Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

[fromderinside]

Where I live the Catholic schools do a better job. The average cost to educate a student in a Catholic school is between $6,000-$8,000. The cost to educate a student in the public school is between $10,000-$14,000.

So it's more expensive at a Catholic school.

Figure half the public school budget is special ed, something the Catholic school doesn't have to pay for.

...not to mention Catholic schools select from motivated families who are interested in educating their children while public schools have the responsibility to provide every child with an education no matter income or whatever. Actually special ed in only about 25% in progressive sates like Oregon while the income and motivation costs are almost 40% for those who come from homes (more than half) where parents give a rats ass about education in the face of other priorities.

 

[arkirk]

Let's take a look at the criticisms of the foundation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_&_Melinda_Gates_Foundation#Criticism

Wow, that's a lot of criticism.
I am starting to think government would be better than Bill Gates.

Bill and Melinda's corporate investments include many of the really bad actors on the environmental and labor fronts. While they make a lot of noise, it appears they are actually just dabblers when it comes to concrete contributions that they could make. The Wikipedia breakdown on their investments give a little insight into their philosophy of "philanthropy."

I am certain these people do not think of themselves as evil and may in fact make some efforts to be genuinely humanitarian, but they are not going be a significant factor in ameliorating the many environmental and economic problems associated with their business operations. The link really gave a clear picture of how those huge numbers actually is quite diluted by the foundation itself.

 

[NobleSavage]

Wow, that's a lot of criticism.
I am starting to think government would be better than Bill Gates.

Bill and Melinda's corporate investments include many of the really bad actors on the environmental and labor fronts. While they make a lot of noise, it appears they are actually just dabblers when it comes to concrete contributions that they could make. The Wikipedia breakdown on their investments give a little insight into their philosophy of "philanthropy."

I am certain these people do not think of themselves as evil and may in fact make some efforts to be genuinely humanitarian, but they are not going be a significant factor in ameliorating the many environmental and economic problems associated with their business operations. The link really gave a clear picture of how those huge numbers actually is quite diluted by the foundation itself.

From Wiki "The foundation trust invests undistributed assets, with the exclusive goal of maximizing the return on investment. As a result, its investments include companies that have been criticized for worsening poverty in the same developing countries where the Foundation is attempting to relieve poverty."

Do YOU have any investments in anything? Chances are if you look hard enough you will find conflicts of interest. Are you typing on a computer? Any electronics made in China? You are just as guilty. Any Apple equipment? http://www.alternet.org/corporate-a...-sordid-business-practices-are-even-worse-you Do you buy all of your food "Fair Trade"?

 

[Sabine Grant]

I guess I will be the exception in this thread as I am in fact grateful that,

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Medi...ion-Commits-2583-Million-for-Malaria-Research


in view of,

http://www.malariavaccine.org/pr2013Dec6-RD-report.php

Now of course I have a profound attachment to the African continent, specifically. Therefor whichever failures and manipulations are attributed to the Foundation, I remain fully aware of how much the Foundation has been and consistently a major actor in the fight against malaria.

 

[thebeave]

I guess I will be the exception in this thread as I am in fact grateful that,

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Medi...ion-Commits-2583-Million-for-Malaria-Research


in view of,

http://www.malariavaccine.org/pr2013Dec6-RD-report.php

Now of course I have a profound attachment to the African continent, specifically. Therefor whichever failures and manipulations are attributed to the Foundation, I remain fully aware of how much the Foundation has been and consistently a major actor in the fight against malaria.

Agree 100%. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to pipe in and actually say something positive about the foundation. People on this forum can be so blinded by their ideology and disdain for "the other side" (in this case, rich, white privileged "one percenters") that can't find it in them to say "hey..this guy is doing some good things for the world!". Very sad, actually, that this is the way it is.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

So it's more expensive at a Catholic school.

Figure half the public school budget is special ed, something the Catholic school doesn't have to pay for.

...not to mention Catholic schools select from motivated families who are interested in educating their children while public schools have the responsibility to provide every child with an education no matter income or whatever. Actually special ed in only about 25% in progressive sates like Oregon while the income and motivation costs are almost 40% for those who come from homes (more than half) where parents give a rats ass about education in the face of other priorities.

I had a teacher here tell me it was 50% of the budget once you counted everything.

 

[NobleSavage]

...not to mention Catholic schools select from motivated families who are interested in educating their children while public schools have the responsibility to provide every child with an education no matter income or whatever. Actually special ed in only about 25% in progressive sates like Oregon while the income and motivation costs are almost 40% for those who come from homes (more than half) where parents give a rats ass about education in the face of other priorities.

I had a teacher here tell me it was 50% of the budget once you counted everything.

I've been looking at a few budgets to try and figure it out. I wonder if the original figure for the cost of public education actually takes into account special ed or if it's a special line item. It's difficult to figure out as there is Federal, State, and local spending. Also many public schools ship their special needs kids to private institutions and then bill the state.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I had a teacher here tell me it was 50% of the budget once you counted everything.

I've been looking at a few budgets to try and figure it out. I wonder if the original figure for the cost of public education actually takes into account special ed or if it's a special line item. It's difficult to figure out as there is Federal, State, and local spending. Also many public schools ship their special needs kids to private institutions and then bill the state.

Yeah, it's hard to figure out. I figured an insider would probably have a better picture.

