Bill Gates...

[Sedatedfork]

Slightly off thread... just saw Penn and Teller last night at the Rio. Loved it.

 

[porkchopexpress]

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?

No, I get that. I just don't think it has anything to do with avoiding the estate tax. If every multi millionaire decided to donate 99% of their wealth when they died, then I'd be ok with that.

 

[magnifier661]

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.





Then at the end of the article there is this


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.

Well how many atheists do you know say "Doing God's work?"

 

[Denny Crane]

No, I get that. I just don't think it has anything to do with avoiding the estate tax. If every multi millionaire decided to donate 99% of their wealth when they died, then I'd be ok with that.

In some cases, the guys are spending a lot of their time managing their foundations. A duplication of govt. efforts to eradicate disease, for example (Gates Foundation).

I don't think they're avoiding the estate tax per se. They want as little going to the govt. as possible. The list of these $billionaires is on that WikiPedia page. Every one of them took the pledge - to keep their wealth away from govt.

 

[magnifier661]

In some cases, the guys are spending a lot of their time managing their foundations. A duplication of govt. efforts to eradicate disease, for example (Gates Foundation).

I don't think they're avoiding the estate tax per se. They want as little going to the govt. as possible. The list of these $billionaires is on that WikiPedia page. Every one of them took the pledge - to keep their wealth away from govt.

The Clinton Global Initiative is a pretty damn good foundation too. Our company has worked with a few ambassadors for Haiti, Peru and Northern Africa. They establish good farming practices to help combat hunger.

 

[Further]

Well how many atheists do you know say "Doing God's work?"

As I stated, I have heard Adam Carolla say it many times. I have used the term as well. You will often find the subgroup of atheists that don't believe, but understand and are fine with those who do believe , to use terms like this. Basically, it's a good phrase that doesn't have a good sounding atheist alternative. Like is somone sneezes, I will often say Bless you since the only alternative is German and I have more aingst with those Jew Killers (mostly joking).

Anyway, many atheists don't really care that everyone always knows they are atheist. In December, I often say Merry Christmass if I think the person will appreciate it. And being a Jewish atheist, wishing Merry C is far more than saying "doing gods work".

 

[magnifier661]

As I stated, I have heard Adam Carolla say it many times. I have used the term as well. You will often find the subgroup of atheists that don't believe, but understand and are fine with those who do believe , to use terms like this. Basically, it's a good phrase that doesn't have a good sounding atheist alternative. Like is somone sneezes, I will often say Bless you since the only alternative is German and I have more aingst with those Jew Killers (mostly joking).

Anyway, many atheists don't really care that everyone always knows they are atheist. In December, I often say Merry Christmass if I think the person will appreciate it. And being a Jewish atheist, wishing Merry C is far more than saying "doing gods work".

See I find this hard to believe. I mean if you said he was agnostic; then that statement holds true. But in terms of an atheist; you will be extremely outward and specific to not pronounce a God exists.

I see Gates as a spiritual man. Someone that believes there is more purpose than himself. He may not believe in what I believe; but he is definitely "spiritual" and believes in a higher power of some kind.

If he was an atheist; then I believe he would choose other words to describe the work.

 

[magnifier661]

It seems Gates is more of an agnostic. In this interview; he said this:

Bill Gates on Religion

Gates was interviewed November 1995 on PBS by David Frost. Below is the transcript with minor edits.

Frost: Do you believe in the Sermon on the Mount?
Gates: I don't. I'm not somebody who goes to church on a regular basis. The specific elements of Christianity are not something I'm a huge believer in. There's a lot of merit in the moral aspects of religion. I think it can have a very very positive impact.
Frost: I sometimes say to people, do you believe there is a god, or do you know there is a god? And, you'd say you don't know?
Gates: In terms of doing things I take a fairly scientific approach to why things happen and how they happen. I don't know if there's a god or not, but I think religious principles are quite valid.

And his political views are more libertarian too.

Here is a list of his political contributions.

This guy gates sounds a lot like Denny!

 

[Further]

I just don't agree. I think he is someone who wants to share the praise with those who are actually no the ground and doing the work. Those people, like most people in the world, are religious. By using that term you are patting them on the back and maki g sure they know they are appreciated.

