Economy

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Billionaires Meet to Discuss Donating Half Their Wealth

Posted 12 months ago|11 comments|553 views
I'll help you! Maybe, if you're lucky.
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Billionaires of America met this week in Tucson, AZ to discuss prospects of giving away half their wealth among other themes. Some of the high-rollers in attendance who have pledged wealthy contributions: Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, George Kaiser and John Morgridge. According to reports, almost 70 billionaires have pledged to contribute half their wealth since June 2010. Social services and education where among some of the topics thrown about during this gathering. They left the meeting feeling good about themselves, the new friends they made and all they accomplished.

Many Americans have voiced their opinions since finding out about the meeting that the press was not invited to attend, but most don't feel that any money pledged will go to where it is truly needed, i.e., strengthening the infrastructure of the US and it's citizen core. Nor do Americans believe these billionaires will give any significant amount of money away, let a lone half of their wealth, according to the sentiments expressed at the news of the gathering.

The only reason any of these billionaires became billionaires is by excessively overcharging for whatever goods and services they offer. Case in point: Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have a combined worth of more than 110 billion dollars because Microsoft overcharged for its goods under their direction. Another example: the Waltons have collectively in excess of 100 billion dollars because their greed is more important to them than paying decent wages to their employees, or giving them benefits, not to mention how they have basically destroyed businesses in every area they locate with their underhanded tactics to control those markets. I can go on, and on, and on about the others in attendance. These people represent the new Robber Barons in America. None of these people have ever paid their fair share in taxes, nor the corporations they are associated with.

Banks are another primary source of legalized robbery in America. They charge entirely too much in interest for loans on houses and autos. On houses, in particular, one must pay back around three times the mount borrowed over an excessively long payback term to own that property. If a loan shark lends money, and one must pay back 200 percent, the government considers this illegal, but the banking industry can demand 300 percent on money invested - where is the justice and logic in this? Another source of legalized robbery in America is the Insurance industry, they are just like the strong-arms that some people are forced to pay protection money. And, should one initiate a claim to the Insurance industry, they try to find any reason not to pay on the claim, or, to under pay it. The government allows this to go own so they can get their cut and kickbacks, not to mention that many of our high-ranking elected officials in these greedy, make money for doing nothing, scheming corporations that prey upon Americans.

These billionaires, their millionaire cohorts, the elected officials and, industries and corporations have brought this country to the brink of destruction in pursuit of their greedy endeavors... do you really see them changing their true colors and ways now? If they decide to give any paltry sum back to the citizens of America whom they have victimized, raped and robbed blind over the years it will be to control these people, not to elevate them from deplorable economic conditions with which they now live. Many are struggling because of these elitists but I doubt the elitists will make amends in the Jobs arena for all the recently unemployed who have become this way over the last four years, nor do I feel billionaires will do anything to help recently homeless, once middle class, Americans get back into immediate housing.

If these billionaires make the slightest attempt at making amends they will undoubtedly do too little and require too many hurdles for the average person and their families to gain any real benefit, support, or security in this devastatingly volatile deep recession - just like the short-sighted, only for the rich, elected officials throughout these United States of America. And, if they do offer meager assistance, it will be to help only those Americans with perfect credit scores, thereby continuing to ignore those whose credit has been ruined since the onslaught of the recession and have suffered at the hands of these elitists in pursuit of unmitigated greed. This newly diminished class of Americans suffering at the whim of the elitists are the recently unemployed and under employed who have seen their socio-economic standing ruined during this recession that, without their knowledge, apparently ended two years ago.

Greedy people throughout the history of America have never "turned a new leaf", nor have they ever once changed their ways for the better - this only happens in faery-tales at Christmastime. The greedy have a proven track record that they just become more greedy. Do you feel the average struggling American, or their families, will get any immediate support, or benefit significantly from this philanthropic cause? I think not. The funny thing is, I bet the majority, if not all of these billionaires are Jews and Christians. Absolute wealth corrupts absolutely.
UPDATE - 12 months ago
Fourth paragraph, last sentence should read:

The government allows this to go own so they can get their cut and kickbacks, not to mention that many of our high-ranking elected officials are heavily vested and in these greedy, make money for doing nothing, scheming corporations that prey upon Americans.
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12 months ago: I pledge not to drive over the speed limit....

"almost 70 billionaires have pledged to contribute half their wealth"

Yeah. To whom? Not likely people that can do some good with it. More likely the booming Africans. Oh, BTW. those folks are now suspect by the U.N. to grow to several times the present population by 2050. All the while not being able to feed or water themselves at todays population.

Thanks Warren.
Altruist
Altruist
Eugene, OR
12 months ago: While I share your cynicism about the rich, some of these people are genuinely generous and do enormous good in the world.

