>I was amazed there was even a Resist@Google group within Google.

If I was google, I'd allow it. For a while. Then get rid of everybody in there. Good riddance.

The problem becomes that googlers stop thinking about anything but the current company priories, and you don't innovate anymore.

Weird as it is, I don't think there's a half-open position with the free-thought floodgate.

"Apolitical" means no speech or actions to change the status quo. That is fine if and only if the status quo is fine.

I just said the company should be open to external critique. Which the employees should be free to engage in their spare time...

Why only in their spare time?

Because you're paid by Google...to work at Google? And other employees shouldn't have to be fed your politics constantly just because they have to show up at work every day just like you do.

Let's take a step back. When I work somewhere, my job is much larger than 'deliver code'. It includes (and will show up on my Review) things like 'team building' and 'contributing to a non-hostile work environment'. It is everybody's job to make sure that their workplace is non-hostile. This is the cultural version of 'see something? Say something'. If you are in a workplace that makes that impossible, or retaliates against people who agitate for improvement, then that is a real problem.

TBH, the real problem here is people's different views on the Overton window. I suspect that is why you are getting such vigorous blowback on these topics; your window isn't aligned with at least some of the people on this thread.

Employees sign non-moonlighting agreements that makes the employer own all their work related ideas. It would be a violation of contract to withhold those ideas.