But the truth is, we don't know. All I said was that Penn Jilette said Gates was an Atheist and a Libretarian. I am not a Libretarian, but that's did not matter, I was just repeating what someone else said. You may feel that he is like you, I may feel that he is like me. Neither of us know him. We have not read an answer from him regarding belief in god. With our current information, the correct answer is unknown.

 

[Further]

. Gates: In terms of doing things I take a fairly scientific approach to why things happen and how they happen. I don't know if there's a god or not, but I think religious principles are quite valid.

Once again, this goes back to your definition of atheist as being different than my definition. I would echo exactly what gates said, but I don't believe there is a god. If you use your definition to define something then confusion will arise.

 

[Further]

I don't know if there is a god or not.

I don't believe in god.

Those statements don't contradict eAchother, they are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Haakzilla]

...Bill Gates is of the devil (no joke)!

[video=youtube;bR-Q1b1hc3w]

 

[magnifier661]

Once again, this goes back to your definition of atheist as being different than my definition. I would echo exactly what gates said, but I don't believe there is a god. If you use your definition to define something then confusion will arise.

WHen someone claims that he doesn't know if there is a God or not; that makes him an agnostic. You can believe Atheism is defined some other way; but I will 100% disagree with that. On this board; I see only Maris as a true atheist and the rest being more agnostic than atheist.

 

[magnifier661]

...Bill Gates is of the devil (no joke)!

[video=youtube;bR-Q1b1hc3w]

He isn't saying bringing down the population by 10-15%. He is saying that the children's illness will drop by 10-15%.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

WHen someone claims that he doesn't know if there is a God or not; that makes him an agnostic. You can believe Atheism is defined some other way; but I will 100% disagree with that. On this board; I see only Maris as a true atheist and the rest being more agnostic than atheist.

If a person's answer to the question "Do you believe in God?" is "no", they are an atheist. That, by itself, has nothing to do with agnosticism.

If I had made my response "No, but I'm not sure", the first part shows I'm an atheist, the second shows I'm agnostic.

 

[magnifier661]

If a person's answer to the question "Do you believe in God?" is "no", they are an atheist. That, by itself, has nothing to do with agnosticism.

If I had made my response "No, but I'm not sure", the first part shows I'm an atheist, the second shows I'm agnostic.

Does 1 + 1 = 2 or are there other answers?

 

[Further]

Does 1 + 1 = 2 or are there other answers?

We have been over this many times. Only Denny seems to agree with you and also not believe in god. Every other person that posts here hand says they are an atheist explains they don't believe, but that does not mean they know god does not exist. You keep this bullshit definition up and it's quite rude. You do not only consider Jews to be Jews based on your definition of a Jew, you ask them and accept their definition. I, for example, am Jewish. I am also Atheist. Just like agnostic and atheist are not mutually exclusive, so are being Jewish and atheist. My mother is Jewish, so no matter what I believe, I will always be Jewish.

 

[mobes23]

Well, if they thought government would do good with their money, they'd just let the estate tax kick in.

That's a pretty big leap...with the foundation, they get to identify the areas they would like the money to be spent (global health, education, etc.) and hire the people they want to carry out their vision. Obviously, you'd have to ask them to know the truth, but I'd be pretty surprised if estate tax avoidance is the primary reason Gates and Buffett put their money into the foundation.

 

[Haakzilla]

He isn't saying bringing down the population by 10-15%. He is saying that the children's illness will drop by 10-15%.

...he is

[video=youtube;yaXhu6JGg7U]

 

[Denny Crane]

That's a pretty big leap...with the foundation, they get to identify the areas they would like the money to be spent (global health, education, etc.) and hire the people they want to carry out their vision. Obviously, you'd have to ask them to know the truth, but I'd be pretty surprised if estate tax avoidance is the primary reason Gates and Buffett put their money into the foundation.

If they thought government would do good with their money, they'd let the government have it, any way the government could take it.

They obviously feel they can do a better job of helping people than the government does.

