Perhaps the German government can make good decisions about where to spend money, since I know they put lots of money into science and culture, but I wouldn't t

Perhaps the German government can make good decisions about where to spend money, since I know they put lots of money into science and culture, but I wouldn't trust the US Congress to do the same. The US federal government is far more likely blow it all on the military weapons systems or funding tax cuts that benefit the wealthy rather than funding guinea worm eradication or anti-malaria initiatives in Africa. The typical US congressman is unwilling to spend money altruistically on things that aren't perceived as directly benefiting the United States. Sure, billionaires aren't saints either, but I think it's far more likely that they'll donate to causes that are geared toward having a positive long-term impact on humanity as a whole.