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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTerminally ill “Simpsons” co-creator to leave entire fortune to charity
This kind of generosity is rare for anyone, but its especially out of step in status-obsessed Hollywood. But Simon, who is not married and does not have any children, has been a philanthropist his entire life. With his fortune, he has founded the Sam Simon Foundation, worth nearly $23 million as of 2011, which feeds starving people and dogs. He has donated hefty sums to PETA, Save the Children and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
http://www.salon.com/2013/07/25/terminally_ill_simpsons_co_creator_to_leave_entire_fortune_to_charity/
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)roguevalley
(40,656 posts)my hero.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Hydra
(14,459 posts)May your rest come mercifully and be sweet, Sam.
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)why obscene wealth should be heavily taxed. The welfare of the poor, the abused, the environment, should not be left up to the whims of extraordinary generous people.
flvegan
(64,413 posts)If ever a miracle was called for, maybe he deserves it.
applegrove
(118,767 posts)Lex
(34,108 posts)What a lasting effect on people and animals this man will have.
alittlelark
(18,890 posts)Response to octoberlib (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)Lydia Leftcoast
(48,217 posts)Skittles
(153,185 posts)RudynJack
(1,044 posts)what a curious right-wing parody of liberalism. It's almost like you're a ... nah, it couldn't be.
longship
(40,416 posts)Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
Wonder if there's time for ?
Nay
(12,051 posts)Chef Eric
(1,024 posts)Arkana
(24,347 posts)Maybe he should--it could provide health care for thousands of Americans, feed them, clothe them, etc.
That's a great idea, champ. You keep on keepin' on.
Asshole.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)What a great guy. It's too bad the world is losing him.
Firebrand Gary
(5,044 posts)I know next to nothing about where we are in the fight of curing cancer, I can only hope that some where in the world someone is close to curing this dreadful disease.
nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)So curing one form won't necessarily = curing others.
DearHeart
(692 posts)Hulk
(6,699 posts)It's difficult when you have offspring and a spouse (or two, or three); and brothers and sisters and parents, and nephews, nieces, etc. But to be able to put aside your worldly gains and donate them to a worthy cause is extremely noble!
I love the mark this man leaves on life after his has come to it's end. I wish I could do the same one day, but unfortunately it won't happen. I expect to leave my wife and four children behind me, and I want them to gain a little from my departure to the ozone layer, or wherever we go after this life on earth.
God bless! I know there are lots of little slogans that could say it all, but I'm just in awe to this man with my admiration.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)If anybody is interested.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)krispos42
(49,445 posts)I listened to it a couple of weeks ago, and I'm behind.
Being unemployed really has cut into my plan to catch up on my podcasts.
MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)which will carry out the work of the ruling class while fronting some nice PR.
Clue: when you 'give away all your money," you just give it away, you don't set up an immortal foundation.
Foundations are set up so you *don't* give away "all your money," just 5% of the assets/year. Foundations are set up so you can keep growing the capital after you die, & your descendants a/o friends can direct the investments of the principle in their own interest.
It's really gag-making to see people oooing & aaaing over the 'generosity' of the .001%.
Bluegene
(35 posts)He isn't like you and I. He will continue to receive money long after he is gone and must set up a foundation to handle the continued monies coming in from his past work, this does not make him an elitist or a bad person. It is set up so he can be sure the money is spent as he wants it to be long after his demise.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)make 5%, 10%, 20%, 30% or whatever on its investments.
Foundations are usually set up to *hold on to* fortunes, not to disperse them. Foundations are set up to immortalize capital, and to keep it out of the hands of the state.
For a small price (5%), the heirs, friends, class associate of the deceased can continue to manage the capital, direct it into investments which favor their interests, use the power of the foundation to reward friends, family, associates, and to direct public policy.
It's one of the biggest scams going, which is why it's so disgusting to see everyone praising this guy (& all the other monied guys who do the same thing). He's not giving away his money.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Your post is sickening.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)sickening.
brett_jv
(1,245 posts)Fact is, dude could've done any number of less cool things with his money, such as: left it in a foundation directing all his $$$ to the NRA, ALEC, and the Heritage Foundation, or given it all to random no-account cousins, nephews, siblings (nobody really has NO family), etc.
The only difference here is that instead of just handing it ALL over to these charities right now, wherein the people in charge at these places at this moment in time get to decide how to manage/spent his entire fortune for him.
If it were my money, I'd do the same thing as this guy. What he's doing here is making it possible for all these different organizations to have a yearly stipend that is basically never-ending, in order to continue to exist, pay administrative costs, and do the works they're charged with over the course of multiple generations of their elected leadership. Why should he just 'hand it all over' to be managed at the whim of the people presently in charge of those outfits, rather than get to decide, along with the people he trusts, to provide the charities of his choice (ALL of whom I'm sure depend on 'foundations' set up in the same manner for their guaranteed incomes so they can continue to exist) with a basically eternal source of funds?
