Brian4Liberty
05-07-2011, 11:47 AM
Billionaires gather in Arizona to discuss giving (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110507/ap_on_re_us/us_gates_buffett_pledge)
History repeats itself. Like the Monarchs and Oligarchs that originally created Socialism, the Billionaires of today having been talking about future plans for society. Vast disparity of wealth brings too much attention, and a common response is "charity" to offset the bad PR (not that true concern for others does not also play a part). But for a group of people who have managed to accumulate this much wealth, and are used to having the power associated with it, can they truly give that all away? Leveraging is common in the upper tiers of the business world, so why not apply that to philanthropy? And in the end, why really give away their wealth when "philanthropy" can be achieved by leveraging other people's money? Why not use a little of their seed money to promote, lobby and create a grand, ongoing "charity" that doesn't even need their money? All you really need is to find a way to get everyone to chip in. Of course involuntary "chip in" is called taxes. The cycle is complete, Socialism recreated.
What do dozens of American billionaires talk about when they get together? Their topic this week was of course money; not how to make it, but how to give it away.
...
Some common themes emerged from the event. The participants are looking to do more impactful, more effective philanthropy and to inspire average people to give money away, Jean Case said.
Sharing ideas about giving also took place informally. Melinda Gates said she talked to two people who were devoting money for work on state pension issues and criminal justice — problems Gates had previously not thought about.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110507/ap_on_re_us/us_gates_buffett_pledge
History repeats itself. Like the Monarchs and Oligarchs that originally created Socialism, the Billionaires of today having been talking about future plans for society. Vast disparity of wealth brings too much attention, and a common response is "charity" to offset the bad PR (not that true concern for others does not also play a part). But for a group of people who have managed to accumulate this much wealth, and are used to having the power associated with it, can they truly give that all away? Leveraging is common in the upper tiers of the business world, so why not apply that to philanthropy? And in the end, why really give away their wealth when "philanthropy" can be achieved by leveraging other people's money? Why not use a little of their seed money to promote, lobby and create a grand, ongoing "charity" that doesn't even need their money? All you really need is to find a way to get everyone to chip in. Of course involuntary "chip in" is called taxes. The cycle is complete, Socialism recreated.
What do dozens of American billionaires talk about when they get together? Their topic this week was of course money; not how to make it, but how to give it away.
...
Some common themes emerged from the event. The participants are looking to do more impactful, more effective philanthropy and to inspire average people to give money away, Jean Case said.
Sharing ideas about giving also took place informally. Melinda Gates said she talked to two people who were devoting money for work on state pension issues and criminal justice — problems Gates had previously not thought about.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110507/ap_on_re_us/us_gates_buffett_pledge