I'm sure these Chinese workers would be much happier if the likes of Joe Farah succeeded and the Ipod factory was closed down.
That way, instead of having housing and food, plus fifty dollars a month, they could live in a storm drain and scour the dumps for food.
I agree. And the truth is the average Chinese has more economic standing than they ever had before. I don't believe Chinese "capitalism" and political totalitarianism can cohabit very long.
As far as low cost labor, much the same thing could have been said about Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea fifty years ago. That's changed. As the workers got more economic standing they were able to demanded more. Eventually they brought themselves up to parity with the west. That was a very good thing.
The bottom line is you have to start somewhere. In the case of the Chinese it is the bottom.