I think it's pretty friggin classless to blast a dying man who's giving so much to causes that ALL of us would LOVE to see be able to continue w/doing their good works just because you have some 'issue' with the way these types of things are normally done.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)unpacking them. Foundations are a tool for economic & social control. Any 'good works' that get done are strictly incidental.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)starting with tax avoidance.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)Thus, the taxes are not avoided.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)control of the cash is one of the main reasons for the existence of foundations.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)As 15 year tax CPA, I still don't see how you come to the technical conclusion you do.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)i don't see what's so hard to figure.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)Just means there is a larger "endowment" for charities. I don't see what is so hard to grasp.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)allow heirs, friends, business associates TO KEEP ARM'S LENGTH CONTROL OF THE PRINCIPAL, & indeed, grow the principal -- & use it politically, as well as the 'charitable' contributions.
I don't see what is so hard to grasp.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)Thus your arguments that it is for tax evasion are once again wrong. Again, as a 15 year tax CPA, you don't know what you are talking about.
However, I would love to know your expertise in this subject.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)trustees (who actually often don't get salaries) or for foundation staff (who do). another issue entirely.
http://www.gmafoundations.com/?p=1472
"as a 15 year tax CPA, you don't know what you are talking about"
lol. check your grammar.
i've been in or around the foundation world for decades. i stand by my claim.
but if you've been a cpa so long & know so much about foundations, why did you think trustees get salaries as a routine matter?
in fact, they don't: "Approximately one-quarter of U.S. foundations compensate their trustees in one form or another." = 3/4 DON'T.
If you're a CPA, why are you so willfully blind to what I'm talking about?
Mr. Cullman's argument gets to the heart of the different ways Americans donate to charity. Most of us write donation checks directly to needy causes. Those with greater means set up private grant-making foundations, which hold nearly tax-free assets in endowmentsand often give away as little as the government allows.
Under current tax law, private foundations are only required to spend 5% of their endowment per year. Twenty percent of that may go to operating expenses. Since endowment investments historically earn more than what they must give out, foundations may never need to dip into their principal assets, yet are able to feed their own administrative bloat in perpetuity.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704554104575435481403466748.html
PS: Since 20% of the 5% can be spent on overhead/administration rather than charity, that means you really only have to give away 4% of the foundation assets every year, and can spend 1% on your kid's salaries, for example.
Foundations are about big pools of tax-free dark money that can be used to manipulate politics, economics, and society. Via investment & other shadowy uses of the foundation's principal.
And since blocs of foundations are also aligned, huge pools of capital can act in concert -- for example, to boost or take down a stock, fund a particular line of business (genetic engineering, anyone?), etc.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)First, what the hell does grammar have to do with tax law? Second, the argument of salaries was made by someone else. I simply said they owe taxes on that income and there is no tax evasion. However, the fact that you think that shows my lack of knowledge makes it clear how far you are stretching. And yet, within your SAME post, you go back to claiming salaries paid to kids. You can't even keep your own shit straight.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)is a legal charge. foundations evade taxes legally. 4. that you are willfully blurring salaries for TRUSTEES (your original claim) & salaries for foundation staff & management (where you will typically find heirs) tells me you're just throwing stuff up & have no particular expertise in this area. 5. still ignoring the issue of retention & growth of the principal, i see.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)your assertions are assumptions. A continued fraud? A man gives away everything he has earned and will earn after his death and you call that fraud upon the public? Vile, repugnant stupidity posing as cynicism.
He's not preserving his fortune, he is giving it all away. He has no heirs. No heirs. All the money gets given away. All of it.
You are making up libels and should be ashamed of yourself.
Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)from a dog based helping charity. There was no help.
Pretty basic.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)who are supposedly "giving away all their money" a fraud on the public, yes. It's a fraud.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)I don't understand that.
AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)And given that The Simpsons will most likely be seen in perpetuity, that will add up to a nice chunk of change.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)receive anything.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)intellectual property rights.
Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)or the government. But this is my dog, and I would take a bullet for him. But they would not help. So, I can see this. I would think that a charity would help.
Stupid me.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)of shelter animals and training them as companion animals for Veterans and people with hearing impairments. One assumes the scope and breadth of activities will expand when the funding goes from about 20 million to who knows how much, 200 million or more....
http://ssfmobileclinic.org/wp-content/uploads/ssf_flyers/SpayNeuter_Current.pdf
http://www.samsimonfoundation.com/
http://www.samsimonfoundation.com/visitations.asp
Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)The broadcast implied a different scope, so I thought I would try to get help from a charity that specifically helped dogs.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)And it's done so a foundation can continue to do good works in perpetuity.
University endowments are set up this way.
Sid
AnotherDreamWeaver
(2,852 posts)there was a study in Spain reported here just a few days ago.
wundermaus
(1,673 posts)Seems that the medical industry is not interested in a cancer cure.
