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hueymahl

(2,904 posts)

9. I don't understand the negative reaction to this post

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 03:50 PM

Jan 2014

What Gates is saying is that foreign aid works, that charitable programs work, that helping the poor works. This is a direct attack against the typical right-wing talking points that foreign aid is wasted and the veiled racist assertion that people in these countries are beyond hope.

Gates is making an optimistic statement to counter the negative drum beat of the right. Just because you think it will be difficult to achieve does not make it a good goal or a good thing to shoot for.

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Bill Gates: 'By 2035, there will be almost no poor countries left in the world' [View all] Redfairen Jan 2014 OP

I am beginning to think Bill Gates is an idiot. Squinch Jan 2014 #1

Yeah, what a dumbass hueymahl Jan 2014 #19

I hope he doesn't try to cure disease the same way he tried to improve education. He'll Squinch Jan 2014 #22

Gates has spent billions fighting polio, malaria, etc... he has inarguably saved lives. phleshdef Jan 2014 #25

beside the point, but fine, he has helped distribute cures and vaccines. unblock Jan 2014 #31

How is this particular line of magical thinking or delusion harming anyone? phleshdef Jan 2014 #32

again, off topic. the claim was that, at least on this point, he's a idiot. unblock Jan 2014 #35

I don't think the point he is making deserves an insult. phleshdef Jan 2014 #37

i think making outlandish statements pretty much calls for outlandish responses. unblock Jan 2014 #42

"had he simply said poverty would be reduced" is basically what he is saying phleshdef Jan 2014 #44

sure, that's exactly what he said, if you ignore the outlandish part. unblock Jan 2014 #45

Why are you so concerned about the feelings of a bazillionaire? Ken Burch Jan 2014 #80

Why are you so concerned that I think he shouldn't be insulted over this? phleshdef Jan 2014 #82

BULLSHIT. AtheistCrusader Jan 2014 #46

You cannot simultaneously eradicate poverty and have multi billionaires like Gates Fumesucker Jan 2014 #55

Yes you can. Nations so-defined are lifting out of that classification even as we speak. AtheistCrusader Jan 2014 #57

The excess wealth that makes billionaires is taken away from those at the low end Fumesucker Jan 2014 #61

Gates is not only spending his own wealth on this issue in other countries, he's AtheistCrusader Jan 2014 #62

So where does the money come from? Fumesucker Jan 2014 #63

Agreed. Put a hedge fund manager on an deserted island with a farmer and there is no chance GoneFishin Jan 2014 #86

Of course he's not our enemy . . . brush Jan 2014 #85

Uh...because it sounds like an argument for not CARING about poverty? Ken Burch Jan 2014 #79

No it doesn't. Thats absurd. The whole thing is about Gates caring about poverty. phleshdef Jan 2014 #81

There is a direct link between poverty and health care/family planning. AtheistCrusader Jan 2014 #43

Lots of optimism, but he lives in socialist Sweden. JDPriestly Jan 2014 #64

I'm hoping he is right. And I'm hoping that ordinary Americans and poor Americans can be lifted JDPriestly Jan 2014 #40

You are correct. Bill Gates is in fact an idiot. He has no idea what poverty means. Monk06 Jan 2014 #52

Beginning? tazkcmo Jan 2014 #70

he does not live in the real world Skittles Jan 2014 #76

I would be grateful if you would please kick his ass. Squinch Jan 2014 #94

WTF!!!!! bigdarryl Jan 2014 #2

He needs to share what ever he's been smoking FreakinDJ Jan 2014 #29

He's smoking too much THC !! warrant46 Jan 2014 #59

What is he going to share his wealth with them? The only way this could be true is if the 1% begins jwirr Jan 2014 #3

You realize, of course hueymahl Jan 2014 #12

I had forgotten that. But that still leaves most of the rich hording theirs. jwirr Jan 2014 #18

You and I agree on that hueymahl Jan 2014 #21

ACTUALLY AtheistCrusader Jan 2014 #51

The way he chooses to employ his wealth is a problem. truebluegreen Jan 2014 #47

Or perhaps just "no countries," given accelerated climate change.. villager Jan 2014 #4

that's easy.. Locrian Jan 2014 #5

And they're all be above average too. nt Xipe Totec Jan 2014 #6

And let the attack of the downers begin. AtheistCrusader Jan 2014 #7

Thank you! hueymahl Jan 2014 #17

Thanks for posting. ronnie624 Jan 2014 #98

Gates is the definition of megalomaniac. LeftOfWest Jan 2014 #8

I don't understand the negative reaction to this post hueymahl Jan 2014 #9

I do Watch this: Steve Jobs says world is getting better and by ayeOS 23 the world MyNameGoesHere Jan 2014 #13

