You know who I miss? The philanthropists of the 19th and early 20th century. The ones who founded colleges and campaigned for public education. Today's rich are much richer in both relative and absolute terms, but far less philanthropically inclined. How many rich & powerful people you can name who are passionate about charity? Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, ...? (I can hear a counter-argument, that it's crass to talk about it, and I disagree. They should talk about it. They should compete on who can give away more money, who can make the biggest difference.) Where's the next Peter Cooper?
This isn't actually the case, Gates and Buffet are not unique in their generosity, they just happen to be rather public figures. The Waltons [Walmart] are very philanthropic, Helen Walton's entire 16.4 billion was given to charity to be dispersed. Gordon Moore [Intel] dumped 6 billion in one shot once to various science and medical research, Broad pledged his entire fortune on death and has already done 2 billion to medical research IIRC, Stowers literally dumped the majority of his cash into cancer and diabetes research, a couple billion, and so on, they just haven't been spotlighted by the media.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
Isn't Warren Buffett such a nice man?
- 25/08/2011 03:24:35 PM
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I want to go live on a libertarian floating city.
- 25/08/2011 05:38:26 PM
402 Views
I hadn't really considered nuclear options
He's a good man, but not unique in that respect
- 25/08/2011 06:06:31 PM
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Re: He's a good man, but not unique in that respect
- 25/08/2011 11:25:05 PM
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My impression is that people today tend to pursue their pet causes.
- 26/08/2011 04:52:30 AM
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