Too much money to be made from the sick and dying.
We have to find those cures ourselves.
Paul Stamets at TEDMED 2011
Strawberries versus Esophageal Cancer
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)WheelWalker
(8,956 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)The pharmacological cornucopia is to make cancers chronic, and that's were the industry focus lies.
Salk nearly ruined the "charity industry" when he went and gave away his cure, that's never going to be allowed to happen again.
Dr. Salk; "Would you patent the sun?"
The Medical Industry; "Can you tell us how?"
SunSeeker
(51,664 posts)But where do I get turkey tail mushrooms?
matthews
(497 posts)This guy is at the head of that list.
calimary
(81,441 posts)He was always available to speak to us reporters whenever we'd need a comment or reaction about something from the "Simpsons" department. Always friendly and cooperative. And now leaving a legacy for the Least of These.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)It's a shame folks like him die and fucks like Cheney continue to plague the world...
tofuandbeer
(1,314 posts)I can't help but wonder how many were pushed to the back of the line for that wretched freak.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)JohnnyRingo
(18,640 posts)I know the Simpsons have been around a long time, but The Drew Show seemed like eons ago. I had no idea the same genius was behind both
Good health to you Mr Simon, and thanks for your generous legacy, both in your bequest and your brilliant production.
nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)spooky3
(34,468 posts)cliffordu
(30,994 posts)I wish I could measure by half.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)You are a mensch from the navel out in every direction. Pass easily when the time comes, sir.
Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)I wrote a letter to them about two years ago to ask if they could help me with my dog and his leg. They emailed me back that they would not.
I then called them and the person there said they were not "set up" to help just any dog, only dogs that were, well, under certain guidelines that she would not discuss.
Sad that he is dying. Maybe he should have different people run the dog charity part.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)mobilizing. It does not exist to help 'the general public'. It's used to shape & mold society, i.e. it's a tool of social control.
Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)greiner3
(5,214 posts)But I treasure my ability to post, in general, on this site.
Have a nicer day.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)jeopardy?
sorry about that.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)impairments. Are you a Veteran in need or a deaf person? Why you'd claim they don't discuss their objectives is questionable, as it is all public as can be.
http://www.samsimonfoundation.com/
People reading your posts should read their website and think about it.
Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)joeglow3
(6,228 posts)Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)joeglow3
(6,228 posts)Like the joke about the women who will have sex with everyone but me.
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)I wish I were making that up.
Beaverhausen
(24,470 posts)The tone of this piece pisses me off. Many in Hollywood are very generous with their fortunes. Simon is among the many philanthropic members of the entertainment industry. He deserves the kudos but he is hardly "rare. ". http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-clinton-casey-wasserman-reveal-590405
bearssoapbox
(1,408 posts)It's to bad, that almost no matter how good someone tries to be, or tries make the world even one iota better, there is always someone that will kick dirt on what they try to do.
Maybe he should take all his money and put in in a pile and burn it. Have a weenie roast for the rich. Then every year have a money burning party to take care of all the royalties and other types of revenue that comes in.
You know...Instead of helping any person or dog that needs it.
I just hope that Mr. Simon doesn't suffer and I'm glad for his contributions to making the world a little brighter and funnier over the years.
I don't think I have missed an episode of the Simpson's since 'The Tracy Ullman Show'.
renate
(13,776 posts)... and then the goodness and genuine good intentions are met with criticism. Something that should be beautiful is smeared with ingratitude. It's not as though the world is crawling with good people doing good things--people like him should be celebrated.
Like you do, I hope his passing is a gentle one. Certainly his mind should be at ease. It must be a wonderful thing to leave the world better than he found it.
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)tclambert
(11,087 posts)TBF
(32,086 posts)serious animal rescue folks know they kill more animals than anyone else.
But I do applaud his efforts.
They_Live
(3,239 posts)That's the first time I've heard that statement. Just curious...
TBF
(32,086 posts)They_Live
(3,239 posts)Thanks for the link. I can't take them seriously ever again.
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)Strange logic you have there.
TBF
(32,086 posts)many more animals than you would expect from a "humane" and "charitable" organization. I look for local groups to give money to (which is easy because I've adopted dogs myself and assisted w/some rescue efforts locally) and also some of the larger organizations. But there is too much press out there about PETA's questionable tactics for me to support them.
Graphic warning - Huffpost article is helpful: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-j-winograd/peta-kills-puppies-kittens_b_2979220.html
duffyduff
(3,251 posts)to kill domesticated animals.
PETA will NEVER tell the public the truth about their nutball, extremist agenda.
Rebellious Republican
(5,029 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)G_j
(40,367 posts)totodeinhere
(13,058 posts)raging moderate
(4,308 posts)You will live on in the many lives you bless!
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)What a generous man.
Raine
(30,540 posts)being cut so short.