Live data from Hacker News

My new deadline: 20 years to give away virtually all my wealth

gatesnotes.com

31–40 of 704 posts

Re: My new deadline: 20 years to give away virtually all my wealth

#32

Last time he pledged to give away half his wealth over x years didn't it basically tripple during that period?

It seems weird to write this, but:

In the billionaire’s defense, he probably didn’t plan on us as a society deciding to shoveling money at his class as quickly as we possibly could.

Re: My new deadline: 20 years to give away virtually all my wealth

#34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gates has been advocating for higher taxes to people like him for a while.

Look at outcomes, not words and ambitions.

What control does he have over that outcome that he has not already exercised?

Re: My new deadline: 20 years to give away virtually all my wealth

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gates has been advocating for higher taxes to people like him for a while.

Is anyone stopping him, et al, from just paying more? There's an option for that on US tax forms (though I'm guessing tax returns for billionaires are a little more complex than what a Form 1040 can handle).

People suggest this often whenever a rich person says they should pay more taxes but unless I can specifically say I want my extra taxes to go to a specific government agency or office, I have no idea why I would do this. Just so Boeing can get a larger contract with my extra taxes? At that point I would just donate directly to causes that support what I want instead of dealing with the middle man.

Re: My new deadline: 20 years to give away virtually all my wealth

#38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gates has been advocating for higher taxes to people like him for a while.

Look at outcomes, not words and ambitions.

There is nothing inconsistent about wanting a society’s tax structure to change, but also not sacrificing yourself (which the donations kind of are).

I want X rules, but I will play by whatever rules exist at the time.

Re: My new deadline: 20 years to give away virtually all my wealth

#39
His foundation really does seem to do a good job with 'effective altruism'. There's a reason they're marked as secondary beneficiaries on all my accounts.

Also, as a recommendation, you guys should look into whether your employer matches charitable donations to 501Cs in any amount. I find giving a solid chunk of my discretionary budget to charity every year lends a sense of purpose to a job that wouldn't otherwise have much (at least, in the sense of helping others).

I enjoy being a dev, and I've given serious thought to simply continuing working once I reach my FIRE number and donating half of what I earn to charity. I think most charities would have more use for my money than my time, given my disability

Re: My new deadline: 20 years to give away virtually all my wealth

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gates has been advocating for higher taxes to people like him for a while.

Is anyone stopping him, et al, from just paying more? There's an option for that on US tax forms (though I'm guessing tax returns for billionaires are a little more complex than what a Form 1040 can handle).

> Though I'm guessing tax returns for billionaires are a little more complex than what a Form 1040 can handle

Even billionaires file a 1040. They just file a whole lot of other forms with it.

But at the end of the day, it all rolls up to the same 1040 that you and I use. :)

Post reply on HN