40 U.S. Billionaires Pledge Half Of Wealth To Charity

_
_ Posts: 6,657
edited August 2010 in A Moving Train
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... c=fb&cc=fp

http://givingpledge.org/
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • yoke
    yoke Posts: 1,440
    heard about this the other day... I think that is great if they follow up on it.



    I think its gonna piss the government off though, less taxes they can get.
    Thats a lovely accent you have. New Jersey?

    www.seanbrady.net
  • Nothingman54
    Nothingman54 Posts: 2,251
    I see no point. Cause the poor are still gonna be poor and the charities are still gonna have their hand out. I'd prefer to help people on an individual basis, rather than give my money to a company.
    I'll be back
  • _
    _ Posts: 6,657
    Nothingman54 wrote:
    I see no point. Cause the poor are still gonna be poor and the charities are still gonna have their hand out. I'd prefer to help people on an individual basis, rather than give my money to a company.
    :?

    So like, you'd rather give cash to guys on the street than donate to the Red Cross?

    Some of these charities they give to, by the way, are charities that they have started to address the concerns that are important to them in ways that they think will be effective. Buffett & Gates each have their own foundations. And Buffett gave 70% of his wealth to the Gates Foundation, which has the ability to do such great things as eradicate certain diseases on a global scale. Seems better than giving to individuals, if you ask me. Plus, I'm sure they still do give to individuals.

    I have to say, I'm super-impressed by all the great things some people are doing with their fortunes, and Buffett & Gates top my list. It always amazes me when people portray Buffett as some out-of-touch billionaire who gives nothing back to society.
  • _
    _ Posts: 6,657
    yoke wrote:
    heard about this the other day... I think that is great if they follow up on it.

    Some of them are already doing it.
  • EquallyWorthless
    EquallyWorthless Posts: 3,993
    Cool story, but its been done before

    Warren Buffet did it in 06. He actually is worth more money now then he was before. He gave away like 25 billion or something and has made like 71 billion since.

    http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazin ... 1.fortune/
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    else if (work >= 0) {
    reality.equals(false);
    work = work +1;
    }system("pause");
    return 0;}
  • EquallyWorthless
    EquallyWorthless Posts: 3,993
    Nothingman54 wrote:
    I see no point. Cause the poor are still gonna be poor and the charities are still gonna have their hand out. I'd prefer to help people on an individual basis, rather than give my money to a company.


    Yeah screw the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation right? Maybe you should actually read what these charities do before spouting off. The Gates foundation does help people on a person to person basis. I guess you would know that if you actually knew what they do.

    http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx
    {if (work != 0) {
    work = work + 1;
    sleep = sleep - work * 10;}
    else if (work >= 0) {
    reality.equals(false);
    work = work +1;
    }system("pause");
    return 0;}
  • Nothingman54
    Nothingman54 Posts: 2,251
    EquallyWorthless wrote:
    Nothingman54 wrote:
    I see no point. Cause the poor are still gonna be poor and the charities are still gonna have their hand out. I'd prefer to help people on an individual basis, rather than give my money to a company.


    Yeah screw the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation right? Maybe you should actually read what these charities do before spouting off. The Gates foundation does help people on a person to person basis. I guess you would know that if you actually knew what they do.

    http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

    [Rude post removed by Admin]
    I'll be back
  • EquallyWorthless
    EquallyWorthless Posts: 3,993
    edited August 2010
    Nothingman54 wrote:
    EquallyWorthless wrote:
    Nothingman54 wrote:
    I see no point. Cause the poor are still gonna be poor and the charities are still gonna have their hand out. I'd prefer to help people on an individual basis, rather than give my money to a company.


    Yeah screw the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation right? Maybe you should actually read what these charities do before spouting off. The Gates foundation does help people on a person to person basis. I guess you would know that if you actually knew what they do.

    http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

    [Rude post removed by Admin]


    Nice! Can't back up your point so you resort to name calling and childish remarks. :lol:
    http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-beh ... rnet-forum
    Post edited by EquallyWorthless on
    {if (work != 0) {
    work = work + 1;
    sleep = sleep - work * 10;}
    else if (work >= 0) {
    reality.equals(false);
    work = work +1;
    }system("pause");
    return 0;}
  • unsung
    unsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    They really don't have a choice. The foundation will protect their money, instead of the government getting their 55% cut when the estate tax come back.

    The estate tax is something that should land the people who wrote it in prison.
  • ONCE DEVIDED
    ONCE DEVIDED Posts: 1,131
    what would be better is for every person who can. give a very small amount to a charity on a monthly basis. that would very soon eclipse these wonderful actions by the wealthy.
    not to say its not a great thing they are doing.

    I have sponsored many children over the last 15 years. I see it as my Karma account.
    by doing good for others it is my hope that good will come to me.
    this has of course happened with many of my PJ brothers and sisters.
    AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
  • _
    _ Posts: 6,657
    EquallyWorthless wrote:
    http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-beh ... rnet-forum
    :lol:
  • _
    _ Posts: 6,657
    unsung wrote:
    They really don't have a choice. The foundation will protect their money, instead of the government getting their 55% cut when the estate tax come back.

