>These guys HAVE TO think of the system before the individual or the system will not work. "The system" being an illegal no-compete agreement, an unethical, im

>These guys HAVE TO think of the system before the individual or the system will not work. "The system" being an illegal no-compete agreement, an unethical, immoral boot on the face of Schmidt's own people. It's a system in the sense that it was a systematic process of betrayal. That's what he was protecting. That's what couldn't work if he put individuals ahead of "the system." This isn't just a betrayal of the employees of Google and Apple et al. This is a betrayal of the very free-market, capitalistic, "greed is good" Randroid principles these Master of the Universe types have touted and have in turn been celebrated for. Speaking for myself, I'm not surprised. I don't think that ultra-free-market stuff works. This is what happens again and again; once someone gets ahead in a free market, they turn around and try to cement their position by making the market less free. But I can see why so many others are so angry. These guys, Jobs and Schmidt and Brin, were heroes to a lot of people, especially here on HN. But it turns out they didn't actually believe in the principles we thought they embodied. It's one of those moments behind the adage "Never meet your heroes."