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Paul Allen has pledged to give the majority of his fortune away[1][2], and has already founded the Allen Institutes for Brain Science and Cell Science, among ot

Paul Allen has pledged to give the majority of his fortune away[1][2], and has already founded the Allen Institutes for Brain Science and Cell Science, among other charitable endeavours (not that he's under any obligation to do either). So he spent a tiny fraction of his wealth on a yacht (which also employs people for what it's worth). Should he be putting 100% of his savings toward the benefit of mankind instead of only 99%? [1] http://givingpledge.org/ http://givingpledge.org/ [2] http://givingpledge.org/pdf/pledge-letters/Allen_Letter.pdf http://givingpledge.org/pdf/pledge-letters/Allen_Letter.pdf

lmm 11y ago
The percentage you give away is a less relevant measure than how much you keep. To me it seems obscene for an individual to own a 300ft yacht.
- kika 11y ago
  Just a few decades ago it was obscene for some civil individual to express their opinion on the public world wide network without DoD permission and security clearance. Shame on you!!
- Silhouette 11y ago
  To me it seems obscene for an individual to own a 300ft yacht. Well, OK, you're obviously entitled to your own opinion and principles. But where then do you draw the line between what is obscene and what is not? If you've ever travelled to a foreign country on holiday, you've enjoyed more luxury in those few days than many people in the world ever will, and you might have spent more money on your holiday than it would take to build a well in Africa and save a whole village from multiple hours of walking every day just to access potable water. If you've ever had major medical support paid for by some form of insurance or national healthcare provider, you've probably enjoyed better treatment than is accessible to most people in developing economies today. If you've ever had a $5 drink in a coffee shop, the money you spent on that could have bought an entire meal for a homeless person in your own city who is going hungry instead. There is always someone richer and always someone poorer. What we regard as obscene, in either direction, often seems to be more a subjective product of our own background and position on the scale than any objective measure.

lmm 11y ago

The percentage you give away is a less relevant measure than how much you keep. To me it seems obscene for an individual to own a 300ft yacht.

kika 11y ago
Just a few decades ago it was obscene for some civil individual to express their opinion on the public world wide network without DoD permission and security clearance. Shame on you!!
Silhouette 11y ago
To me it seems obscene for an individual to own a 300ft yacht. Well, OK, you're obviously entitled to your own opinion and principles. But where then do you draw the line between what is obscene and what is not? If you've ever travelled to a foreign country on holiday, you've enjoyed more luxury in those few days than many people in the world ever will, and you might have spent more money on your holiday than it would take to build a well in Africa and save a whole village from multiple hours of walking every day just to access potable water. If you've ever had major medical support paid for by some form of insurance or national healthcare provider, you've probably enjoyed better treatment than is accessible to most people in developing economies today. If you've ever had a $5 drink in a coffee shop, the money you spent on that could have bought an entire meal for a homeless person in your own city who is going hungry instead. There is always someone richer and always someone poorer. What we regard as obscene, in either direction, often seems to be more a subjective product of our own background and position on the scale than any objective measure.