Yes, Bill Gates is one of the best examples of someone who started out with no involvement in the world and has ended up doing a great deal. There are many others who have a lot and are giving a lot. One woman I remember from years ago is Judy Peabody, a member of the Peabody family, as close to aristocracy as America gets. She spent most of the last two or three decades of her life as an AIDS activist. I mean, she really was an activist, not just someone who showed up at charity dinners. She volunteered with the Gay Men's Health Crisis, where she served as a care partner for sick men and led support groups for their families.
Then there's Gary Sinise, who's spent time visiting troops and wounded soldiers, here in the U.S. and at their overseas bases. Even the supposedly frivolous Cher has personally purchased protective helmets for American troops.
Would I like for loudmouthed tycoons like Donald Trump to do more? You bet. Your point about how they could do without five houses got a hearty "amen" from me. If I were someone like Kim Kardashian, I'd be ashamed to be known for just raking it in. I guess we have to inch the culture toward disapproval of this extravagance.
Exactly, Donald Trump is a national embarassment, a womanizer, not self made, and admittedly suffers from Bi-Polar disorder. He is manic. The number of people who would vote for him frighten me. They are not the brightest people, but there are lots of such people these days enamored of the Trumps and the Momager of the Kardashaian Klan.
Zuckerberg has plenty of actual money not just "conceptual." I fully understand what happened since the IPO. It was overpriced and it is correcting. Maybe people just don't see great value in facebook. It is a phenomenon. What he does with his influence is yet to be seen. I don't see him as caring greatly about helping people. He gave !00 million to the Newark scchool system, or some city in NJ I recall right when facebook movie came out. Facebook is a concept and exists on the internet. It is not unique, nor a tangible, necessary product so I can see why lits of investors would back off as the facebook bubble could burst with bad publicity, bad news about Zuckerberg's actions etc. Facebook is something that became very trendy, but no one needs facebook. I am frightened if half of what was written about it's beginning were true. Several lawsuits. Eduardo Saverin is a billionaire now in Singapore having given up his citizenship to avoid taxes. Bill Gates strikes me as a different character than Zuckerberg, but my hope is Zuckerberg tries to influence the world in doing the right thing. I have read his sister who is his right hand lady wants to see anonymity gone from the net. He has stated that signing people up has been the work, and now the next phase. What is the next phase Heyang. Given his character defects, it is frightening to see the influence he has, esp. with young, impressionable people.
I can't delete a photo and it is very hard to get off Facebook. And the information is sold and I have read he makes it available to the US govt. many people have rethought Facebook, and given how it came to be, I would not be unhappy it it went poof. There are other places that do the same thing. His new doctor wife may greatly influence him the way Melinda Gates is said to have changed Bill Gates. Unfortunately, if you reach about the worlds richest 100 people, few of them are doing what Gates or Buffett are doing with their money. The Walton family -4 people have 80 billion in net worth. That is more than the bottom 30 percent of America. As a disabled person through no fault of my own, poverty came with it. I am a trained former social worker, so my nature is giving and doing, and I cannot conceive of having 1 billion dollars. One could lve very very well and still give way 75%. There is a God, though unfathomable, and 25 years of study convice me we go on into eternity. What our existence is like is dependent on what we did with our gifts for others. that is love, and we are judged. Unfortunately, many cultures are involved in the here and now and no longer believe in the soul and the eternal existence. I could be wrong, and many days I feel I am. I do not know your religious belief system heyang, but everything we are and have rots. I cannot conceive of having 6 homes, yachts, jets, gold toilets while my neighbor in Africa and her children starve to death.
Our culture in the USA may lead to financial collapse and the world will collapse. It is very frightening as I have no family, and the govt will be helfd hotage by the millionaire Tea party congressman again this summer. SSDI has NO MONEY after 2016 and Congress wants to cut what keeps me alive. Skating is a love and a diversion. I do what I can for online activism, but it is very frustrating to see people who have never needed food, shelter a ride, running this country. 1 percent own 40 percent and we are headed for global serfdom. The climate is detroyed. These may be the end of any world stability. If I have 90 percent of the pie, the world must live in poverty. We have never seen such a rapid consolidation of wealth, and the Bilderberg group meets again this year. They will vet Romney, who was my Governor (and a lousy one) as they did Obama.
How much money does each walton need? 20 billion is obscene. In the new Testament, jesus said it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man enter heaven. I am very frustrated that I need help, and I have seen life from every angle. I'd much rather be the helper and it breaks my heart to see starving children. I can only hope there is a God and that his some returns to earth soon. I lose my faith daily, and often cannot watch the news. I care greatly about people. About everyone/everything and it seems it will take 30 percent unemployment before Americans turn off the tube and take to the streets. Globalization, as planned as been horrible for America. I am not that old, and this is a stolen country in my lifetime. We cannot trust our government with anything. Corporations were given the same rights as people in 2010. I wached the Presidency stolen basically, awarded by the Supreme Court in 2000. I cried greatly and everything I feared came to pass. I did not forsee 9/11 but recall watching Bush and I believe he knew what was coming.
Maybe you live in a country where you feel safe or have family, and do not need govt insurance to stay alive. To me, the concept of billionaires is obscene and what was done to this country in 2008 was obscene. The fledgling Occupy movement was destroyed in every city by the police state. Starting with the billionaire mayor of New York. I could live a long time, but with the cuts coming, many will die or want to. Euthanasia is on the ballot this year. When life is not sacred, and we do not answer for our actions after death, then people are encouraged to do and take what they want.
Of the seven deadly sins, Greed is what they all stem from. The Earth is a place of spiritual warfare. Our souls are claimed and counterclaimed in this war which many do not think is real. If I have two coats and you have none and I see you freezing, I am responsible to help you. This is what the Christ taught, and all religions really. I am my brother's keeper. I could not sleep with multi-millions and good health without helping. The money does not always go to despots and there are not tribal wars at present. Drought is the problem, and the oil barons burning fossil fuels are responsible for great suffering on this planet. They know and care not for the next generation. So many are suffering from the massive pollution. Cancers of all kinds. Since the 1940's we have seen it increase. Water, air, food is toxic.
Sadly, it will take the collapse of all that is for people to return to simple living from the land. But in the meantime, people are dying, and those sitting on mountains of money are not doing what they must.
Anyway, this is a skating site and most are young and in their own bubble. I guess this was moved to politics. All life is politics, including skating. Anyway, my feelings are strong and I poured them out. If it makes one person realize that the distribution of wealth in the world will lead to it's demise, I suppose it was worth it. Revolutions are happening everywhere. I expect our second one before long, and it will be beyond any suffering. I pray the Lord is real and returns as is promised in the New Testament. I guess our collective prayers are what Mary has been asking for to millions in a hamlet called Medjugorje, Bosnia, a place I visited 20 years ago. There was no question She was there, giving messages to 6 young people. Supernatural events abounded. Unless we live as God has asked, he will allow us to perish in the mess we have made.
Forgive the typos. I can spell, but since no one reads the political thread, I am too tired, too late to correct as I type very fast and badly. Anyway, as Mary has asked in all her appearances over the last 30 years in this once tiny hamlet. 'Pray, Pray, Pray." And act as if all depends on us. As it largely does.
((((