 

[barbos]

I guess I will be the exception in this thread as I am in fact grateful that,

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Medi...ion-Commits-2583-Million-for-Malaria-Research


in view of,

http://www.malariavaccine.org/pr2013Dec6-RD-report.php

Now of course I have a profound attachment to the African continent, specifically. Therefor whichever failures and manipulations are attributed to the Foundation, I remain fully aware of how much the Foundation has been and consistently a major actor in the fight against malaria.

Agree 100%. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to pipe in and actually say something positive about the foundation. People on this forum can be so blinded by their ideology and disdain for "the other side" (in this case, rich, white privileged "one percenters") that can't find it in them to say "hey..this guy is doing some good things for the world!". Very sad, actually, that this is the way it is.

My disdain does not come from ideology, it comes from Bill Gates being somewhat responsible for that utter piece of crap called PowerPoint

 

[untermensche]

The problem with simply raising taxes on the wealthy is that the government will just buy more weapons or cause more problems in the world with that money.

The government won't use the money to do something like fund a national healthcare system that would improve the lives of millions.

It will use it to enrich the lives of corporations.

Taking a small percentage from the super wealthy could do incredible good, but it would take a government wanting to do good to do it.

 

[Togo]

The problem with simply raising taxes on the wealthy is that the government will just buy more weapons or cause more problems in the world with that money.

The government won't use the money to do something like fund a national healthcare system that would improve the lives of millions.

It will use it to enrich the lives of corporations.

Taking a small percentage from the super wealthy could do incredible good, but it would take a government wanting to do good to do it.

A few edits and.... voila!

The problem with simply rely on charitable giving by the wealthy is that the wealthy will just fund political groups or cause more problems in the world with that money.

The wealthy won't use the money to do something like fund an education system or a national healthcare system that would improve the lives of millions.

They will use it to enrich the lives of corporations.

Reducing tax by a small percentage from the super wealthy could do incredible good, but it would take the wealthy wanting to do good to do it.

 

[NobleSavage]

My disdain does not come from ideology, it comes from Bill Gates being somewhat responsible for that utter piece of crap called PowerPoint

Try EverNote on Mac. It's good.

 

[thebeave]

Agree 100%. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to pipe in and actually say something positive about the foundation. People on this forum can be so blinded by their ideology and disdain for "the other side" (in this case, rich, white privileged "one percenters") that can't find it in them to say "hey..this guy is doing some good things for the world!". Very sad, actually, that this is the way it is.

My disdain does not come from ideology, it comes from Bill Gates being somewhat responsible for that utter piece of crap called PowerPoint

So his charitable giving saves the lives of millions of poor around the world, but you focus on a crappy software product?

Reminds me of the old joke where a man walks by a frozen pond and sees that a little girl fell through the ice. He risks his own life to pull her out. Soon a crowd gathers, and then the girl's mom comes running up to check out the commotion and then comfort her child. Then she approaches the shivering, wet man and says, "Are you the one who pulled my little girl out of the pond?". To which he replies, proudly, "Yes, that's me". The mom responds, "Well, what did you do with her other mitten?"

 

[braces_for_impact]

Actually weren't several of these Billionaires (Gates, Buffet, etc.) on track to give away by far the bulk of their wealth?

 

[ksen]

This need not be a false dichotomy. Assume Gates lost $36 Billion in taxes and never set up the Foundation.

I'll play . . . if Gates never set up his foundation then he wouldn't be in a position now to be the biggest influence on privatizing education and pushing policies like Common Core. He also wouldn't be in a position to use the muscle of his foundation to push business to his other profit making activities.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/12/bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation

http://newint.org/features/2012/04/01/bill-gates-charitable-giving-ethics/

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2012/07/the_gates_foundations_leverage.html

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

The Gates Foundation is a good example of pathological altruism.

Therefore the world would probably be better off if enough of Gates' money had been taxed away so he didn't start this foundation.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has financed some good work. It has also financed some shady shenanigans.

The wealthy need not our fawning or admiration because they give money to this cause or that. Thank them yes, but be not blinded by shiny gifts.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

The problem with simply raising taxes on the wealthy is that the government will just buy more weapons or cause more problems in the world with that money.

The government won't use the money to do something like fund a national healthcare system that would improve the lives of millions.

It will use it to enrich the lives of corporations.

Taking a small percentage from the super wealthy could do incredible good, but it would take a government wanting to do good to do it.

It would take an understanding of math to realize that taking a small percentage from the super wealthy will have very little benefit. There isn't the huge pool of money to take you think there is.

 

[Nexus]

It would take an understanding of math to realize that taking a small percentage from the super wealthy will have very little benefit. There isn't the huge pool of money to take you think there is.

Well then we could take a large percentage from the super wealthy rather than a small one. Whether or not there is a huge "pool of money" the wealthy undeniably own/control most of the wealth ie in the US the top 5% own around 60%.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

It would take an understanding of math to realize that taking a small percentage from the super wealthy will have very little benefit. There isn't the huge pool of money to take you think there is.

Well then we could take a large percentage from the super wealthy rather than a small one. Whether or not there is a huge "pool of money" the wealthy undeniably own/control most of the wealth ie in the US the top 5% own around 60%.

I think that Loren meant that there is not a huge pool of money like Scrooge McDuck is reported to dive into everyday.

 

[ksen]

How do these people afford huge houses, airplanes, yachts, sports cars and politicians if there's no pool of money?