I'm sorry, I have no idea what you are talking about hueymahl Jan 2014 #16

HOW DARE YOU! MyNameGoesHere Jan 2014 #20

Its just more cynical, reactionary Emo-DUer bullshit. phleshdef Jan 2014 #23

He's one of those people sulphurdunn Jan 2014 #10

poor countries? SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2014 #11

WTF!!! hueymahl Jan 2014 #15

All he is doing is serving his own interest SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2014 #26

Post removed Post removed Jan 2014 #28

No. I have a very high IQ. Lots of education. Read way too much. SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2014 #33

you may not be an idiot demwing Jan 2014 #67

I am sad that you do not understand. SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2014 #77

Each of your comments about Gates was ridiculous demwing Jan 2014 #92

It is amazing what people will believe. SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2014 #101

My rich fantasy involves demwing Jan 2014 #102

Wish you well. SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2014 #103

Let me get this straight demwing Jan 2014 #105

You have shown who you are. SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2014 #107

I bet you're a blast at parties demwing Jan 2014 #109

Enjoy your party time hot tub boy. SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2014 #111

There you go! demwing Jan 2014 #112

Early 90's Gates book didnt even predict the internet. ErikJ Jan 2014 #14

Could he explain again how vaccines lower the size of world population ? jakeXT Jan 2014 #24

I think his theory there makes a little bit of sense. phleshdef Jan 2014 #27

Also, the poster took the quote out of context hueymahl Jan 2014 #38

Gates is dropping acid beachbum bob Jan 2014 #30

he lives in a mind of his own.... madrchsod Jan 2014 #34

You mean except for the one you live in Bill? Dyedinthewoolliberal Jan 2014 #36

That was my first thought, as well. Kind of like multi-millionaire news reader closeupready Jan 2014 #87

Next up: Kelvin Mace Jan 2014 #39

Har dee har har! The only way that scenario occurs is if the poor countries are submerged by melting blkmusclmachine Jan 2014 #41

Because they will be under water or dead from Monsanto seeds? glinda Jan 2014 #48

The guy thinks his money ought to be spent as he sees fit. Enough said. 24601 Jan 2014 #49

Why 2035? Why not tomorrow? I can't wait that long. YOHABLO Jan 2014 #50

Yeah, right...... blackspade Jan 2014 #53

The result is idiotic with current disparity. Festivito Jan 2014 #54

And there'll also be a Starbucks on every corner. And free wi-fi. And curly fries. n/t Alkene Jan 2014 #56

If he really believes his prediction, then he's dumber than I thought he was. nt ladjf Jan 2014 #58

This guy? SecularMotion Jan 2014 #60

One of the dumbest comments ever..since? George W. Bush said everything.. Stuart G Jan 2014 #65

A tad premature me thinks fujiyama Jan 2014 #66

there are times when DU is just a negative place demwing Jan 2014 #68

Gates is someone who supports impoverishing skilled US workers in favor of closeupready Jan 2014 #88

And I'm one of those workers demwing Jan 2014 #93

Some (not all) great fortunes have both closeupready Jan 2014 #96

I'm not sure if there is more "the poor will always be with us" right-wing mantra here or pampango Jan 2014 #106

Agreed. It seems some folks want justification demwing Jan 2014 #108

This article left off this disclaimer Gates wrote: "I mean by our current definition of poor" DCBob Jan 2014 #69

So.... tazkcmo Jan 2014 #71

No, that's actually saying that if the definition of 'poor' *doesn't* change muriel_volestrangler Jan 2014 #95

I agree with his statement about their not being poor nations by 2035, but he neglects individuals. freshwest Jan 2014 #72

China is not considered wealthy by this metric mathematic Jan 2014 #75

This is the guy who.. sendero Jan 2014 #73

Unless you can personally shit out enough gold to make them all rich, Bill, Arkana Jan 2014 #74

Are you going to BUY them all, Bill? Ken Burch Jan 2014 #78

He's right. At this Capitalist 'infinite growth' self-annihilation rate, there will be no poor Amonester Jan 2014 #83

Billionaires are bestowed with mystical fortune-telline powers! PSPS Jan 2014 #84

He's right. There will be Haves and Have Nots. No middle class. No poor. Kennah Jan 2014 #89

heh--that's from Herman Kahn MisterP Jan 2014 #90

Fucking idiot with a lot of money and a horrible operating system. longship Jan 2014 #91

The liberal Center for American Progress: Ending World Poverty in a Generation pampango Jan 2014 #97

"And then the great interstellar Ark will come out from behind the comet ..." nt bemildred Jan 2014 #99

Before attacking the messenger, namely Bill Gates, one has to figure out his reasoning Xyzse Jan 2014 #100

There will be this one after the TPP TBF Jan 2014 #104

Made possible by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation jsr Jan 2014 #110