What would you do with 40 billion dollars? Be a nice question to ponder, would it not? If you're Warren Buffett, you give it away. Buffett, who has made numerous comments concerning his belief that money shouldn't just be handed down, has recently pledged to join with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create a super-philanthropic monster. A monster you say, how could donating ones accumulated fortune to better the lives of others be a monster? Choice A suggests that Mr. Buffett doesn't understand money. Uh... I think it's safe to say choice A is out. So why is this a monster, stay tuned, details below.
As reported by David Crary of the AP on Thursday, the Rev. Thomas Euteneuer of Human Life International says that this creates not only a monster, but a Nazi war criminal type organization.
... The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to which Buffett has pledged the bulk of his $44-billion fortune, devotes the vast majority of its funding to combating disease and poverty in developing countries. Less than 1 percent has gone to Planned Parenthood over the years.
"The merger of Gates and Buffett may spell doom for the families of the developing world," said the Rev. Thomas Euteneuer, a Roman Catholic priest who is president of Human Life International.
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." ...
Article
Now, I'm not a huge fan of Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, to be honest with you. But when a person with this amount of accumulated wealth wishes to donate it to help others, I say good form. This very statement on the virtue of being self made as opposed to groomed silver spoon style (yes GW seems to fit this bill nicely) is a strong statement.
There is another statement here however. You'll notice from the above snippets, that 1% of monies donated from the B&M Gate Foundation went to Planned Parenthood. I guess it's safe to say that the other 99% went to other causes besides `killing babies' as is stated by the anti-choice position.
I think this serves as a good example of the negligence displayed by people who base their entire opinion on something on one single, complicated issue. Yes, negligence. In a country were just two days ago, our President was declared to be operating in a manner unfaithful to the Constitution he is sworn to uphold and defend by The Supreme Court of the United States, this is of no relevance to those singularly opposed to a single issue, abortion. This issue is held so deeply, spiritually if you will, that any government that does not differ with them is A-OK.
This is the problem with only voting your values issues. Last time I checked in (I check in a lot these days) the freedom to hold your own personal beliefs is still a core American right. But at what point is ones undying dedication to a single issue worth sacrifices the other 99% of the issues that need addressing to remain a stable and viable nation? Is it worth it to save a leaf if the tree dies?