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Gates Pledges $750M to Vaccinate Children
chriskzoo5 writes "The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is pledging $750M to vaccinate children worldwide over the next 10 years. Much maligned for his business practices, is this proof that sometimes the ends justify the means? Let's see if the Linux community can match his generosity."
Because if the child's not vaccinated, there's a good chance they'll be one of the 10 million who die every year before the age of 5 (source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews /TPStory/LAC/20050125/VACCINE25/TPInternational/Eu rope).
- Carnegie, Rockefeller, Mellon, and now Gates... The robber baron syndrome. It helps them psychologically deal with the things they've done to become super-wealthy.
Actually, these people became super-rich because they know how to give their money to useful causes. Check out books like "The Richest Man in Babylon" by George S. Clason or just about any book by Napoleon Hill (Deepak Chopra is another good one, but some people get turned off because he's not as "western" of a writer).You gotta give it to get it brother. And when Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gates, Morgan, etc. give they can give big.
There ain't nothing wrong with wealth! It's the rentless pursuing of wealth with no other purpose than to build riches that's wrong. Gate's wealth is a by product of his desire for a "computer on every desktop." The wealth is a result of filling a need (and a few predatory practices by the company he founded, I'll admit that). But look at every uber-wealthy person out there and most will fit Gate's M.O. - they were trying to fullfill a vision, the wealth just sorta tagged along.
Of course it is great that Bill set up the Gates Foundation to help some of the less fortunate in the world. This indicates that he has some heart. However, it does not necessarily indicate that he cares as much as some may think.
Consider this:
Bill's a smart guy and therefore knows that the US government is going to take half of his net worth when he dies. So if he is worth $50B at death, the government gets ~$25B. Realizing this, Bill decides that he'd rather give that money to someone else (ie: the less fortunate in the world). So he creates the Gates Foundation to start siphoning off large chunks of his personal fortune. Let's say, for example, that he ends up giving 80% of his net worth to charity. That's $40B given the assumption above, leaving $5B for the government and $5B for his family.
Under this scenario Bill's family gets a much smaller piece of the $50B pie, but he probably doesn't feel too guilty about leaving his family a paltry $5B, especially since he is dictating where his money goes, not the government.
Jesus christ, the guy gives 3/4 of a billion dollars to help children around the world get vaccinations, and all you can do is make accusations?
You, sir, are a true hater.
— darco