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In case this doesn't get deleted, here's a Bill Gates quotation: "A few billion people would have to die if we hadn't come up with fertilizer." Not just in thi

by ekr 13y ago

In case this doesn't get deleted, here's a Bill Gates quotation: "A few billion people would have to die if we hadn't come up with fertilizer." Not just in this case but he's confusing the cause and effect. The last century's rise in human population, and any rise in general is caused by more food and resources being available. There's always a balance. On an unrelated note, I'm sure that his choices about spending his money are better than those of many philantropists, but there is sure room for improvement (education).

skc 13y ago
Hey I'm just glad someone out there is doing /something/ instead of just being a talking head on TV all the time. Flaws and all, he's putting his money where his mouth is. Kudos.
solutionyogi 13y ago
He is managing his foundation just like his company. He is not throwing money away. I was really impressed with that vaccine refrigerator which was invented so that vaccines can be kept cool for 50 days without any electricity. I think his focus on using technology to solve problems will be a game changer. In 20 years, we will all be thankful to Bill Gates for solving problems which has been haunting civilization for a long time. To address your point about education, he is an active supporter of Khan Academy. I think it's better for him to pick something like Khan Academy and give him all the financial support and attach other areas where there are not enough smart people working on to solve hard problems.
chr1 13y ago
Full quote is "We couldn't feed" stops picking the word "A few billion people would have to die if we hadn't come up with fertilizer." >Not just in this case but he's confusing the cause and effect. Why do you assume he doesn't understand a trivial thing? "wouldn't be able to live" -> "would have to die" is an easy mistake to do while speaking
melling 13y ago
I think you're making the common mistake many people make. That is, you're smart enough to understand how to best spend a small fortune but you're not smart enough to earn it in the first place. From the sidelines, it all seems so easy. The 'critic' vs the Man in the Arena is one of the big problems that humanity needs to solve. http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html
bcoates 13y ago
Both undernourishment and birth rates are going down, while food production per capita is going up. Food availability is not the driver of world population levels and has not been for some decades now.

by ekr 13y ago

skc 13y ago

Hey I'm just glad someone out there is doing /something/ instead of just being a talking head on TV all the time. Flaws and all, he's putting his money where his mouth is. Kudos.

solutionyogi 13y ago

He is managing his foundation just like his company. He is not throwing money away. I was really impressed with that vaccine refrigerator which was invented so that vaccines can be kept cool for 50 days without any electricity. I think his focus on using technology to solve problems will be a game changer. In 20 years, we will all be thankful to Bill Gates for solving problems which has been haunting civilization for a long time. To address your point about education, he is an active supporter of Khan Academy. I think it's better for him to pick something like Khan Academy and give him all the financial support and attach other areas where there are not enough smart people working on to solve hard problems.

chr1 13y ago

Full quote is "We couldn't feed" stops picking the word "A few billion people would have to die if we hadn't come up with fertilizer." >Not just in this case but he's confusing the cause and effect. Why do you assume he doesn't understand a trivial thing? "wouldn't be able to live" -> "would have to die" is an easy mistake to do while speaking

melling 13y ago

I think you're making the common mistake many people make. That is, you're smart enough to understand how to best spend a small fortune but you're not smart enough to earn it in the first place. From the sidelines, it all seems so easy. The 'critic' vs the Man in the Arena is one of the big problems that humanity needs to solve. http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html

bcoates 13y ago

Both undernourishment and birth rates are going down, while food production per capita is going up. Food availability is not the driver of world population levels and has not been for some decades now.