Bill Gates...

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insanely rich guy who end up giving most of his wealth away.

He's lucky, thats what.
 
MickZagger said:
You need to learn more about Bill Gates.
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So he's not going to give away most of his wealth?

I think you are confused by my "he's lucky". Not in the sense that he lucked into it, but shit...the guy is lucky. He's one of the wealthiest people on the planet, and has given away BILLIONS of dollars and is still a multi billionaire.
 
He is Libritarian and atheist. At least according to Penn Jilette.

Personally, I don't care much about someone's views who dosent speak publicly on the matter. I am more interested in deeds done, good or bad. And I think with Gates, his deeds have been overwhelmingly good. So I dig the dude, one of the good guys in my book.
 
ABM said:
Not so fast, my friend...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...have-no-use-for-money.-This-is-Gods-work.html
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I see nothing in that article to contradict my statement. He used the term "doing God's work" in reference to people being charitable, but that is a saying. The exact same words are often spoken by Adam Carolla who is vocal about being an Atheist. I have also used the term.

His wife is Roman Catholic, but it just says he doesn't usually talk about religion, something an Atheist married to a religious wife might do.


.“It’s not going to stop us succeeding,” says Gates. “It does force us to sit down with the Pakistan government to renew their commitments, see what they’re going to do in security and make changes to protect the women who are doing God’s work and getting out to these children and delivering the vaccine.”
Gates does not usually speak in religious terms, and has traditionally danced around the issue of God. His wife, a Roman Catholic, is less defensive on that topic but ploughs her own furrow, encouraging contraception when necessary, in contradiction to teaching from Rome.
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Then at the end of the article there is this
“It doesn’t relate to any particular religion; it’s about human dignity and equality,” he says. “The golden rule that all lives have equal value and we should treat people as we would like to be treated.”
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Once again, not demonstrating faith, but just a good guy wanting to do good things.



And by the way, I am not saying he IS atheist, just saying that Penn Jillette said he was an atheist.
 
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PapaG said:
If Penn Jilette says so...
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I often listen to Penn's Sunday School, which is his weekly podcast, sometimes interesting, sometimes not so much. But Penn is a devout atheist who has published two books on the topic including "God, No!" Which has been quite successful. He is also a Libertarian, which according to Penn, Gates is as well.
 
Denny Crane said:
So, is it about some new-found faith, all this giving?

“It doesn’t relate to any particular religion; it’s about human dignity and equality,” he says. “The golden rule that all lives have equal value and we should treat people as we would like to be treated.”
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Doesn't necessarily have to be.


1-5 (Jesus speaking) “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

6 “Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.

7-11 “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

12 “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get." ~Matthew 7: 1-12
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I quoted from the article.

it specifically says he's not found some new-found faith.
 
Denny Crane said:
I quoted from the article.

it specifically says he's not found some new-found faith.
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True enough. That said, the golden rule is scriptural. He just may not have known that.
 
I think he knows where the golden rule came from.

He's a really smart guy. So smart, in fact, he's a libertarian.
 
Denny Crane said:
I think he knows where the golden rule came from.

He's a really smart guy. So smart, in fact, he's a libertarian.
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Oh, that Bill....always giving credit where credit is due.

Brings up another scripture, in fact:

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." ~Luke 16:10
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Denny Crane said:
Where?

I don't see it.
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Indirectly, Denny. Indirectly. :)

All that being said, while seemingly "lucking" his way early on into his mass fortune opportunities, he's since worked very hard to grow them....and, apparently, is giving back in the same manner. Outstanding!
 
ABM said:
Indirectly, Denny. Indirectly. :)

All that being said, while seemingly "lucking" his way early on into his mass fortune opportunities, he's since worked very hard to grow them....and, seemingly, is giving back in the same manner. Outstanding!
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I think he realizes a fool would let the government have his money to spend upon his death.
 
Denny Crane said:
I think he realizes a fool would let the government have his money to spend upon his death.
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Although a different application, Warren Buffett apparently feels the same way:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_&_Melinda_Gates_Foundation


On June 25, 2006, Warren Buffett (then the world's richest person, estimated worth of US$62 billion as of April 16, 2008) pledged to give the foundation approximately 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares spread over multiple years through annual contributions, worth approximately US$1.5 billion for the year 2006.[13] Buffett set conditions so that these contributions do not simply increase the foundation's endowment, but effectively work as a matching contribution, doubling the Foundation's annual giving: "Buffett's gift came with three conditions for the Gates foundation: Bill or Melinda Gates must be alive and active in its administration; it must continue to qualify as a charity; and each year it must give away an amount equal to the previous year's Berkshire gift, plus another 5 percent of net assets. Buffett gave the foundation two years to abide by the third requirement."[14] The Gates Foundation received 5% (500,000) of the shares in July 2006 and will receive 5% of the remaining earmarked shares in the July of each following year (475,000 in 2007, 451,250 in 2008).
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Denny Crane said:
There's a whole cabal of $billionaires who've pledged to give away their fortunes to charity before they die rather than give it to the govt. in the form of death tax.
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I don't think avoiding estate tax is the main reason they're doing this...it's a whole lot more about doing some good with their money.
 
mobes23 said:
I don't think avoiding estate tax is the main reason they're doing this...it's a whole lot more about doing some good with their money.
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Well, if they thought government would do good with their money, they'd just let the estate tax kick in.
 
ABM said:
True enough. That said, the golden rule is scriptural. He just may not have known that.
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Something such as the golden rule isn't a virtue because it is in the bible. It is in the bible because it is a good thing.
 
Denny Crane said:
Well, if they thought government would do good with their money, they'd just let the estate tax kick in.
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He has stated that he doesn't believe his kids (or anyone i believe) should inherit so much wealth. He is leaving them each only (I use that term very loosely) 10M. I saw him donate 80-160M (80M +up to another 80M to match what the school raised) to his HS back when I was in college, so I think its more that he thinks his money is better served helping others than setting up his kids, grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids up for life.
 
porkchopexpress said:
He has stated that he doesn't believe his kids (or anyone i believe) should inherit so much wealth. He is leaving them each only (I use that term very loosely) 10M. I saw him donate 80-160M (80M +up to another 80M to match what the school raised) to his HS back when I was in college, so I think its more that he thinks his money is better served helping others than setting up his kids, grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids up for life.
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I guess I'm not being clear.

If he thought government was better suited to putting his money to good use, he'd make sure his money went to the government.

Apparently he feels he can do better spending his money on charitable causes better than the government can.

Make sense?
 
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