4 ms·
I dunno. I think a $2bn endowment that hands out $200mm/yr to those who are most in need is pretty damned cool. Hopefully it's the beginning of what's to come
by a-dub 8y ago
I dunno. I think a $2bn endowment that hands out $200mm/yr to those who are most in need is pretty damned cool.
Hopefully it's the beginning of what's to come.
The thing to keep in mind is that the guy has $infinity and his company has infinity success. Neither have to continue as they have already won. What will define the legacy is what is done with the accumulated wealth, this seems to be a good first step.
... and yes, the PR is important. Maybe it will encourage more wealthy people to give back, in substantial ways even.
I don't see the value in sneering at philanthropy... ever.
- conanbatt 8y agoI think the "robber barons" of our generation are more ambitious than the previously known. Amazon could keep increasing its size for decades attacking the global market.
- johneth 8y ago> I think a $2bn endowment that hands out $200mm/yr to those who are most in need is pretty damned cool. Tax is a superior way of doing this. Tax and where to spend it is in principle decided by all the people, democratically, whereas this method is decided at the whims of one man who got lucky.
- fossuser 8y agoMaybe? I’d rather Elon Musk have his money, the same might be true for Bezos.
- quest88 8y agoWhere do you live? In the US this isn't true. In the US we've decided to democratically spend it on the military.
- johneth 8y ago> In the US this isn't true. In the US we've decided to democratically spend it on the military. So it is true. The People (collectively) have decided to elect those whose policies are to spend money on the military rather than other things. If you want to change this policy, you need to find likeminded people and together convince enough other people change their minds.
- quest88 8y agoI was using 'democratic' sarcastically (but I didn't do a good job conveying that). What I was trying to convey is that due to lobbying and corruption money eventually gets routed away from what the politician you voted for said they'd put money towards.
- gowld 8y agoIf by "military" you also mean Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, space exploration, K-12 education, and scientific research sure.
- dplgk 8y agoI'd like to see the budget for each of those services.
- jjeaff 8y agoTax might "hypothetically" the best way. But it has got to be one of the least efficient means to redistribute wealth ever.
- johneth 8y agoTwo questions: how are you defining 'efficient', and what are some more 'efficient' means to redistribute wealth?
- v_lisivka 8y agoWealth redistribution is not a goal. Goal is to avoid stratification of nation. And the most effective way to avoid stratification is progressive tax system. Efficiency can be calculated as (dollars spent on primary goal)/(total dollar spent).
- jjeaff 8y agoCapitalism. Not perfect. But by far has the best results so far.
- Kurtz79 8y agoAgreed. I find way too easy to be cynical and use the old tired arguments like "with all the money he makes these are just breadcrumbs" or "it is really just for tax purposes/PR stunt". This money will be used to help people in need, and it's all that should matter.