If you could change the world---

Sk8r · #1 06/26/2006, 10:20 AM

Two newsworthy items....one: Bill Gates is stepping down from Microsoft to devote time to his charities, mostly involved with breaking the cycle of disease in the developing world---things like aids and various fevers and parasitic diseases that hammer down the populations into cycles of poverty.
He's now joined by Warren Buffet (27 billion dollars) who proclaims that he intends to leave enough for his children "to do anything, but not enough to do nothing"---in fact, his children are getting their schooling in management and compassion while managing several educational charities set up by the Buffetts. He's turning the bulk of his fortune over to the Gateses' foundation. The total is larger than Unicef---and will be run by people who are used to getting results.
They're challenging other wealthy folk to join them.
Of all the things I've heard of people doing with their fortunes, this has got to be one of the best.
If you were that rich, what would you do for the world?

keckles · #2 06/26/2006, 10:30 AM

I would plant fields for crops and livestock across the world. The work needed to work the fields would be provided by the natives and run by the natives (with oversight) to provide them with a job and money. The produce would provide food for the natives. The waste from the field would be used to produce ethanol for the equipment, machinery, and vehicles.

I have this thing about food. If I see that someone is deprived of food, it makes me mad.

oz · #3 06/26/2006, 10:31 AM

I'd give them all away too. But unlike Buffet, I would want to be more involve in the decisions making of the philanthropy causes.

44 Billion dollars, that's a lot of money.

oz · #4 06/26/2006, 10:38 AM

So many people live on less than a dollar a day, its sad. The other day, I saw on PBS documentary about micro-credit. I think they should do more of that. Don't give it away, lend it. Teach them to fish instead of fishing for them.

Minuteman · #5 06/26/2006, 10:58 AM

OK, I did just change it. 5 minutes ago, Microsoft was founded by Brian D. I just made up Bill Gates and put him in charge.

DHyslop · #6 06/26/2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oz
I'd give them all away too. But unlike Buffet, I would want to be more involve in the decisions making of the philanthropy causes.

44 Billion dollars, that's a lot of money.

One of the stipulations of his gift is that at least one of the Gates will always be running the charity. I think that means he likes the way they've done the job so far and doesn't think it would be helpful to stick his head in. I believe Buffet also likes to keep himself real busy, so maybe he just doesn't have time.

The smartest guys are the ones who know what they don't know. Maybe he doesn't want to presume to think he knows more about how money should be spent in a particular place than the foundation's experts: no one likes not being able to do their job the right way because someone up top has a pet idea.

And he is getting old. Maybe he had one of those "you can't take it with you" moments.

Dan

batguano · #7 06/26/2006, 04:45 PM

I would buy ReefCentral.com and then make Nina a moderator, but I would make librty9 and pnosko staff members so that she could have no effect on them whatsoever. Then I would sit back and watch the fun. Hey, wait a minute...

witfull · #8 06/26/2006, 04:47 PM

if i could change the world,,,hmm,,,,,

its be nice for awhile, but someone would screw it up royaly and we would have a whole new bunch of problems.

sometimes i think the the biggest problem with humanity is the human race.

purduefan · #9 06/26/2006, 08:18 PM

If I could do anything -- All this silliness about the color of a person's skin, what religion they hold, what tribe they belong to, what their gender is, what language they speak, what their gender preference is.... all that silliness would just go away.
Let's each value each other based on what we do for each other and recognize that real strength is in our sameness.

Minuteman · #10 06/26/2006, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by batguano
I would buy ReefCentral.com and then make Nina a moderator, but I would make librty9 and pnosko staff members so that she could have no effect on them whatsoever. Then I would sit back and watch the fun. Hey, wait a minute...

Trust me, Nina (and the mods) has no effect on either of us anyway...

Josh125 · #11 06/26/2006, 09:10 PM

Specifically, stem cell and cancer research.

coralcat · #12 06/26/2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by purduefan
If I could do anything -- All this silliness about the color of a person's skin, what religion they hold, what tribe they belong to, what their gender is, what language they speak, what their gender preference is.... all that silliness would just go away.
Let's each value each other based on what we do for each other and recognize that real strength is in our sameness.

WELL SAID..........I would eliminate greed......Then everthing else would follow...

Scuba_Dave · #13 06/26/2006, 09:26 PM

I would put some towards solar & wind power
Installation & research

purduefan · #14 06/26/2006, 09:27 PM

The beauty of the human race is in our differences, our strength in our sameness. We all have gifts and limits....................

TheBimbo · #15 06/26/2006, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scuba_Dave
I would put some towards solar & wind power
Installation & research

But would you ever get your house done???

I'd probably drop dead right on the spot if I came into that kind of money!!!

Christy...

predatorpassion · #16 06/27/2006, 01:11 AM

well I would make everybody equal, race, color, sex, and status. Nobody would be better, or worse. But I think the world needs to stop and think about what they are doing. They are destroying their home. Habitat destruction. Pollution. Eventually we are going to destroy the world. Well a lot of animals have become extinct due to us. and look at it this way if their are more humans then trees then we would be depleted of oxygen. But I would stop habitat destruction and pollution set up several wildlife preserves, and make everyone equal.

jpfelix · #17 06/27/2006, 01:15 AM

i'd buy as much land (worldwide) as i could. especially large parcels. to try to preserve some of the dwindling species.

Minuteman · #18 06/27/2006, 06:34 AM

I'd buy as much land (worldwide) as i could. especially large parcels and turn it all into offroad parks and shooting ranges!

mike4271 · #19 06/27/2006, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lbrty9
I'd buy as much land (worldwide) as i could. especially large parcels and turn it all into offroad parks and shooting ranges!

You could buy the odd ocean or two and sink things,

Unome · #20 06/27/2006, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by witfull
if i could change the world,,,hmm,,,,,

its be nice for awhile, but someone would screw it up royaly and we would have a whole new bunch of problems.

sometimes i think the the biggest problem with humanity is the human race.

Well put.

asphaltpilot · #21 06/27/2006, 09:06 AM

Stop human overpopulation.

Josh125 · #22 06/27/2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lbrty9
I'd buy as much land (worldwide) as i could. especially large parcels and turn it all into offroad parks and shooting ranges!

Or you could just to TX now

Shooting ranges and off road tracks aren't in short supply here!

coralcat · #23 06/27/2006, 10:25 AM

I WOULD BUY THE WORLD A COKE

batguano · #24 06/27/2006, 10:33 AM

I would buy enough bourbon and red meat to eat and drink myself into a coma, then I'd pay brilliant research scientists to find a cure (arranged ahead of time of course).

Minuteman · #25 06/27/2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike4271
You could buy the odd ocean or two and sink things,

I ALREADY pwn the oceans...