Immediately after completing his flight into space, Jeff Bezos thanked Amazon employees and customers. But Bezos ’words actually invited criticism from many quarters.
In a press conference following the first Human Origin Blue Origin mission, Bezos thanked Amazon employees and customers for making him as rich as he is now and realizing his dream of flying into space.
“I would also like to thank all Amazon employees and all Amazon customers for paying for all of this,” Bezos said, as quoted by the New York Times on Wednesday (21/7/2021).
this is somehow the actual quote
Jeff Bezos: "I want to thank every Amazon employee, and every Amazon customer, because you all have paid for all of this ... thank you from the bottom of my heart." Pic.twitter.com/5JREV6Uha7
- Matthew Champion (@matthewchampion) July 20, 2021
Thanks like this were immediately criticized by netizens and politicians on social media. A large number mentioned how Amazon treated its employees, such as paying low wages, taking less time off work, forcing couriers to urinate in bottles in order to deliver orders faster.
Like the criticism expressed by U.S. Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter. Ocasio-Cortez says Amazon workers paid for Bezos's trip into space thanks to the injustices they received.
“Yes, Amazon employees pay for this, with lower wages, employee breaks, overcrowded and inhumane workplaces, and uninsured couriers during an outbreak,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
"And Amazon customers are paying for it with Amazon abusing its power to hurt small businesses."
Others criticized how Bezos and Amazon did not pay taxes. Especially with Bezos ’status as the richest man in the world, with a fortune of USD 204.6 billion according to Forbes data.
“Space travel is not a tax -free vacation for the rich,” said U.S. Democratic Congressman Earl Blumenauer.
"We pay taxes on plane tickets. Millionaires who fly into space - which produce no scientific value - have to do the same, and more," he continued.
While Bezos and Amazon continue to be showered with criticism from members of the U.S. Congress, the response from the White House is a little warmer. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the flight was an incredible moment.
Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin’s flight into space has long been criticized. Many argue that Bezos as the richest man in the world should help solve problems on Earth first, then manage space tourism.
Bezos argues that the argument is true, but developing technology for the future is just as important. "They're mostly right. We have to do both," Bezos said, as quoted by the New York Post on Wednesday (21/7/2021).
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