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The Softening of a Software Man
theodp writes to tell us that New York Magazine has an interesting editorial stating that no one is afraid of Microsoft anymore. The article argues that Microsoft has noticeably been adrift in the wake of Gates' philanthropy, which some cynics suspect is a Rockefeller-like attempt to 'fumigate his fortune' as he makes a play for the history books. From the article: "Like the robber barons, Bill Gates has moved from trying to take over the world to trying to save it."
Bill Gates specifically gives money to non-whites -- e.g. charities to sponsor non-white college students.
/ 101802g.htm
He also blows big chunks of money on diseases that mostly affect non-whites.
So he takes from white people with his monopolistic practices, and then gives the money to non-whites.
Many suspect this is just to "launder" his fortune -- by giving a teeny amount to sympathetic cases, he absolves himself of his guilt.
Other charitable people take a different approach:
Irving Moskowitz, a bingo magnate, uses his money to fund settlers in Israel: http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/101802
Many Jews consider him to be a great guy -- he's doing a wonderful mitzvah.
If Bill were to give the money to white people, would we think the same? Why not? E.g. what if he gave scholarships to poor white kids, so that they'll stand a better chance competing at the university against non-whites? Would we think it was a mitzvah?
http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_
If I robbed a bank of $10,000,000, then gave $9,000,000 to charities, am I suddenly warm and fuzzy?
Bill Gates earned his billions through illegal, immoral, anticompetitive, ruthless business tactics that have arguably set back the state of "innovation" (to use Microsoft's favorite term) in multiple fields by years, if not decades. His actions have created chilling effects across virtually every field connected even tangentially with computing. The fact that he is now giving much, most, or even all of his arguably ill-gotten money to charitable causes does not erase the source of those funds.
Given the chance to "do it all over again", I do not believe Gates would play by the rules on a second run-through. His core character hasn't changed. From the beginning, he was a megalomaniacal character, who seemed to honestly believe that he-- and only he-- knew what was best for computing. It's rumored that in the '70s, at a meeting of computer software makers, he prophecized that in the future, there would be only one computer software company. He's now doing his best to ensure that his is that company. From all that I've read of him, despite all his very real importance, he has an exaggerated sense of his own self-importance; he sees himself as a sort of king or messiah of the digital world, and he's willing to do anything and everything in his power (legal, illegal, moral, or immoral) to maintain his position as dictator of all things software.
The man isn't some sort of loveable Robin Hood who robs from the rich and gives to the poor. He's stunted the competition and innovation of the very technology industry he insists upon shepherding, and in the process he's broken laws-- both those of countries and those of basic morality. Giving away the money (much of which arguably isn't rightfully his in the first place) does not erase this.
With spending like this, exactly what are "conservatives" conserving?
He's given away close to $30billion.
I'm guessing that is slightly more than 2%
Even assuming it was 2%. How much did you give? Let's say you make $50k. Have you given $1k to charity each year for at least the past 5 years? My guess is no.
Praising something good he has done does not equate to forgiving everything else he has done in the past. Are you that stupid?
And let's not forget Africa -- A bunch of idiots there!!
besides, do i really want AIDS cured?
You bet you do! You don't know where Pat Robertson's cock has been.
Asshole.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
Thank you for further proving my point.
You're like a woman. Something done in the past is brought up anytime something good is done, and what good was done is drowned out by your stubborness to even give a drop of deserved praise.