Bill Gates Is A Good Guy
By Larry Lange
Updated Friday, March 14, 2003
At the risk of slapping a bulls-eye on my forehead, I've got something to say to everyone who's mad as hell that Bill Gates is rich.
Get off his back!
I'm not talking the legions of Microsoft bashers who complain about its software, that Windows is a rip-off of Apple's Lisa, that security is nearly nonexistent, that IE bullied Netscape out of the running, that licensing agreements are unfair, and on and on.
What I'm talking about here is the complete and utter resentment over Bill Gates' financial wealth. A cursory Google search finds an unlimited amount of sites dedicated to trashing Gates on a personal level, attacks that go deep. "Kill Bill! Inflict pies, eggs and scissors upon Bill's head! And "Punch Bill Gates! Slap him around!" Even "Assassinate Bill Gates!"
I think it's time to give the man his due. Why? One word: Philanthropy.
Billions And Billions ...
Bill Gates and his wife Melinda have been giving away huge chunks of their fabulous wealth to some of the world's most needy cases, and they've been doing so for years. They endowed a philanthropic foundation with more than $24 billion, and to date The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has contributed more than $5 billion to related causes:
More than $3.1 billion to global health organizations
More than $1.4 billion to improve educational opportunities, which includes an initiative to bring computers, Internet access, and training to public libraries in low-income communities in the U.S.
More than $380 million to other special projects and annual giving campaigns
More than $260 million to community projects in the Pacific Northwest.
Check out some of the specifics from just the past few months:
At the World Economic Forum meeting in January, Gates wrote a check for $200 million to determine the leading causes of death in developing countries, and to entice scientists to address them. This follows Gates' commitment of three years ago at the Forum, when he ponied up $750 million to worldwide vaccine programs. So far, that has resulted in the vaccinations of more than 10 million children, preventing more than 100,000 premature deaths.
Also in January, Gates gave $1.5 million to the International Women's Media Foundation Announces Campaign, in order to train African women journalists to become better reporters and educators on healthcare issues like HIV and AIDS—diseases that could literary kill the entire population of the continent.
And in February, Gates provided $31 million to create a nationwide network of 168 alternative schools for 36,000 kids who couldn't make it in traditional high schools, particularly African-American and Hispanic students.
I could go on here, but you're probably dying to know: Why does he do it? What's the hidden agenda? To avoid taxes? To improve his image in light of the government's high-profile antitrust suit?
The Giving Type
It's very simple. Gates' philanthropy is consistent with what he's been saying for years: That he will give away most of his fortune before he dies, so that his children aren't burdened with tremendous wealth, will be responsible for themselves, and will learn to be entrepreneurs of their own.
But the grants aren't given willy-nilly. Look at the details and it's clear that Gates is approaching crises with solid research and cold, hard thought; figuring out exactly how and where to spend the money—and then cutting the checks. Which is why he's getting scientists and the media involved in the AIDS crisis and giving educators real schools in which to work. And the checks don't go the usual suspects like the United Way; rather, Gates devises and underwrites pro-active strategies for professionals to get involved with, so they can give responsibly of themselves.
So what, you say? Maybe Gates is just looking to pass the "tombstone test," that he wants to be remembered not just for technology but as a Samaritan who put his money where his mouth was? Well, maybe so. But who among us doesn't want that?
All right, so maybe he's giving away his money to expand Microsoft's markets? Doubtful. Sure, Microsoft wants to grab coveted engineering talent from other countries, just as all the leading tech firms do. But who else is personally traveling to India to commit $100 million to fight HIV and AIDS there? Because that's just what he did last November—and he took a lot of guff for it too. For instance, one Indian Web poster, Subhomoy Mukherjee, wrote: "I strongly feel there is some sort of hidden interest lying behind this act. Maybe for building up other development centre or marketing for Windows."
C'mon—I've been to India, and you don't face the harrowing poverty there without literally dropping to your knees in anguish. I don't care how cold-hearted he's perceived to be, or how rich he is, Gates had to have been moved.
Know what I think? I think Gates-bashers are just jealous. Bottom line. They're angry he's still the richest person on the planet, and they were probably even happy that his worth fell about $10 billion last year because of the economy. I can hear them now: "Aw, too bad for Billy-boy, out $10 billion, what a shame."
But you can't bash Gates when he writes: "Our grant-making is grounded in the belief that the death of a child in Africa is no less tragic than the death of a child in America, and the understanding that those of us who were born in rich countries have a fundamental responsibility to help those who weren't." You can't fight him when he says: "This new century brings with it exciting advances in health and learning. We all share the responsibility of ensuring that these opportunities are not out of reach for the people who need them the most."
You know, he might just be doing it because he actually cares. At one point during the World Economic Forum in January, U.S. health secretary Tommy Thompson turned to Bill Gates and said matter-of-factly: "What a wonderful human being you are."
Sure, that's a little gushy, but it sounds about right to me.
