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.
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