I personally have a different perspective. Yes, avoiding politics for technology is retreating from a set of hard problems into a set of easier problems - but IMO most of those hard problems are distractions and utterly irrelevant to anything. That's why I'm siding with the techy approach on this one - avoiding politics seems to be much more cost-effective way of making things work.

And sure, a lot of the problems won't be easily solved by direct application of technology. But then again, not all should be. Isn't that one of Maciej's points? There are non-techies too, let them have some fun changing the world too. Let's each focus on helping in things we're good at.

Now don't get me wrong - I don't think the current computer industry is doing much to help anyone with anything. In this I agree with Maciej. But I think he extrapolates the industry problems too far. The issue isn't really with technology or smarts-driven approach, it's with the industry poisoned by short-term thinking, getting more ROI on bullshitting everyone and doing pointless make-believe work than on producing something useful.