Its pityful to see that the great Western nations have shackled their people. One of the reason that the US mobile phone market ( and the telecom market in general ) sucks is because of the anti-competitive nature of businesses.
And you ask why people are out of work? All companies mandate that people either pay unrealistically high costs for the freedom of choice or they offer pretty cheap plans if people are coerced into signing a contract. And if you try to get out of, you end up paying through your... ( you know ;) )
Look at India. The market has shown extremely good competition. The regulator makes it a point to stand with the consumers rather than join the telecom cartel. The market has shown phenomenal growth. People have true choice - of the operator, the cell phone they wish to own etc..
So in short, maybe its time that westerners look at the east as a role model. FCC has to sit up and take notice. Look at your country! You have hardly 2 telecom players. The market is consolidated. There is no competition. Your companies ( AT&T, Verizon ) are all money grabbing thugs who use unfair contracts and unfair, coercive means to keep consumers with them.
This article just goes to show that Apple would rather ask people to pay $600 / $800 for a substandard ( YES SUBSTANDARD ) piece of equipment ( You got Multi-touch but you dont have copy-paste?? COME ON!! ) with all sorts of locks in place? I'd not buy it even if someone paid me to use it! haha...
Americans have little or no choice when it comes to buying unlocked phones or . The US government has no right to talk about "freedom" or "democracy". Geez when will the American public realize this? /me laughs away with my amazing UNLOCKED Nokia phone :)
Oh BTW and you ask WHY the US economy is in recession? AT&T, Comcast, RIAA, MPAA and unregulated capitalism... Blame 'em all!! Oh yes and the people are to blame the most, to allow such idiots to jeopardise their livelihoods.