I was hoping that someone else would want to share what appears to be very good news today. This cynic sometimes finds it difficult to imagine that philanthropy, charity and helping others has not become totally old fashioned.
The Ayn Rand worshipers will no doubt have a few words to say about today's announcement. You know like, "I'll keep my money, you keep the change.".
below the fold
By Michelle Nichols
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Dozens of U.S. billionaires pledged on Wednesday to give at least 50 percent of their fortunes to charity as part of a philanthropic campaign by two of the world's richest men -- Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
Based on Forbes magazine's estimates of the billionaires' wealth, at least $150 billion could be given away.
Among the rich joining The Giving Pledge campaign are New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, media moguls Barry Diller and Ted Turner, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, "Star Wars" movie maker George Lucas and energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens.
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The full list of billionaires and their letters can be seen at www.thegivingpledge.org.
Personally, I think that this should shame our Republican friends into letting the Bush tax cuts expire. Ending the tax, subsidy give a-ways to corporations who do not pay their fair share would be nice. How about stopping the subsidies for outsourcing our government and private jobs? I know, in my dreams.
I have written to many of those on this list of philanthropists. You'd be surprised if I listed the number of times that an indirect response was received when asking for help with worthy causes.
So, I salute those who have taken the pledge. Special thanks to Bill & Melinda Gates, Ted Turner, Warren Buffett and George Lucas.
Where should the money go? (I'm trying to park the cynic for one day. I understand that "promises" are made to be broken).
The floor is yours.