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Opening Arguments

Taking the pledge

More power to them:

SEATTLE — Forty wealthy families and individuals have joined Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates and billionaire investor Warren Buffett in a pledge to give at least half their wealth to charity.

[. . .]

Gates and Buffett estimate their efforts could generate $600 billion dollars in charitable giving. In 2009, American philanthropies received a total of about $300 billion in donations, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Doubling the amount of private giving -- pretty cool. I was going to do a comparison, though, to show how many days of federal spending $600 billion was equivalent to, but it made my head hurt. And Gates and Buffet say they're asking billionaires not just to donate "but also to pledge to give wisely." Don't think there are too many left foolish enough to ask the federal government to make that pledge.

Posted in: Current Affairs

Comments

tim zank
Thu, 08/05/2010 - 12:38pm

Here's a thought. How about this benevolent mix of wealthy Obama backers give that $600 billion to the government.

They believe in Obama's goals and policies so why give the billions to charities when they could give it to our efficient, accountable, and transparent government?

Ranger Bob
Fri, 08/06/2010 - 6:28am

Tim, That will happen the same day Bush ,Chaney & you start paying back the 1.5 trillion for screwing up 2 wars.

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