digg

Join DiggAbout

Digg Townhall Tonight!
Tune into the live Digg townhall tonight at 5:00pm PST/8:00pm EST.

See the original image at techcrunch.com —

Gates Argues A New Form Of Capitalism Can Save The World

techcrunch.com — Bill Gates in an interview with the Wall Street Journal today preceding his speech at the World Economic is arguing for a “new kind of capitalism.” Gates argues that “we have to find a way to make the aspects of capitalism that serve wealthier people serve poorer people as well.”

show profanity settings
expand all
  • ToeCracker, on 01/24/2008, -0/+9VIDEO Interview.
  • notque, on 01/24/2008, -16/+9Or remove capitalism all together. Basing human relations on competition between each other creates a very aggressive society more concerned with profit than people.

    We need a government decide by the people, for the people completely democratically. Without groups of people in charge, or leaders.

    We must grow through our own choices and experiences, and not be dictated by a minority of the rich. Or any other minority for that matter.
    • edstate, on 01/24/2008, -5/+13That is the most self-defeating comment I've ever read.
      "We must grow through our own choices and experiences" ...but you want Socialism?
      "We need a government decide by the people, for the people completely democratically." ...like California and their wonderful referendums?
      "Without groups of people in charge, or leaders." ...um, wha? Anybody but you in charge, there smartguy.
      /jeesh
      • notque, on 01/24/2008, -8/+10The very point is, no one person should be in charge including me. I want Democracy even if that means something I don't want, which would certainly happen in some respect. I'd rather it be the people who live here than a small group of anyone.
        • Waiting2awake, on 01/25/2008, -3/+7@noo

          at one point in time stating that men were better off as freemen rather than surfs and you would have heard all the same arguments. It is just about evolving into better people. Agreed that is hard, and not everyone moves at the same pace.

          What is being practiced today isn't capitalism anyway - Adam Smith wouldn't see anything remotely redeeming about the American "free" market.
    • JigoroKano, on 01/25/2008, -2/+11I'm all for various aspects of Socialism, but I think it would be short sighted to completely throw away the capitalistic incentive.
    • vault, on 01/25/2008, -1/+5No one would bother showing up for work if you were guaranteed to get paid the same amount as everyone else and there were no competition.

      Not everyone thinks like you do and they'd all have to in order for it to work.
  • HexeL, on 01/25/2008, -1/+14It's a fact, we're in competition with each other. It's nature's way and I accept that. But there's no reason why things have to get lethal. There's also no reason besides arrogance and self-delusion for believing you can make it all on your own.

    Someone changed your diapers for you. Someone shared their toys when you had none or disliked your own. Someone taught you how to read and how to write, and how to whistle and ride a bike. Someone who didn't have to, helped you with your homework, and helped you with some directions when you got lost. Someone helped you land that job, and meet that girl, and bought you a beer, and gave you a ride, and gave you a reason to believe in your fellow man. Self-sufficiency is nice. It's a worthy goal. But there's no reason we have to go at it entirely alone. To a large degree we're in this together.

    I guarantee you that out there, right now, somewhere in the universe, there's a people destroying themselves. This might be their last night as a species. And if they're not too busy crying or dying and trying to find a place to hide, they might just be thinking, "Where did we go wrong?" What wouldn't they give that they could be where we are tonight. A moment in time in which to reflect on the chance to embrace the best or the worst of their nature.

    There is not one single thing humanity has achieved in today's world that could not have been achieved 10,000 years ago if we'd only cooperated with each other. Don't you want to see what happens next? This is nothing, I promise you. There's a universe of infinite mystery staring us in the face, and it's there for you to give it the meaning you will, or the meaning you allow it to reveal.

    If we make it through the next hundred years with no retreat, we'll make it through the next million for sure. But that's going to take some introspection, hard work and a bit of luck. Here's hoping.
    • BigManOnCampus, on 01/25/2008, -0/+1In an ideal world, we would have capitalism populated by people who naturally help each other.

      In short... Communism provides a mindset that is the best way to treat your neighbor. Capitalism is the best basic ruleset for humanity. As long as you don't interpret one in the context of the other, you should be ok.
  • natedouglas, on 01/25/2008, -2/+23Microsoft Capitalism "beta." No scarier words have ever been spoken.
    • Frnnkdlxx, on 01/25/2008, -2/+2Capitalism Vista...
      That's it. I'm moving to Russia.
  • philange, on 01/25/2008, -9/+11A democracy that doesn't leave millions of it's citizens without health insurance? What a great idea!

    It's called a "Social Democracy" Bill. Available NOW at selected locations across Europe!
  • sherrife, on 01/25/2008, -2/+12Wow! A multi-billionaire says capitalism needs to be tweaked a bit!