Updated Friday, March 14, 2003
At the risk of slapping a bulls-eye on my forehead, I've got something to say to everyone who's mad as hell that Bill Gates is rich.
Get off his back!
I'm not talking the legions of Microsoft bashers who complain about its software, that Windows is a rip-off of Apple's Lisa, that security is nearly nonexistent, that IE bullied Netscape out of the running, that licensing agreements are unfair, and on and on.
What I'm talking about here is the complete and utter resentment over Bill Gates' financial wealth. A cursory Google search finds an unlimited amount of sites dedicated to trashing Gates on a personal level, attacks that go deep. "Kill Bill! Inflict pies, eggs and scissors upon Bill's head! And "Punch Bill Gates! Slap him around!" Even "Assassinate Bill Gates!"
I think it's time to give the man his due. Why? One word: Philanthropy.
Billions And Billions ...
Bill Gates and his wife Melinda have been giving away huge chunks of their fabulous wealth to some of the world's most needy cases, and they've been doing so for years. They endowed a philanthropic foundation with more than $24 billion, and to date The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has contributed more than $5 billion to related causes:
More than $3.1 billion to global health organizations
More than $1.4 billion to improve educational opportunities, which includes an initiative to bring computers, Internet access, and training to public libraries in low-income communities in the U.S.
More than $380 million to other special projects and annual giving campaigns
More than $260 million to community projects in the Pacific Northwest.
Check out some of the specifics from just the past few months:
At the World Economic Forum meeting in January, Gates wrote a check for $200 million to determine the leading causes of death in developing countries, and to entice scientists to address them. This follows Gates' commitment of three years ago at the Forum, when he ponied up $750 million to worldwide vaccine programs. So far, that has resulted in the vaccinations of more than 10 million children, preventing more than 100,000 premature deaths.
Also in January, Gates gave $1.5 million to the International Women's Media Foundation Announces Campaign, in order to train African women journalists to become better reporters and educators on healthcare issues like HIV and AIDS—diseases that could literary kill the entire population of the continent.
And in February, Gates provided $31 million to create a nationwide network of 168 alternative schools for 36,000 kids who couldn't make it in traditional high schools, particularly African-American and Hispanic students.
I could go on here, but you're probably dying to know: Why does he do it? What's the hidden agenda? To avoid taxes? To improve his image in light of the government's high-profile antitrust suit?
The Giving Type
It's very simple. Gates' philanthropy is consistent with what he's been saying for years: That he will give away most of his fortune before he dies, so that his children aren't burdened with tremendous wealth, will be responsible for themselves, and will learn to be entrepreneurs of their own.
But the grants aren't given willy-nilly. Look at the details and it's clear that Gates is approaching crises with solid research and cold, hard thought; figuring out exactly how and where to spend the money—and then cutting the checks. Which is why he's getting scientists and the media involved in the AIDS crisis and giving educators real schools in which to work. And the checks don't go the usual suspects like the United Way; rather, Gates devises and underwrites pro-active strategies for professionals to get involved with, so they can give responsibly of themselves.
So what, you say? Maybe Gates is just looking to pass the "tombstone test," that he wants to be remembered not just for technology but as a Samaritan who put his money where his mouth was? Well, maybe so. But who among us doesn't want that?
All right, so maybe he's giving away his money to expand Microsoft's markets? Doubtful. Sure, Microsoft wants to grab coveted engineering talent from other countries, just as all the leading tech firms do. But who else is personally traveling to India to commit $100 million to fight HIV and AIDS there? Because that's just what he did last November—and he took a lot of guff for it too. For instance, one Indian Web poster, Subhomoy Mukherjee, wrote: "I strongly feel there is some sort of hidden interest lying behind this act. Maybe for building up other development centre or marketing for Windows."
C'mon—I've been to India, and you don't face the harrowing poverty there without literally dropping to your knees in anguish. I don't care how cold-hearted he's perceived to be, or how rich he is, Gates had to have been moved.
Know what I think? I think Gates-bashers are just jealous. Bottom line. They're angry he's still the richest person on the planet, and they were probably even happy that his worth fell about $10 billion last year because of the economy. I can hear them now: "Aw, too bad for Billy-boy, out $10 billion, what a shame."
But you can't bash Gates when he writes: "Our grant-making is grounded in the belief that the death of a child in Africa is no less tragic than the death of a child in America, and the understanding that those of us who were born in rich countries have a fundamental responsibility to help those who weren't." You can't fight him when he says: "This new century brings with it exciting advances in health and learning. We all share the responsibility of ensuring that these opportunities are not out of reach for the people who need them the most."
You know, he might just be doing it because he actually cares. At one point during the World Economic Forum in January, U.S. health secretary Tommy Thompson turned to Bill Gates and said matter-of-factly: "What a wonderful human being you are."
Sure, that's a little gushy, but it sounds about right to me.
0 comments:
Post a Comment