I think the problem here is that we believe they are not meeting minimal standard of compassion for fellow humans. Sweden probably couldn't argue that we overwork or don't pay them enough.
Speaking as a Chinese person, it's just a different work ethic. Many Asians I know in the US, work longer than 14 hours/6 days a week. Not because they are poor, just because they are hardworking. Would they be happier if they worked less? Possibly but this is just a different cultural mindset and they can work however long they want.
Ironically, US is one of the hardest working countries in the world and one of the most overworked.
And to my knowledge GM isn't housing employees 20 to a dorm room. And last I checked there weren't suicide nets on US factories. I haven't heard of mass suicide threats either.
Foxconn had 1.7 suicides per 100,000 workers.
United States had 11.3 suicides per 100,000 people.
The Bahamas (which has one of the lowest suicide rates anywhere in the world) is at 1.2 suicides per 100,000.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the US.
And btw, China is currently suppressing Tibetan people, culture and religion, and they are burning themselves alive because of it. Is that the kind of country you want to leave to its own devices?
China is not doing this, nor the Chinese people. It is the communist party of China, which has no relevance in this discussion. Btw, the US government is currently suppressing people in the Middle East, culture and religion, and they are burning themselves alive because of it.
I'm an American and love the country but you seem to suffer from ego-centric thinking. Can your perspective be any more narrow and close minded?
This isn't about expectations, its about basic human rights and dignity. And China has a poor track record in this area, no thanks to American practice of exploitation of other cultures.
Edit:
Here's another way of looking at it. From your point of view, if your neighbor beats his kids, and you know it, it's okay because its not your house or on your property. Is that clearer?
Here's another way of looking at it. You are too busy looking at your neighbor that you cannot see that the same thing is happening in your house.
High suicide rates? Overworked people who can afford increasingly less? A government that oppresses other cultures? Sounds like the US to me.
EDIT: Many cultures still believe in corporal punishment. I certainly don't but I also don't impose MY moral values on other people. A couple generations ago, most children were spanked, and our grandpas are not violent lunatics because of it.
