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The other thing the author does is to derive absolute findings when the author himself admits to making an assumption about how the numbers were obtained. To me
by FourthProtocol 14y ago
The other thing the author does is to derive absolute findings when the author himself admits to making an assumption about how the numbers were obtained. To me, using the word "lie" in the title is therefore nothing more than click-baiting.
And on a separate note - there's a lot of anti-Gates sentiment flying around lately. Whether his methods are the best or not, he's using his own money. I find it really difficult to give any criticism directed at Bill Gates' foundation any credence. And that not knowing much at all about what he does.
Maybe people would like Bill more if he did a Larry Ellison and bought a yacht instead.
- zasz 14y agoBill Gates's position as a famous wealthy guy means he has more of a responsibility than the rest of us to not put out misleading graphs. Even if he is spreading misinformation with his own money.
- btilly 14y agoBut Bill Gates is not putting out the graphs. This looks to me like someone trying to make the report look good so that Bill Gates will get positive press, think this was worthwhile, and fund them again.
- Evbn 14y agoMany would argue that Bill came by that money via illegal and unethical behavior, paid for by millions of consumers, so it is more like tax money than his own money.
- Evbn 14y agoLuxury taxes crimped the yacht industry and many workers. Fiscal conservatives would appreciate some support for the yacht industry.
- jacalata 14y agoPeople are arguing that he is using his own money to actively damage society. I'm not sure if I agree with that, but to say you can't criticize someone for what they do with their money is ridiculous - as an extreme, he could use his money to poison people, or to lobby for life sentences for marijuana use.
- FourthProtocol 14y agoI said Bill Gates, and not someone. And while I don't know how people think he's damaging society, if the article being discussed here is representative then I remain unconvinced. This is not an invitation to enlighten me. I'm not wasting my time reading yet another opinion, assumption or half-baked arm-chair allegation. The investment dollars and opinion of the likes of Warren Buffett are a much more compelling endorsement to me than (I mean this respectfully) members of HN.
- makomk 14y agoThere's a lot of distrust for any billionare meddling in the education system, and with good reason - they tend to push faddish ideas with questionable evidence, like this one, and somehow manage to convince the media they've "solved" the problems with the education system. Then the state wastes a whole bunch of money on the latest fad. Also, that's probably why the headline calls it a "lie". This is something of a pattern.