Buffett’s foundation, which focuses on humanitarian needs like agriculture, infrastructure and mine clearance, has contributed about $800 million to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, including $175 million in humanitarian demining.
I have mixed feelings about this headline. On the one hand, it’s good to see this much money going to a good cause. On the other hand, I firmly oppose the ability of any one person to control this much money.
Not the OC but the problem I have is in just one private citizen’s ability to influence so much military power. While historically this isn’t new and in this case it does overall good, I think that this kind of thing is a slippery slope that eventually could lead to billionaires funding wars to manipulate market elements for profit.
this is clearly reductionist. you can inherit that money and then utilize it effectively by donating it without destroying your ability to raise more money for donating. donating all your money means you have no investments to raise more money for donating. governments don’t do this, their goal is to spend taxpayer money to make the world a better place, while billionaires can only do the same if they keep an income stream.
I also hate that it just moves forward this idea of “individuals and charities will pick up the slack” when they dismantle everything good the government does.
I have mixed feelings about this headline. On the one hand, it’s good to see this much money going to a good cause. On the other hand, I firmly oppose the ability of any one person to control this much money.
Compare this one guy’s donation to a good cause against all the other billionaires donating money to the Heritage Foundation, MAGA, etc
Not the OC but the problem I have is in just one private citizen’s ability to influence so much military power. While historically this isn’t new and in this case it does overall good, I think that this kind of thing is a slippery slope that eventually could lead to billionaires funding wars to manipulate market elements for profit.
Billionaires “donating” to foreign countries sounds like bribes for rare earth minerals.
No billionaire is altruistic. Bill Gates is the best example.
An altruistic billionaire is an oxymoron. If they were truly altruistic, they wouldn’t be a billionaire.
this is clearly reductionist. you can inherit that money and then utilize it effectively by donating it without destroying your ability to raise more money for donating. donating all your money means you have no investments to raise more money for donating. governments don’t do this, their goal is to spend taxpayer money to make the world a better place, while billionaires can only do the same if they keep an income stream.
But billionaire kids do not do this. Warren Buffet is still alive too.
Another nefarious motive would be tax writeoffs to purchase goods at one of his own companies.
Never ever ever ever give a billionaire the benefit of the doubt. Ever.
The fundamental leap in logic to being a libertarian
The world would be better off if all excess wealth were perpetually redistribed
Yeah, we know. There’s hundreds of opportunities to complain about its use for evil. Let’s just appreciate it for what it is.
I also hate that it just moves forward this idea of “individuals and charities will pick up the slack” when they dismantle everything good the government does.