After takin' a swig o' grog, Rex Ballard belched out
this bit o' wisdom:
> On Jan 5, 8:06 am, cc <scatnu...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> On Jan 5, 4:16 am, Roy Schestowitz <newsgro...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> From the list of investments, it looks like the Gates foundation might
> have gotten pretty badly burned by a few of those investments (Fannie,
> Freddie,...).
>
>> What they invest in and how they spend the money they earn from those
>> investments are two entirely different things. Although I would be a
>> little concerned about an investment in Abbot Laboratories with the
>> medical charity they do, but what do I know.
>
> It looks like the foundation is actually investing in a number of
> companies that focus on affordable housing, affordable food, efficient
> recycling (including unsorted dumpster trash), and and the drug
> companies that provide the vaccines they are giving to the kids.
>
> Gates may still have an agenda, but I think he's putting the same kind
> of energy and efficiency into getting the most value out of his
> investments in philanthropy as he put into getting the most value out
> of his investments in technology.
>
> I think Gates also has a much clearer view of the future than many of
> us who are sniping over Linux vs Windows. Gates succeeded in getting
> PCs (Windows AND Linux) into the hands of almost 2 billion people
> worldwide, and getting computer access to nearly 4 billion people
> worldwide through libraries, kiosks, and cyber-cafes.
>
> Gates is now shifting his priorities to where it will do the greatest
> good, in the technologies which will make the greatest difference to
> the future. 100 million more computers won't significantly increase
> the gross global product, or reduce the number of people dying of
> starvation. On the other hand, harvesters, farm implements, and
> better agricultural technologies could create huge increases in the
> productivity of farms in Russia, Mongolia, and China. Investing in
> financing that emphasizes making housing affordable for low-income
> families can improve domestic stability. Investing in mass transit
> that reduces the need for personal SUVs for commuting will have the
> biggest impact on green-house gases, and efficient waste processing
> that recycles 95% of the garbage can help eliminate land-fills.
>
> I can't help but wonder if Gates has invested with T Boone Pickens in
> control and reallocation of the world's water supply. A key element
> of the strategy is replacing river water supplies to coastal cities
> with desalinated sea water, so that land that is currently desert, can
> be used for bio-fuels and even new food crops that can help replenish
> the soil and stop top-soil erosion.
>
> It's amazing what you can do when you have 30-40 $billion to invest in
> humanitarian investments.
Nice post, Rex!
--
The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf
has. Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don't know
when it's through if you are a crook or a martyr.
-- Will Rogers
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