Originally Posted By ecdc Warren Buffett is giving his fortune away. Just about all of it. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazines/fortune/charity1.fortune/index.htm?cnn=yes" target="_blank">http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/2 5/magazines/fortune/charity1.fortune/index.htm?cnn=yes</a> It's remarkable to see people who have the ability to change the world doing just that. Most of Buffett's money is going to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.
Originally Posted By gadzuux His reasoning makes perfect sense to me. There's "rich" and then there's $44 billion dollars. No one needs that kind of money. We would all love to be wealthy enough to have lovely homes and vacations and total personal comfort, but this kind of enormous fiscal power is beyond just being about one person or one family. It becomes a heavy responsibility - it's 'society' that provided the wealth in the first place, and it needs to be returned back to society. Yes, it's generous of buffet - but what else could he do, really? At 75, he's getting old and his days of "high living" are winding down. His wife has passed away, his children are grown, and he's stated that he doesn't have the patience or desire to be watching over philanthropy during his remaining days. Hat's off to warren buffet - the world will be a better place for his contributions.
Originally Posted By Dirk_D_from_Oregon Did you see that he still lives in his old house in Nebraska? That was a total shock. Interesting guy.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder And so, an anti-abortion activist compares Buffet to a Nazi doctor. Some people just have a way with words. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/29/billionaires.abortion.ap/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/ 29/billionaires.abortion.ap/index.html</a>
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> Referring to Josef Mengele, the infamous Nazi death camp doctor, Euteneuer said Buffett "will be known as the Dr. Mengele of philanthropy unless he repents" ... said the Rev. Thomas Euteneuer, a Roman Catholic priest who is president of Human Life International. << How unsurprising to hear this from a spokesman of the roman catholic church. These people witness the most staggering act of charity in history, and they demonize the man. They don't see christ's teachings when it's staring them in the face.
Originally Posted By ecdc Conservative religion strikes again! "They don't see christ's teachings when it's staring them in the face." Errr... I don't know what Bible you're reading, but mine is pretty clear. "Blessed are the warmakers, for they shall inherit all the oil." "Hate your enemies, and attack those who haven't attacked you first." "Gays are bad" It's all there, gadzuux, in the Gospel of St. Rove
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh Warren Buffet is a big proponent of the Estate tax, but here he is sheltering his money by donating it to charitable trusts, some of which will probably pay his children salaries to administrate. Why didn't he give it to the government?
Originally Posted By JohnS1 "It becomes a heavy responsibility - it's 'society' that provided the wealth in the first place, and it needs to be returned back to society. " How did society provide Warren with his money, praytell?
Originally Posted By TiggerRulz Has there been anything reported on his children being on the charities payroll or is that just speculation with no basis in fact? If people can't see the good in giving away 37 billion dollars - what does it take.
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> How did society provide Warren with his money, praytell? << Where do YOU think it came from?
Originally Posted By JohnS1 I am assuming that it come from one of two sources: 1) inheritance 2) his creation of products/services that were in demand by people.
Originally Posted By Shooba Society has given him his wealth of their own free will, so he is free to do whatever he wants with it. He is under no obligation to give it back. However, it's great that he's giving it away to those less fortunate.
Originally Posted By cmpaley >>How did society provide Warren with his money, praytell?<< By providing the environment in which he could make that kind of money. I find it sad, but not unexpected, when people, as usual, separate the moral theology of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church (as we say in the Creed) from the Social Doctrine of the Church. They are actually LINKED together. The Church's teachings on human life are quite sublime as are the Church's teachings on the proper use of wealth...and they both work HAND IN HAND. One doesn't take precedence over the other. That he gives money to charities that feed, clothe and shelter the poor...BRAVO! That he gives money to organizations that promote artificial contraception and abortion providers? BOO! Oh, well. "Blessed are you when people say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake..."
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< And so, an anti-abortion activist compares Buffet to a Nazi doctor. Some people just have a way with words. >>> I saw an interesting bumper sticker today: "God bless everyone on the planet. No exceptions."
