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"BNSF is the rail road of the world’s fourth wealthiest man, Warren Buffet. Through San Pablo it pulls thousands and thousands of tanker cars filled w

"BNSF is the rail road of the world’s fourth wealthiest man, Warren Buffet. Through San Pablo it pulls thousands and thousands of tanker cars filled with hazardous crude petroleum and refined petrochemical products. Warren’ Buffet’s net worth of $53.5 billion is 45 times greater than the total assessed value of all the land and buildings in the city of San Pablo. In 2013 Warren Buffett’s wealth grew by $37 million a day. In contrast, the average worker living in San Pablo earned $106 a day." Yes, it would be nice if every one of Warren Buffett's investments never did no wrong, but I found this to be a supremely unfair criticism of Warren Buffet, since the overwhelming majority of those $37 million dollars per day is going to go toward philanthropist aims once the man croaks. Furthermore, he's is the most ardent promoter of getting most wealthy people to most of leave their money to charity as opposed to their heirs. At the end of the day, WB didn't invest in the chemical plants their. He invested in a railroad company that built the road to the plant. I guess you could say his company is an enabler, however that railroad was going to be built one way or another because a wealthy customer willing to pay for it existed and there is nothing illegal or immoral about paying to have someone build you railroad access for your business. If the author wants to villify someone, he should focus on Shell and Valero instead of WB.

geogra4 13y ago
I don't think it's unreasonable to hold the extraordinarily wealthy to extraordinary standards.
thrownaway2424 13y ago
The railroad has been there for 125 years. Warren Buffet merely owns it at the present.
- melling 13y ago
  In fact, he only bought it in 2009. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33599744/ns/business-us_business/t/buffett-buying-burlington-northern-railroad/#.UrdgSX-9KSM http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33599744/ns/business-us_business/t...
incision 13y ago
On a related note, I remember when Buffet started investing in rail. As with virtually everything he does there was a chorus of analysts calling him senile and subsequently laughing at the lack of instant returns. Although his incredible bankroll surely affords him an ability to invest in ways others simply can't, he consistently seems to "get it" in ways others just don't.
wmf 13y ago
the overwhelming majority of those $37 million dollars per day is going to go toward philanthropist aims once the man croaks Is it better to distribute economic surplus immediately through higher wages or later through philanthropy? Economists have probably studied this question but I don't know how to find that research.
patrickaljord 13y ago
> If the author wants to villify someone, he should focus on Shell Why vilify Shell? Because they extract the oil you're happy to use for your daily commute, travels around world, visiting your family or going to a wedding, every piece of plastic or oil derived products you're happy to use. Knowing that they do so by exploring the deep seas, digging using amazing technologies in extreme places around the world hiring plenty of people and offering the result at less than a few cents per barrels before taxes. Isn't that amazing? Why be mad at or vilify them? If anything, we should thank them for doing that amazing work on so many levels and making our lives better. Now sure, accidents happen, but we have to take risks in life if we want to progress otherwise we'd still be cavemen. I know it's cool and all to vilify oil companies, but it's hypocritical to say the least when you enjoy their product every single day.

geogra4 13y ago

I don't think it's unreasonable to hold the extraordinarily wealthy to extraordinary standards.

thrownaway2424 13y ago

The railroad has been there for 125 years. Warren Buffet merely owns it at the present.

melling 13y ago
In fact, he only bought it in 2009. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33599744/ns/business-us_business/t/buffett-buying-burlington-northern-railroad/#.UrdgSX-9KSM http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33599744/ns/business-us_business/t...

incision 13y ago

On a related note, I remember when Buffet started investing in rail. As with virtually everything he does there was a chorus of analysts calling him senile and subsequently laughing at the lack of instant returns. Although his incredible bankroll surely affords him an ability to invest in ways others simply can't, he consistently seems to "get it" in ways others just don't.

wmf 13y ago

the overwhelming majority of those $37 million dollars per day is going to go toward philanthropist aims once the man croaks Is it better to distribute economic surplus immediately through higher wages or later through philanthropy? Economists have probably studied this question but I don't know how to find that research.

patrickaljord 13y ago

> If the author wants to villify someone, he should focus on Shell Why vilify Shell? Because they extract the oil you're happy to use for your daily commute, travels around world, visiting your family or going to a wedding, every piece of plastic or oil derived products you're happy to use. Knowing that they do so by exploring the deep seas, digging using amazing technologies in extreme places around the world hiring plenty of people and offering the result at less than a few cents per barrels before taxes. Isn't that amazing? Why be mad at or vilify them? If anything, we should thank them for doing that amazing work on so many levels and making our lives better. Now sure, accidents happen, but we have to take risks in life if we want to progress otherwise we'd still be cavemen. I know it's cool and all to vilify oil companies, but it's hypocritical to say the least when you enjoy their product every single day.