Bill Gates: not so bad?

[Qdrop]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13351335/


for all the issues many of us have with his companies rather predatory (near monopolistic) business practices...
it's kinda hard to demonize a guy who "has committed $10.5 billion in grants aimed at global health, education and poverty. Bill Gates and his wife Melinda French Gates are co-chairs of the nonprofit with his father, William H. Gates Sr.

The biggest chunk of money — $6 billion so far — has gone to Gates' top priority, health issues that disproportionately impact the poor. The foundation has given $1.1 billion for HIV/AIDS and $1.9 billion to immunization programs including malaria prevention."

i mean, evil people just don't do that....no matter what you want to say.

this goes far beyond giving to charity for PR reasons...
he's fuckin stepping down from his position to focus on this stuff.
he's literaly given nearly HALF of his personal fortune away (or to this foundation and it's charities).
if only other CEO's could do a fraction of this...with sincerity.

[Waus]

Seriously.

Makes you think too - if he hadn't run his company so ruthlessly, would other CEOs have given the same amount collectively that he's given personally?


I read a while ago about Gates' malaria treatment program. He oversaw it himself personally (so I read). Thing is, that really does give credence to the idea that he's a sincere humanitarian. Christopher Reeves gets a lot of credit, but his cause was also self-concerned. I don't think that Bill Gates was in any trouble of contracting malaria.

[Qdrop]

Christopher Reeves gets a lot of credit, but his cause was also self-concerned. I don't think that Bill Gates was in any trouble of contracting malaria.

great point.
very true.

[Miho Mingu]

I have to agree. You know, the guy gets all the heat in the world for his past schemes with his company, but he has majorly helped out our world more than (probably) any other CEO. (in America?)

[Ace42X]

Indeed, I am also very surprised. It is a bizarre form of super-socialism. He fleeces the consumer so he can give to the poor. Stealth-tax on our computer software.

Of course we don't know where else that money could've gone, nor how much he has spent of media management. For a cool mill you could bribe people in every major global news agency, and having done that, ensure they tell the world you have invested a googleplex dollars in every major charity in the world. Lot cheaper than actually donating, eh?

[TimDoolan]

Bill Gates is better than bad, he's good. He has made millions businesses and lives so much better and more efficient with his software and has provided millions of jobs for americans.

I think he should get the Nobel peace prize. Him, and that guy who invented those groove lines in the side of the road to wake up drivers who are getting sleepy.

[SobaViolence]

i think he can see a difference between the rich, greedy bastards who make up his competition and the poor & sick people of the third world...

[catatonic]

Bill Gates is the biggest hero in the world with capitalism. That's about all of his money by the way. The best part is, many wealthy people are expected to follow suit.

[catatonic]

Just a million bucks! That's incredibly cheap!

[yeahwho]

I think he wants to spend his vast fortune on a cure for dandruff and psoriasis

selfish bastard.

[yeahwho]

Our local Seattle newspaper has a quick interview with Bill Gates today, he avoids the dandruff and psoriasis trap, here is a glimpse into how the richest man on earth "ever" thinks, $$$$$$$$$$$ (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003068914_brier18.html)

[catatonic]

I can't know if this is a good thing or not,

but I heard from a wealthy man just this hour that Bill Gates is sort of trying the humanitarianism (economic) wikipedia idea I proposed to Qdrop here.

What I heard was he wants to use robotics and automation for health care and education. If many wealthy people become philanthropists in his footsteps, and include automation, this is the idea I've wanted for so many days now coming about (sort of).

The wealthy man emphasized "hope" in the world, warned me that if I do the Raelian sensual meditation I might even come too close to "God" by revelation and transgress, and agreed that globalisation is Satanic, emphasizing that whatever the system, there are men who would maximize the amount of the low class and minimize the amount of those in power. He also said we have no control over some conditioning, and I say that in respect to America, but can still grasp things we can control and work on improving them. He also emphasized the importance of choosing happiness.

[wrongwayandugg]

...Nobel peace prize... and that guy who invented those groove lines in the side of the road to wake up drivers who are getting sleepy.

Cheers.

[Miho Mingu]

Bill Gates owned (http://www.computerworld.com/blogs/node/2803) himself recently.

[catatonic]

Warren Buffet quintupled the contribution today.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazines/fortune/charity1.fortune/index.htm?cnn=yes

[chromium05]

Yeah...I just saw that Warren Buffet story on bbc http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5115920.stm

He's giving Bill Gates' foundation $ 37 BILLION !!!

Shit...Buffet's kids must be horrified