Balbazac

> If you didn't know it already, think tanks are a euphemism for propaganda machine.

Surely the proper response would be to pay less attention to think tanks / propaganda machines. Google's action here may even be morally neutral; while it is unfortunate that this fellow and his coworkers lost their jobs, (our part of) the world has been given a timely reminder of the true nature of think tanks.

May I suggest a thought experiment? Imagine you cannot use a smartphone for a period of 12 months; certainly, you would expend a not insignificant effort in finding a very capable flip-phone, or other mobile option, combined with perhaps two or three other devices (GPS, MP3 player) which would adequately replicate these smartphone features.

Now apply that mental effort to seeking a suitably differentiated mobile phone and I am sure you will find success.

> Economic eugenics in the service of higher GDP is no better.

I have no sense of a difference between economic eugenics and capitalism; I'm too ignorant of econ theory to tell if this is a feature or a bug.

Peter Singer would like to have a word with you.

Disclosure: I strongly disagree with his (Singer's) thoughts on this matter.

The idea that "[a]t its root, this is a design problem" is frankly laughable.