I actually applaud Poulson for leaving Google in protest of Google's Chinese business practices.
Having mentioned that, I think I have to part ways with him when he implies that the correct way to "fix" this is to have the government come in and make these sorts of business decisions for the company. I don't believe in the government obliging businesses to do things. Especially when it looks like this whole thing is Google specific. That's unfair to Google.
What about all the other American companies doing business in China? Do they get to keep doing business because they are politically popular companies but Google is not? Or would this be a government mandate of a broad based American pull out?
Or just forcing Google to let its employees have a say in how it's run? (But again, you gonna force every company? Or just Google?)
Etc etc etc.
Once government gets involved and starts playing favorites, everything gets messed up.
Having mentioned that, I think I have to part ways with him when he implies that the correct way to "fix" this is to have the government come in and make these sorts of business decisions for the company. I don't believe in the government obliging businesses to do things. Especially when it looks like this whole thing is Google specific. That's unfair to Google.
What about all the other American companies doing business in China? Do they get to keep doing business because they are politically popular companies but Google is not? Or would this be a government mandate of a broad based American pull out?
Or just forcing Google to let its employees have a say in how it's run? (But again, you gonna force every company? Or just Google?)
Etc etc etc.
Once government gets involved and starts playing favorites, everything gets messed up.