> Selling the solution to the problem you caused ought to be illegal.

Most tech solutions are built on the problems they created. This includes phones, cars, computers, every software upgrade, and almost every electronic gadget. You are forced to use them because the world around you is no longer compatible with the way of life that was before the introduction of these tech.

I probably agree with you but what on earth are phones and cars doing in this list? They solve obvious physical problems not caused by a company.

My interpretation would be that cars are necessary to live in places where urban design assumes that we'll use cars to get around. Many cities are designed this way.

Similarly, phones are required now for some activities, like online banking. First it was an option, then it became the norm.

Exactly.

General Motors contributed significantly to the decline of passenger rail in the USA.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_consp...