Steve Jobs and Individualism at Its Peak

I was an attentive and then a bored reader of the instantaneous biographies of Steve Jobs over the weekend.

I learned what his main inventions were. I also have an idea of the size of his wealth and the value of his company — not bigger than Exxon, though. (Or is it bigger than Exxon by now?) I read many superlative comparisons that I believe must have their reasons for existing. I am not competent to judge the matter, but I noticed that he made much better products than his competitors. As far as business strategies, he was never accused of underhanded practices.

But as far as what may be a reflection of modern times, I have learned nothing about any aspect that may seem very important. I don’t know who Steve Jobs the citizen was. I don’t know of his commitments, his values and causes.

He was contemporary of remarkable events, from the Vietnam War to the Wall Street collapse in 2008. He witnessed Ronald Reagan’s ascension to the White House and the creation of a new worldwide conservatism that dominated hearts and minds on both sides of the Atlantic. He witnessed the victories of the feminist movement and the entrance of the first black president to the White House. He also saw the end of the Cold War.

The United States today faces a profound economic crisis, with big companies going nowhere, millions of families with no income and no perspective. The IT industrial bubble, of which Jobs became the major proponent, worked as some kind of preparatory internship for the derivative crisis and the second-line mortgages.

The explosive growth of his company coincided with the period of impoverishment of the majority of the U.S. population and the frightening increase in the disparity between the wealthy and the poor.

We don’t know Steve Jobs’ opinion regarding any of these events. If he was upset with something, we don’t know. Also, there’s no record of his criticism of such events. And there is no record either that he engaged himself in favor of relevant causes. Recently, billionaire Warren Buffett said in public that the wealthy should contribute in saving the country from its crisis by paying higher taxes.

Busy with his health situation, which is understandable, Jobs could not find a way to get involved in such topics. However, this was an attitude which was demonstrated before his health problems.

It’s as if all throughout his life, he had done all he could in a permanent effort to maintain an enchantment surrounding his companies and new product releases, thus avoiding attitudes that could potentially soil or even crack the atmosphere of the technological dreams transmitted by his companies.

It is as if he had never stopped seeing humanity as 6 billion potential clients.

And without any judgement, a comment must be made. In times of global uncertainties, Steve Jobs depicted a portrait of individualism at its peak.