Bill Gates (M$): Peacenik? - Democratic Underground

Truth Talks

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:23 PM
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Bill Gates (M$): Peacenik?

Gee, it must be nice to have enough money to buy goodness...

"He visited India to assess the foundation's programs and receive the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development on behalf of the foundation."

Excuse my ignorance, but what has Bill Gates or his investment firm - the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - done to promote peace and disarmament? Has Gates ever spoken out against the invasion of Iraq? Afghanistan? Pakistan? Gates was a prominent supporter of George W. Bush, who rescued Microsoft from justice after the Dept. of Justice nailed it for anti-trust violations.

"His appearances seemed to be a mix of the foundation's work and Microsoft's mission."

Exactly. Bill Gates' reitrement from Microsoft was just a publicity stunt. Bill Gates will forever be the ultimate capitalist pig.

"Gates said Microsoft would like to partner with the Indian government in a project to provide each of India's 1.17 billion citizens with a unique identity number and biometric card."

Hmmmm...am I the only person who finds that a little disturbing?

"The visit came after recent suggestions that the Gates Foundation's Avahan program has not lived up to its goals of curtailing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The $258 million initiative has been led by highly paid business consultants rather than people with public health experience."

That's pretty typical of Bill Gates' health initiatives. (So what disease is Bill Gates trying to find a cure for this week, by the way?)

"After the Indian government balked at taking on what has become one of India's largest health programs, the Gates Foundation increased its funding by $80 million."

There you go. Reminds me of the time Bill Gates flew to Peru to donate some money to schools in an attempt to sway legislation that threatened Microsoft's bottom line.

For me, the most startling thing is the news that Bill Gates was awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. If Gandhi was alive today, Gates would probably offer him $100 million in an attempt to persuade him to help market M$ software. What a sleazebag.

Two words missing from Gates Foundation vocabulary

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JI7

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:31 PM
Response to Original message

1. this is "Indira Gandhi" NOT Mahatma Gandhi and not related to Mahatma either

Indira wasn't about Peace either so it makes sense he got this award.

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Truth Talks

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:36 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. Still...

Sorry, my mistake. But it really doesn't change anything. How does Bill Gates or the Bill & Melinda Gates Invetment Firm merit an award for PEACE and DISARMAMENT? I'm sure we could find some examples of rhetoric and token initiatives, but Gates is a virtual politician in his disdain for speaking out on any issues.

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boppers

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:36 PM
Response to Original message

2. Alfred Nobel: Peacenik?

There's a trend throughout history where people of rather disturbing, self interested, motivations change for the better in their twilight years, once they realize that they can't take it with them.

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Truth Talks

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:38 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. Bill Gates hasn't changed.

A repentant Bill Gates would be hard to miss. But Bill Gates and his lawyer father are still playing the same game. Microsoft's the same sham, and taxpayers got bilked when the Gates Foundation moved its headquarters.

Bill Gates will never change.

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boppers

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. I'm thinking this is partially Melinda's influence.

Factsheet:

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/Pages/foundation-fact-sheet.aspx

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Deja Q

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:39 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. It's also true that some people never change. What you said a prejudged stereotype of a group.

Time will tell; it always does.

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boppers

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:43 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. "What you said a prejudged stereotype of a group"

What do you mean? I don't understand.

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izquierdista

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:52 PM
Response to Original message

8. Spelling error

It's Bill Gates -- Piece-nik. No matter what software you want on your computer, he gets a piece of the sale.

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boppers

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Fri Jul-31-09 09:57 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. Uh, not on my Ubuntu box.

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