Warren Buffet, the second richest man in the world, announced he is giving the vast majority of his $44 Billion dollar fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I said in an earlier post that "Bill Gates legacy will be humanitarian philanthropy". Microsoft was the result of his first 30 years of work. In his remaining years, Gates is just 50, philanthropy will be his main mission.
Combining Gates and Buffet's fortunes will create the largest humanitarian philanthropic organization ever. No libraries, art museums, and concert halls for the rich, but real humanitarian aid for the poorest and neediest people in the world.
Gates takes a business like approach to solving human problems. He is serious about producing real results with minimal overhead costs. Compare this to the way the US government or United Nations, or Red Cross, approach problems. The bureaucracy and overhead is ridiculous. They talk forever and get nothing done.
Maybe Paul Allen, Steve Ballmer, and Larry Ellison will now join the cause.
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Mr. Dodge --
Your blog is most interesting and informative. I nevertheless must ask you to consider the huge benefits of museums, concert halls, and libraries to the general welfare of society. I share your strong support and admiration for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but we should also remember that it is the Carnegie grants, the Mellon grants, and other of that ilk that have helped us become an educated workforce. Schoolchildren and pensioners alike enjoy the variety of programs that many of those institutions provide - it is not merely a domain of the rich.
Humanitarian aid is vital and Mr. Buffet's contribution will help immeasurably. We should encourage all philanthropic endeavors.
Posted by: Claiborne Booker | June 26, 2006 at 10:03 AM
Don,
While I'm melancholy about the implications of Gates "retirement" from Microsoft relative to the information technology markets, I couldn't agree more with your (and many others) point that he has the opportunity to literally change the course of human events.
I don't think I'm being overly dramatic in this, and think the world is a better place for Gates (and Buffet's) decisions, even if the information technology landscape is worse for wear.
Jason
Posted by: Jason Wood | June 26, 2006 at 10:46 AM
It is naive of you to write the "way the US government or United Nations, or Red Cross, approach problems. The bureaucracy and overhead is ridiculous." The problems are often very complex. Bill Gates gross predatorial tactics will not succeed in humanitarian causes, as they did in the desktop computer industry. I hope we are all fortunate enough for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to have as impressive a legacy as United Nations and Red Cross.
Posted by: Lloyd D Budd | June 26, 2006 at 11:53 AM
Thank you for your comments. With regard to the Red Cross and United Nations, let me just put this in perspective. The Gates Foundation, with the addition of Buffet's money, will contribute more annually than the Red Cross, United Nations, and World Health Organization,combined. This is philanthropy on a scale never before seen. And, my guess is that the Gates Foundation will be more effective in terms of real human results. Certainly the world needs the help of all humanitarian organizations.
I agree that libraries and museums are important. I use them too. But, there are already lots of rich people giving money and art collections to these things. Gates has probably given money to libraries and museums too, in fact I know he has. But that is not the main focus of the foundation.
Gates has donated lots of money to schools and universities, but usually for scholarships, computers, software, and academic programs. Gates doesn't care about plastering his name on buildings.
It is all good. Gates just has his own unique way of doing it.
Don
Posted by: DonDodge | June 26, 2006 at 05:32 PM
Well, Gates' name is on the Stanford CS department's building.
Posted by: CPCcurmudgeon | June 26, 2006 at 05:48 PM
Don, I do not know what you mean be perspective? Where is the perspective of years of dedication and funding by the members of those organizations and their supporters? Is a dollar today as good as a dollar yesterday?
Why not let the awesome of the Foundation's philanthropy stand on its own? Why throw punches when you have demonstrated anything ridiculous than your own assertions without context?
Aside, I would even like to see the numbers you are basing your assertion "will contribute more annually than the Red Cross, United Nations, and World Health Organization, combined." What is the valuation you are giving to those organizations integration in numerous regions of the world?
If Microsoft had taken a different approach to licensing its products and collaborating within the industry, the world could already be a significantly better place -- that is fast. Could the one laptop per child have been realized years ago?
From everything I have seen Bill Gates has always been about generosity on his terms. I can only guess we owe a lot to Melinda for Bill's current "passion".
Sorry, but money really does not solve problems. Still I sincerely look forward to the positive impact of this Foundation.
It is not too late for Microsoft to demonstrate ubuntu in technology industries,
Lloyd
Posted by: Lloyd D Budd | June 27, 2006 at 12:41 AM
Dear Personnel.
Please get this email to Warren Buffet. Thank you!
Dear Mr Buffet,
When I read about the actions you are taking with donating much of your wealth for charity I knew in my heart that you were following the plan that was given to you before you were born. You are following the Holy Spirit within you.
I thank God for you because what you are doing is providing others with hope and chance for a better life.
You are definitely following a purpose driven life.
Peace,
Sunnie Nelson
Posted by: Sunnie Nelson | July 01, 2006 at 01:05 PM