up.
@josah
See, the thing about that is that I vote in America, not in the rest of the world, so I'm not going to necessarily look to other countries to decide how I should vote.
Also, it says something about you when you label all people in a group in the same way, and that 'something' is not positive. I am conservative, but I have some (very) liberal friends, and yet we somehow get along just fine. You can vote your convictions without pretending that everyone who disagrees with you is a slobbering idiot.
@josah Bravo, bravo.
To make things worse, most of the people who criticize "Obama" make some pretty ignorant points...
...to the point I suspect the criticism is fueled mostly by racism - not conservatives really, but the ignorant few mingling among them (sadly for the right, that's the side they gravitate towards).
I hear arguments about other "Obama" things, like the economy, bailouts... seeming to blame Obama for the recession - which was it's lowest in 2008, after literally an eight-year decline into that recession.
Even if not racist, it's stunning to hear the ignorance, and shortsightedness, without consideration for the state of the union, the context of the decision... recognition for the fact that bailouts happened not because anyone wants to give money out, but by the fact that the economy had degraded to the point that a tow truck had to be called.
I don't really see how any criticism can be made for opposing the use of conflict materials - that's like saying "I'd rather people die for my electronics". It's worse than the aformentioned ignorance.
@Patriot And thank God for it.
If not, our policies would be the result of "groupthink". There would be no filter to prevent decisions made on prejudice rather than substance, and people voting in reactionary ways would band together, put catchy sing-alongs together, and attract ignorant people who are susceptible to marketing and peer pressure, and even have them saying "hey, that SOUNDS right..."
Turn those into voters, and you've got the most dangerous base for groupthink consensus in the world. The same people who litter because it's easier for them than finding a garbage can, and who don't regard the world beyond themselves and their personal experience in it.
I don't think even conservatives would argue that would be a "democracy" that would be worse than communism - not just for the rest of the world, but for people here as well.
I don't think anyone thinks that is how our government works.
Look it up - we still describe our current government as "a democracy".
@Wezzuz I just read this week that NHS going to be dismantled to save on "bureaucratic costs" and the money will be going directly to practicioners? Works out to giving 3.5L million to each doctor? The hell is going on over there?
@Wezzuz Oh yah, my Australian friend says the same thing. That America is opposite, Our liberals Left is actually the Right in other countries and vice versa.
@Abe That's a bit of a problem, then, isn't it? Since the only way you can really tell whether an idea will work or not is to look to others who have tried it. For all that conservatives in America throw around 'socialism', all they have is the rest of the world to use as an example to back that up.
If, when deciding what's best for your own country, you only allow yourself to look at your own country's history, then you'll never be willing or prepared to try something new, and you'll turn into an old dog right quick.
@PhantomPower I'ts more about the fact that, as Sean Hollister says, "The new US law won't stop that [the used of the conflict earths], and doesn't restrict any sort of trade." This is more about enabling companies to have new marketing schemes and less about caring where we get out earth materials to develop technology.
The guy in the photo needs to stop chewing his nails.
@RincewindWiz that black guy is DIGGING ROCKS with his HANDS to get minerals for corporations that makes computers for dumb@sses like YOU. Do u feel comfortable now?!
@Win7GT If you think my comment was supposed to be serious I think you might well be the dumbass here.
That's great. Now can we put these on the outside of jewellery stores so my girlfriend can get off my back?
@genesis
Nice, you win the internets today.
Hey MAC, what's in your pocket? Oh umm... just some conflict minerals.
@BlackRock Shooter You mean that finger conflicting with the antenna?
the electronics companies have nothing to do with girls getting raped and people getting killed.....
its the INCREDIBLY corrupt goverment and society/country that Congo has.
i was looking at some news the other day about Zimbwabwe and it showed that average wage of a person per year is 150$. but the president's house was basically made of gold, .... thats just how it is in those countries.
IF THE ELECTRONICS COMPANIES STOP BUYING FROM THESE COUNTRIES, IT WILL BE WORSE, . thousands of jobs will be lost...
there will be even more poverty.
@Nestea69
I hear you, but there is some merit to this. When people know, things sometimes change. I think this is about awareness.... more with a purpose of reducing the conflict, not the demand. A global spotlight on the govts in these areas could, eventually, lead to something positive. Take the events with Foxconn... it's probably too early to say that something "GOOD" has happened there but something is happening. Maybe the cap just gets tightened but better to try and fail then never try at all.
@RincewindWiz that black guy is DIGGING ROCKS with his HANDS to get minerals for corporations that makes computers for dumb@sses like YOU. Do u feel comfortable now?!
@RincewindWiz that guy is DIGGING ROCKS with his HANDS to get minerals for corporations that makes computers for dum*@sses like YOU. Do u feel comfortable now?!
The new law is just in time...I'm bored. Like fur coats sprayed with red paint, here's hoping that devices will be ripped from peoples ears and smashed as those that clearly don't care dare to walk down the street with their bloody toys....Stores that sell them burned...LOL!!
Should label 'em "Politically Correct".
@zeroinfinity2 x2. This law is stupid. I'm sure many will agree.
Washington needs to get their act together and write some more useful legislation (whatever that may be).
@The Shadow
Surely you realize this is just a tiny part of a big chunk of "useful legislation", right ?
@MarcO While I disagree with the healthcare reform, I see it as "useful" for liberals. This legislation, however, is not that useful. After every major economic downturn legislation has been passed... legislation which failed to stop another downturn. The law may be "useful" if it is to work, but I am skeptical that it will.
I suppose you could say that if it were not for the Congo, we wouldn't have the electronics that we do, "indirectly" speaking of course. This doesn't cut off their supply chain at all, nor is it effective against what is happening in the Congo. All this does is provide awarness to the consumer. But really, I don't think anyone gives a rats a**. It took this long for someone to pass a bill stating such use of conflict minerals in electronics, which we have been purchasing and using for decades. If we were to see something that said "made with parts from the Congo" Do you think we would second guess purchasing that product? Not really, seeing as how we all have them anyways. So, it's best that everyone throw out as much electronics as you can and see how you fair.
Yet another bullcrap law put in to screw small businesses in paperworks. This doesn't change anything.
I guess it's a good start. It won't make anyone buy differently though. I mean, most people couldn't give a sh*t if something isn't "Free Trade Certified." I don't see why this would be any different. But I hope the corporations find it in their hearts(*cough* think it is good PR to get more business) to be "conflict-free."
What a hideous law. The sooner the cess pool that is Washington DC burns to the ground, the better. Those leftist goons champion themselves as advocates for the poor, but what kind of poor (or even middle class) person could start their own business with the mounds of regulation these monsters are pouring down on us? None. Which is exactly how the parasites in DC want it. They have created a modern day slave class that has no practical hope of ever escaping poverty because the law makes it impossible for them to do so. Only the rich can afford to start businesses and make money in the USA anymore.
@FatDrunkAndStupid
I have to say, you picked the perfect name for yourself.
@Sakura3210 Ditto!