 

[magnifier661]

We have been over this many times. Only Denny seems to agree with you and also not believe in god. Every other person that posts here hand says they are an atheist explains they don't believe, but that does not mean they know god does not exist. You keep this bullshit definition up and it's quite rude. You do not only consider Jews to be Jews based on your definition of a Jew, you ask them and accept their definition. I, for example, am Jewish. I am also Atheist. Just like agnostic and atheist are not mutually exclusive, so are being Jewish and atheist. My mother is Jewish, so no matter what I believe, I will always be Jewish.

That's pretty hypocritical. Being Jewish "believing in the God of Abraham" but atheist "lack of belief in God" doesn't make any sense at all.

Then again; I guess if you think being a Jew is just some ethic labeling; then so be it. That wouldn't be the difference between an atheist or agnostic. Unless you want to label a communist as one being born into atheism.

 

[magnifier661]

...he is

[video=youtube;yaXhu6JGg7U]

It's weird that he would say reduce children fatality by 50% and help reduce population by 15%. Doesn't seem like they would work together

 

[Further]

That's pretty hypocritical. Being Jewish "believing in the God of Abraham" but atheist "lack of belief in God" doesn't make any sense at all.

Then again; I guess if you think being a Jew is just some ethic labeling; then so be it. That wouldn't be the difference between an atheist or agnostic. Unless you want to label a communist as one being born into atheism.

Ask a rabbi, I have. You do not need to believe to be Jewish. You don't even need to believe to be considered a "good Jew", you simply need to follow mitzvots, meaning the 613 rules or laws. Judaism is built on action and not belief. In fact, the Talmud, often considered the second Torah, is a book designed to get readers to ask questions and try and solve tough issues through logic. Judaism is not a religion of faith, even though a good portion have faith.

The "believing" in god of Abraham is not the same for us as for you. A Jew should know, should think about, should consider the implications, but belief is neither here nor there.

 

[mobes23]

If they thought government would do good with their money, they'd let the government have it, any way the government could take it.

They obviously feel they can do a better job of helping people than the government does.

The bigger part of their estate would go to their heirs (isn't 40% the max death tax?), so maybe they think they'll do better with the money than their kids.

 

[blazerboy30]

We have been over this many times. Only Denny seems to agree with you and also not believe in god. Every other person that posts here hand says they are an atheist explains they don't believe, but that does not mean they know god does not exist. You keep this bullshit definition up and it's quite rude. You do not only consider Jews to be Jews based on your definition of a Jew, you ask them and accept their definition. I, for example, am Jewish. I am also Atheist. Just like agnostic and atheist are not mutually exclusive, so are being Jewish and atheist. My mother is Jewish, so no matter what I believe, I will always be Jewish.

Actually, merriam-webster and many other dictionary sources also agree. That's unfortunate that you think that is "rude". They probably think it is "rude" that you decided to try to redefine an already defined word.

 

[blazerboy30]

LOL at the original poster for needing to know if Bill Gates if R or D before he can decide if he should respect the man.

 

[Denny Crane]

The bigger part of their estate would go to their heirs (isn't 40% the max death tax?), so maybe they think they'll do better with the money than their kids.

If Bill Gates wrote in his Will that he wanted his money to go to the government, it would go to the government.

If he's in a hurry to see his money spent on "good stuff!" then he could just write the government a check today.

 

[mobes23]

If Bill Gates wrote in his Will that he wanted his money to go to the government, it would go to the government.

If he's in a hurry to see his money spent on "good stuff!" then he could just write the government a check today.

I totally get that you're against big government, but I think you're pushing the envelope on this one.

Edit: keep in mind that Bill Gates pushed for the state of Washington to implement income tax and has also pushed for the rich to get taxed at a higher rate.

 

[Denny Crane]

I totally get that you're against big government, but I think you're pushing the envelope on this one.

Edit: keep in mind that Bill Gates pushed for the state of Washington to implement income tax and has also pushed for the rich to get taxed at a higher rate.

Bill Gates' biggest salary was $1M/year and that was late in his career at Microsoft. I'm sure he really didn't mind having that $1M taxed at a higher rate.

I'm not the one spending my $billions in a competing way to the government. He is. He will make sure his $60B (or whatever he's amassed) won't be spent by the government. It is what it is.

 

[maxiep]

Democrat or Republican?

He's wealthy enough to be a Democrat.