    The estate tax is something that should land the people who wrote it in prison.

    Well that's cynical. You think Bill & Melinda Gates work so hard to improve the health of the world simply because they don't have a choice?
  • KDH12
    KDH12 Posts: 2,096
    I agree

    to say that they donate only to protect their money is absurd

    if that is all they wanted to do they would write checks and be silent partners

    But they don't do that, they are actively engaged in things educations, they want to make a difference

    IMO they see the shortcomings of society and they are trying to illicit change

    That is respectable, we could argue their motives, but I believe that they worked their work, made their money, retired at relatively young ages and they want to justify their riches by giving back... nothing wrong with that

    I have always worked for not-for-profits and many of them survive on rich donors giving back... be it through one time donations or will in-trust.
    **CUBS GO ALL THE WAY IN......never **
  • unsung
    unsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    I'm not saying that this is the only reason that they are doing it, but I am saying I bet it has crossed their mind. You don't amass that size of a fortune by being stupid. Yes they want to do good for the world but they also want to make sure their families are set up for eternity.

    Or should they just keep everything and let the government tax them 55% or more?
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    ONCE DEVIDED wrote:
    what would be better is for every person who can. give a very small amount to a charity on a monthly basis. that would very soon eclipse these wonderful actions by the wealthy.
    not to say its not a great thing they are doing.

    I have sponsored many children over the last 15 years. I see it as my Karma account.
    by doing good for others it is my hope that good will come to me.
    this has of course happened with many of my PJ brothers and sisters.

    this is why you do it??? doing good in order to be rewarded isnt the way it works you know.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • ONCE DEVIDED
    ONCE DEVIDED Posts: 1,131
    catefrances wrote:
    ONCE DEVIDED wrote:
    what would be better is for every person who can. give a very small amount to a charity on a monthly basis. that would very soon eclipse these wonderful actions by the wealthy.
    not to say its not a great thing they are doing.

    I have sponsored many children over the last 15 years. I see it as my Karma account.
    by doing good for others it is my hope that good will come to me.
    this has of course happened with many of my PJ brothers and sisters.

    this is why you do it??? doing good in order to be rewarded isnt the way it works you know.

    I dont ask for reward . I said Karma . I send out good and good returns . Its the way I deal with the world.

    we helped cause we could, later in our lives we have a child with health issues ,and the kindness- the generosity has blown my mind.
    AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    ONCE DEVIDED wrote:
    catefrances wrote:
    ONCE DEVIDED wrote:
    what would be better is for every person who can. give a very small amount to a charity on a monthly basis. that would very soon eclipse these wonderful actions by the wealthy.
    not to say its not a great thing they are doing.

    I have sponsored many children over the last 15 years. I see it as my Karma account.
    by doing good for others it is my hope that good will come to me.
    this has of course happened with many of my PJ brothers and sisters.

    this is why you do it??? doing good in order to be rewarded isnt the way it works you know.

    I dont ask for reward . I said Karma . I send out good and good returns . Its the way I deal with the world.

    we helped cause we could, later in our lives we have a child with health issues ,and the kindness- the generosity has blown my mind.

    you said..

    by doing good for others it is my hope that good will come to me.

    sounds like a reward to me.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • _
    _ Posts: 6,657
    unsung wrote:
    I'm not saying that this is the only reason that they are doing it, but I am saying I bet it has crossed their mind. You don't amass that size of a fortune by being stupid. Yes they want to do good for the world but they also want to make sure their families are set up for eternity.

    Or should they just keep everything and let the government tax them 55% or more?

    Actually, I believe Warren Buffett has said his family can't have his money - now or when he dies.
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    scb wrote:
    unsung wrote:
    I'm not saying that this is the only reason that they are doing it, but I am saying I bet it has crossed their mind. You don't amass that size of a fortune by being stupid. Yes they want to do good for the world but they also want to make sure their families are set up for eternity.

    Or should they just keep everything and let the government tax them 55% or more?

    Actually, I believe Warren Buffett has said his family can't have his money - now or when he dies.

    and why should they??? ive never understood the expectation of inheritance.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • ONCE DEVIDED
    ONCE DEVIDED Posts: 1,131
    by doing good for others it is my hope that good will come to me.

    sounds like a reward to me.[/quote]
    if the rewards having people be nice, to offer support and freindship, like recently after having talked to an australian PJ fan ( one of the aussie life wasted crew) she asked after my little one and found out that she has been sick for a while . a few days later a big ballooon arrangement turned up on the door from the aussie crew. how wonderful is that.
    how wonderfully generous and beautifull is that.
    when I sold My surfboard for charity ( Cystic Fibrosis) so many beautiful people from these boards did so much in moral support, in finacial support to the organisations who help support my daughter and those like her.
    I managed to raise over $10,000 .and am so grateful to all who helped me reach that.
    thats the karma I talk off. my reward
    No profit for me, except happiness and knowledge that peolple are wonderful creatures
    AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE

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