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Jeff Bezos Commits $10B to Address Climate Change

nytimes.com

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Re: Jeff Bezos Commits $10B to Address Climate Change

#231

Post by s1artibartfast »

oh_sigh wrote: post #223
s1artibartfast wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think 20% of tax revenue and 50% of discretionary budget goes to the military. I think this is too much and that there are areas with much better ROI where this money could be spent. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget

Ok, let's continue on. What percentage of the military budget do you think goes to bombing civilians in Afghanistan?

I was using the bombing of civilians as a illustrative example and dont know the true cost, as it would depend on how you choose to measure it.

For example, if you divided the appropriated 750 billion for the war in Afghanistan by the 40k civilians killed,you would get around 50 million per civilian. This neglects the time value of money, so in that respect, it would be an underestimate.

However, this is all besides the point I stated in my last post. It seems you have on opinion on the subject, and if you would like to discuss it, I suggest you state it plainly.

Re: Jeff Bezos Commits $10B to Address Climate Change

#232

Post by rapind »

chongli wrote: post #124
rapind wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We shouldn't care because it's better that a billionaire chooses where that money goes instead of a democratically elected government? I'm not poking fun either. That's really what you seem to be saying. Does this still work if he puts this money towards a cause you're not keen of?

Because the government is doing a terrible job with the trillions it already spends? What difference would 10 billion make to the US government? Basically nothing. This sort of knee-jerk antagonism against billionaires spending their money on philanthropic causes is so common these days. I think Scott over at Slate Star Codex has a very good piece on this [1]. [1] https://slatestarcodex.com/2019/07/29/against-against…

Nonsense. Parent stated Bezo's should get a 100% tax rebate. I never voted to subsidize Bezo's philanthropy to the tune of 100% of tax revenue, and I like to think I live in a democracy. Nothing I said was knee-jerk antagonism.

I gave $100 to the Girl Guides last week without any expectation of a 100% tax rebate. Who am I to decide that tax payer revenue should 100% go towards the Girl Guides? Maybe other tax payers would prefer it went towards something else?

As far as $10 billion being basically nothing... we wouldn't be talking about it if it was $100, but my opinion wouldn't change.

Re: Jeff Bezos Commits $10B to Address Climate Change

#233

Post by iso947 »

kaonashi wrote: post #218
bpodgursky wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you walk me through how it ends in anything other than Gates having given his money away through the Gates foundation? Also, for what it's worth (and I don't think this is even essential to the point), the Gates Foundation has an explicit mandate to spend down all reserves within 20 years of their death: > Also announced was the decision to spend all of the foundation's resources within 50 years after Bill's and…

He doesn't 'give money away' no-string-attached. He uses the donations to control the way the economy deals with the externalities of capitalism. It's fundamentally anti-democratic for that share of the world's economy to be driven by the whims of one man.

It is, but perhaps unfettered democracy isn’t a great system in the first place

Re: Jeff Bezos Commits $10B to Address Climate Change

#234

Post by mercer »

GreenJelloShot wrote: post #222
tetris11 wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Angry. The word you are looking for is angry. Its just a constant reminder that we live at the mercy of these elites, that our tax dollars don't appear to have any effect in bringing about the change that we want because these scumbags have rewritten the laws in their favour so that the money only concentrates towards them. What can we do about it? Absolutely nothing, but I'm sure as hell not going to pander to their…

Is there anything Bezos could do at this point that would NOT make you angry?

Somehow use most of his filthy amount of wealth, much of it acquired in filthy ways, to things that are not him?

I'm perpetually baffled at how one person having this much wealth is somehow considered okay. Sure, we can argue about where it goes instead, but jesus christ is this an unfathomable amount of wealth that really shouldn't be in one person's control.

Re: Jeff Bezos Commits $10B to Address Climate Change

#235

Post by GreenJelloShot »

mercer wrote: post #234
GreenJelloShot wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there anything Bezos could do at this point that would NOT make you angry?

Somehow use most of his filthy amount of wealth, much of it acquired in filthy ways, to things that are not him? I'm perpetually baffled at how one person having this much wealth is somehow considered okay. Sure, we can argue about where it goes instead, but jesus christ is this an unfathomable amount of wealth that really shouldn't be in one person's control.

I honestly cannot understand this attitude. It sounds like pure jealousy. You are saying that we should stop people from being too successful.

Bezos earned all of his wealth honestly. He offered products and services for prices that people were willing to pay. He did not steal. He did not force anyone into anything. If he is stupid rich, it is because he was able to provide things people wanted more effectively than anyone else.

How can you possibly justify punishing success? What right do we have to give him money for doing what we want, and then turning around and taking it away. What sort of message does that send to other people?

"Work hard and be successful, but not TOO successful..."

Re: Jeff Bezos Commits $10B to Address Climate Change

#236

Post by mercer »

GreenJelloShot wrote: post #235
mercer wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Somehow use most of his filthy amount of wealth, much of it acquired in filthy ways, to things that are not him? I'm perpetually baffled at how one person having this much wealth is somehow considered okay. Sure, we can argue about where it goes instead, but jesus christ is this an unfathomable amount of wealth that really shouldn't be in one person's control.

I honestly cannot understand this attitude. It sounds like pure jealousy. You are saying that we should stop people from being too successful. Bezos earned all of his wealth honestly. He offered products and services for prices that people were willing to pay. He did not steal. He did not force anyone into anything. If he is stupid rich, it is because he was able to provide things people wanted more effectively than…

I could go into the broader problem I have with a single person having that much wealth/power.

But really, mostly it's that Bezos is a giant piece of shit. His company has a long history of controversy and anything good he does doesn't erase that. That has nothing to do with all the upstanding people in the world who are trying to be 'successful'.

Re: Jeff Bezos Commits $10B to Address Climate Change

#237

Post by kaonashi »

iso947 wrote: post #233
kaonashi wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He doesn't 'give money away' no-string-attached. He uses the donations to control the way the economy deals with the externalities of capitalism. It's fundamentally anti-democratic for that share of the world's economy to be driven by the whims of one man.

It is, but perhaps unfettered democracy isn’t a great system in the first place

Not saying everyone needs to have the same level of say in the outcome of the economy, but there's a minimum below which the system becomes unresponsive to real human need and a maximum above which diminishing returns sets in.
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