Do you consider Bill Gates a charitable person?

[TechBoyJK]

Or regardless of how much he gives away to the poor and the causes he supports, will he always be a shady, ruthless businessman in your eyes?

 

[waggy]

those that don't are just blinded by ignorance and hatred.

 

[techs]

Can't he be both?

 

[Fritzo]

The guy's business practices gave him wealth. He knows how to play the game. What he does with his wealth is what counts.

Nobody saw Robin Hood as a villain. Kind of the same thing.

 

[blackdogdeek]

charitable? of course!

 

[kyrax12]

The guy's business practices gave him wealth. He knows how to play the game. What he does with his wealth is what counts.

Nobody saw Robin Hood as a villain. Kind of the same thing.

the wealthy saw him as a villain.

 

[SlitheryDee]

He's more charitable than I am.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Why wouldn't someone see him as charitable? I also find him to be one of the traitors to this country for his massive outsourcing campaing with his workforce.

 

[Platypus]

most definitely, not really something you can deny.

 

[Childs]

I always attributed that to his wife. He doesnt strike me as the kind of person who cares one way or the other. If he donates software and computers, its not just for the sake of charity. The people who need charity dont care where it comes from, so I'm not saying it doesnt count or anything. I might be mistaken, but I dont think he did charity until after he was married and she got involved in charitable works.

 

[Perknose]

The Power of Poon: Melissa Melinda Gates has transformed this greedy nerd, who made his billions on the back of the de facto OS monopoly he lucked into, into a smart, targeted and socially conscious philanthropist doing basic, real-life good in the world.

She didn't just save his soul, she gave him one.

 

[Blackjack200]

I thought her name was Melinda.

FWIW, I'm usually skeptical of incredibly wealthy philanthropists, but I have to say, I think the B&M Gates Foundation is amazing.

 

[leper84]

For every ounce of good he's done... there is monsanto.

 

[pelov]

Rich? Greedy? Charitable? Philanthropic?

or just plain seductive?

 

[PricklyPete]

I think very highly of Bill Gates and I think he is quite the philanthropist.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Who gives a crap...he amassed his fortune because he saw an opportunity. Who says he has to give anything back? How often do you donate money to worthy causes?

 

[waggy]

Who gives a crap...he amassed his fortune because he saw an opportunity. Who says he has to give anything back? How often do you donate money to worthy causes?

that's not the question. Only those still blinded by MS hate are going to say he is not one. The Gates give TONS of money to many different organizations.

He is doing good with his money.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

that's not the question. Only those still blinded by MS hate are going to say he is not one. The Gates give TONS of money to many different organizations.

He is doing good with his money.

Including creating many jobs overseas! Afterall, that is what the rich in this country are there for, to create jobs......overseas.

 

[BurnItDwn]

He was a shady ruthless businessman. Now he is using his amassed wealth as well as his "pull" for the betterment of humanity.

 

[slayer202]

Is this a joke?

 

[Train]

Including creating many jobs overseas! Afterall, that is what the rich in this country are there for, to create jobs......overseas.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_Microsoft_employees_are_employed_in_the_US

60% of MS employees work in the USA. MS has offices in all 50 states.

 

[Jeffg010]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_Microsoft_employees_are_employed_in_the_US

60% of MS employees work in the USA. MS has offices in all 50 states.

Interesting so 40% is working over seas.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Can't he be both?

Exactly. In the 80s and 90s he ruthlessly abused MS' monopoly power to extend it to new areas, crushing competition and stifling innovation.

Read up on the browser wars. After using a wide variety of dirty tricks to crush Netscape, MS then left IE to rot for years until Firefox showed up to kick MS into caring about browsers again.

But now he's using almost all of his wealth to help others, and getting other billionaires like Buffet to join him.

So: both.

 

[rudder]

Interesting so 40% is working over seas.

If you want your product to be a global product it makes sense to hire people in other countries.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I don't believe "giving money" fixes anything. In most cases it makes the problem BIGGER.

I also don't believe in "charities" as they are businesses that make money off of donations.

Is he a giving person? Sure