The real good guys should be applauded not lumped into the same simplistic generalization that you lump the Koch Brothers and the rest of the truly greedy billionaires. The IRS reports that on average the richest 400 individuals give a total of $11 billion or 8% of their worth.

The worthwhile goal of the pledge is to generate $600 billion to be used to help the world's poor. http://www.wineandbowties.com/inspiratio...

Last year Warren Buffett for example, said "more than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death". At last count, Forbes magazine listed his net worth at $50 billion.

Mr. Larry Mr. Ellison said he has put virtually all his assets into a trust with the intention of giving away at least 95% to charitable causes and has already given hundreds of millions of dollars to medical research and education.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424...

I think Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are probably doing as much good in the world as our entire government is.

One other reason to applaud Gates and Buffett, they both think they are not paying their fair share of taxes and think the Estate Tax and income tax should be should be increased for the rich.

I applaud the 45 or so patriotic millionaires that asked Obama to raise their taxes. they are http://totalbuzz.ocregister.com/2010/11/...


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12 months ago: I've read Altruist's comments above, and want to share in his sentiments about these billionaires, but I can only surmise that most of the billionaires that he refers to, upon their deaths, plan to give the majority of their wealth to other rich people to oversee in "foundations" in the hopes of being able to buy their way into heaven after living a lifetime of greed on planet Earth.

The people left in charge of this money will still, no doubt, create many hurdles and obstacles so that the average American in suffrage, caused by the affluent, will still not be able to gain any benefit - just like trying to get support from the elected governing body, it won't happen unless one is already wealthy beyond needing help.

And for the affluent who feel they pay too little in taxes, they can actually rectify that immediately by cutting a check to the IRS... I see that happening real soon, fortunately I'm not going to stupidly hold my breath waiting for that day.

I learned from living in Missouri, the "Show Me" state that actions speak way louder than words. I have yet to see any tangible actions on behalf of this Billionaire Club that have benefited struggling Americans. Talk is cheap.

If it were Christmastime in Faeryville I'd like to think I believe in these Billionaires, but, as it has be said, the road to hell is paved with good intentions (especially by the affluent). When I see Angels fart goodness-dust I will believe in the intentions of these billionaires and their cute little club.
Altruist
Altruist
Eugene, OR
12 months ago: I still think you are missing the point. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett each year give away hundreds of millions of dollars to help people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_%26_Me...

On the other hand the Koch Brothers spend hundreds of millions of dollars to subvert democracy and to promote the use of fossil fuels and to destroy any programs that limit their ability to pollute. In essence they are spending millions to make us and our children less healthy.
12 months ago: The should give the 600 billion to me, Ill find good use and creat jobs! security companies to computer software from road construction, i'll pay it for since the city of milwaukee wont lmao to hospitals that are f'free ya I'd have alot fun too though and go on wild spending spree's that would need to be filmed by some reality tv Show, God Make me a billionaire and rock on!!!!!!
12 months ago: and thats create jobs
12 months ago: and thats create jobs
12 months ago: I think it is funny that these Democrat Billionaires only want to "donate" half of the fortune............Where does the other 500,000,000.000 go? That would only be if your a SINGLE BILLIONAIRE.

What are the multiple democrat billionaires going to do......?

Donate half of 10,000,000,000.00 ?

I smell a RAT.
12 months ago: To Altruists comment above that I'm missing the point that Gates and Buffet give away hundreds of millions every year. Around 2007 Gates net worth was on average 40 billion dollars and, even through this devastating recession his net worth is now almost 60 billion, and as of yet, I haven't seen any indication that he has spearheaded a national campaign to spur tangible jobs creations here in the US, nor have I seen where he has spearheaded his group of billionaires into strong arming the government to aid homeless, once middle class Americans to get them back into the houses they've been evicted from (not even substandard housing).

Prior to the recession, I would donate 10% to various people, organizations and groups whose purpose is to help the disadvantaged. I see where you've cited that 400 billionaires collectively annually give away 8% of their wealth and they still grow in wealth every single year. The 8% they give, coupled with the 16.6% in taxes is still far less than I'm subjected to pay every year.

Let us also remember that there are one thousand millions in one billion so I think it shouldn't be that difficult for Gates, or other billionaires, to invest significantly more in shoring up the infrastructure of the US and its citizens, but apparently that's too much like right. These individuals withhold their money from taxes to wield and dole it as if gods to make themselves feel good about their greed, not to end human suffrage which their greed is causing.
12 months ago: buffet and gates make millions every day, when you have that much money its easy to give away millions and still turn a profit with your money. Takes money to make money not to mention both of them running fortune 500's. The profit is there
12 months ago: buffet and gates make millions every day, when you have that much money its easy to give away millions and still turn a profit with your money. Takes money to make money not to mention both of them running fortune 500's. The profit is there

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