    I wonder if he is willing to retrospectively enforce the changes, leaving him with just a couple of thousand bucks to play with...
    • LeRenard, on 01/25/2008, -0/+1They didn't get rich by being stupid. Warren Buffet often complains that taxes are unfairly skewed in his favor. He pays less taxes, relatively, than his secretary.
  • Frnnkdlxx, on 01/25/2008, -5/+10Ok. I'd like to start this off by first saying he should stick to software design and business management. Second, Let's just say, Bill Gates is not a "good guy". If you think the Bill and Melinda GAtes foundation is about good and reform, I'd like to educate you on a little foundation named Carnegie and Rockefeller. We all know how good they've been to the world.
    That said, when a billionaire talks about sharing his money with people, you should automatically consider the ulterior motives, whether political, economic, religious, or other. In this case, economic. When you hide all of your $40 billion into a tax shelter like the Gates foundation, we automatically conclude that you're an ***** intent on keeping his money from actually seeping in to the economy you live in to benefit the entire society. Therefore, why would I believe you care anything about the poor. I'd go out on a limb and assume that this "let's tax the rich so that we can give to the poor" style socialism is not really meant for the rich. They've always done little feints like this. (i.e. J.P. Morgan and co, sold the newspapers on making it look like the bankers hated the idea of a central bank or federal reserve, when the people caught on that the bankers didn't like it, that meant that they, the poor and ambitious, would benefit, and so they supported its enactment).
    Well you can expect that this will be some sort of socialistic plan, take from the "rich"-(yeah right) meaning the middle class and give to the poor, save healthcare, save the people, save the elderly, SAVE THE CHILDREN, save the environment, etc.

    Sorry to rant. But these people are SOOO obvious.
    • HexeL, on 01/25/2008, -2/+4I disagree with that assesment. Gates is using his money to attack the spread of common diseases that are afflicting tens of millions of people in the continent of Africa and killing millions of them each year. It may seem like a ploy not to pay taxes, but this man would still be an ultra billionaire if his income weren't sheltered.

      Your charge defies the evidenced facts. Look again.
      • bamafun, on 01/25/2008, -1/+3I agree.... taxes or no taxes he isn't running out of money anytime soon
      • Frnnkdlxx, on 01/25/2008, -1/+1Umm... Hexel... let's examine my "flawed assessment".. Africa.... with over $100 billion in "Aid packages" and "debt alleviation", Aids is still the highest and most prevalant there. Doesn't that make you question the truthfulness of their stated aims of bettering the peoples of that continent? If I was armed with $10 million, I could set up shop and mobilize the working population to secure an entire nation. Yet... with hundreds of billions, aids seems to be spreading faster. I think it's apparent the money is dropping into a black hole and I urge you to find the supposedly trasnparent documents of the GAtes foundations and others blessings. Because I'm sure you know, there are aids cures. There have been for years. Magic johnson and dr. boyd e graves has them. I think you should really do some ACTUAL research, instead of parroting what they tell you they're doing.

        Youre belief that their beneficent is akin to if you saw me pulling bag loads of money out of a bank with a ski mask on and I told you, don't worry, we're taking it to fort knox for safekeeping and you believed me, i'd simply assume you were braindead, afraid of acknowleding the truth or actively complicit in the covering up of the details.
        • HexeL, on 01/25/2008, -1/+1Magic Johnson has HIV, not AIDS. And that is because he can afford the kind of drugs that will keep him healthy if he takes added precautions.

          If you know of the cure for AIDS you should share it. But don't malign a man you do not know when all the available evidence points to the fact that he is making a measurable difference in the lives of people who would otherwise surely be dead.

          http://www.gatesfoundation.org/GlobalHealth/Pri_Di ...
  • angusm, on 01/25/2008, -0/+7"Hello, poor people - thanks for all the cheap labor and the raw materials. Here are some crumbs from the rich folks' table. Enjoy."

    Sure, capitalist enterprises could do something for the world's poor. Will they? I can't say, but I suggest you don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen. Historically, corporate philanthropy - which is what Gates is recommending - has seldom amounted to much more than a drop in the bucket.
  • maxyRO, on 01/25/2008, -0/+3Looking forward to another downward spiral such as Vista.
  • jphicks, on 01/25/2008, -1/+3I would say, from my perspective, most of comments are missing the point. Rather than the fairly egocentric and (no pun intended...well, maybe that's not completely true) micro view of the title and Gates' perspective, it is my opinion he is referring not to the U.S. middle class, but to the lowest two billion that are starving, dying of malaria and for whom a roof with a dirt floor is huge step up. For these, such programs as micro loans etc, are the types of creative capitalism that makes sense and is anything but the feared "socialism" mentioned previously.
  • alexander13, on 01/25/2008, -0/+2Much progress has been made in technology, though some has an Orwellian tone, over the last 10 years especially. The current environment is fostering that and should continue on. Gates is a visionary and his suggestions should always be carefully weighed and considered for implementation.
    • ToeCracker, on 01/25/2008, -0/+1Gates can voice his opinions and should be considered a big enough powerhouse to get people to take notice. Time will tell.
  • ToeCracker, on 01/25/2008, -1/+1Good to see Diggs algo. is working perfectly. This sat at the top of upcoming for 13-14 hours, had 141 diggs, 36 comments at the one day mark with 67 non friends digging . . . must be a crap story. lol. I give up.
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.