Bill Gates: The Market Drives the Wrong Science

[Knucklehead]

Originally Posted by Dr. Funkenstein

His statement ("there's no reason only poor people should get malaria") was completely false. There are many reasons. Rich people should be able to avoid malaria...and do. The thought behind his statement is one I have a kneejerk reaction against every time I hear someone express it: "it's not fair that those people are suffering and you're not, so I'm going to make you suffer". It goes right along with "it's not fair that you get to succeed while others fail, so I'm going to take your success away".

I came away from reading that article with a different reaction. In a profit-oriented society, science is driven by the rich, and in a greed-driven society the rich drive science where ever they want. Which made me think that Gates is a rather altruistic fellow. Given how rich he is, he could easily hop into the driver's seat to push for a cure for restless legs, tennis elbow, or whatever other illnesses disproportionately affecting western, more industrialized nations. Some may argue there are plenty of equally worthy and terrible diseases that afflict millions around the world, but Gates stood up and said, "I'm not driving science for the upper-crust or the middle-class; there are plenty doing that already. I'm driving for the people who don't even know what science is, and I want you to not worry about your bald spot or your limp dick for one second, and get out there and do something truly revolutionary: Spend money on something without a celebrity survivor; support something that's not brave or sexy. And maybe when you die your worthless carcass won't be remembered for the abortion that was Windows ME."

Or something to that effect.

[Sutekh]

That's a good take. Bill Gates is a very intelligent man, I don't think he would pull a stunt without good reasoning for it.

[GrobbeeTrull2.0]

Originally Posted by Knucklehead

I came away from reading that article with a different reaction. In a profit-oriented society, science is driven by the rich, and in a greed-driven society the rich drive science where ever they want. Which made me think that Gates is a rather altruistic fellow. Given how rich he is, he could easily hop into the driver's seat to push for a cure for restless legs, tennis elbow, or whatever other illnesses disproportionately affecting western, more industrialized nations. Some may argue there are plenty of equally worthy and terrible diseases that afflict millions around the world, but Gates stood up and said, "I'm not driving science for the upper-crust or the middle-class; there are plenty doing that already. I'm driving for the people who don't even know what science is, and I want you to not worry about your bald spot or your limp dick for one second, and get out there and do something truly revolutionary: Spend money on something without a celebrity survivor; support something that's not brave or sexy. And maybe when you die your worthless carcass won't be remembered for the abortion that was Windows ME."

Or something to that effect.

Exactly. Of course, this was lost on the initial flurry of reactionary posters who made some sort of statement to the effect of "LOL HE WANTS TAX MONEY FOR AFRICA" which, well.... yeah.

I suppose some people just can't stand to see people doing something that benefits others. We've seen "they dont deserve malaria cures", "Why should they get malaria cures, it's natural population control" and "But my rare disease is more important than their common disease" and "LOL BLACK PEOPLE DYING" in this thread. I suppose I can't expect much more than that.

[Lucane Darkseraphim]

Originally Posted by GrobbeeTrull2.0

Exactly. Of course, this was lost on the initial flurry of reactionary posters who made some sort of statement to the effect of "LOL HE WANTS TAX MONEY FOR AFRICA" which, well.... yeah.

I suppose some people just can't stand to see people doing something that benefits others. We've seen "they dont deserve malaria cures", "Why should they get malaria cures, it's natural population control" and "But my rare disease is more important than their common disease" and "LOL BLACK PEOPLE DYING" in this thread. I suppose I can't expect much more than that.

This thread, perhaps more than most all others I have suffered through, displays the complete and total idiocy of some posters. Combine the sheer lack of brains with the selfishness displayed in early posts... detestable.

[Sutekh]

And the pure nerd rage of Grobbe

[Haka Shakamalakabalsaka]

For those who bitched about Gates not spending enough money in the US... take a look at that Wiki's section on his work on improving Education. Even I, as a Canadian, knew about his efforts on trying to improve your schools down there.

I'll highlight just one line:

Gates Millennium Scholars
Administered by the United Negro College Fund the foundation donated US$1 billion for scholarships to high achieving minority students.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

United States Program
Under President Allan Golston, the United States Program has made grants such as the following:


U.S. Libraries
In 1997, the foundation introduced a U.S. Libraries initiative with a goal of "ensuring that if you can get to a public library, you can reach the Internet." The foundation has given grants, installed computers and software, and provided training and technical support in partnership with public libraries nationwide.

Most recently, the foundation gave a $12.2-million grant to the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) to assist libraries in Louisiana and Mississippi on the Gulf Coast, many of which were damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.


Education
Carnegie Mellon University
The Foundation gave US$20 million to the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science for a new Computer Science building which will be named the Gates Center for Computer Science.[27]
D.C. Achievers Scholarships
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced March 22, 2007 a $122 million initiative to send hundreds of the District of Columbia's poorest students to college.[28]
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Donated US$210 million in October 2000 to help outstanding graduate students outside of the United Kingdom study at the University of Cambridge. Approximately 100 new students every year are funded.[29]
Gates Millennium Scholars
Administered by the United Negro College Fund the foundation donated US$1 billion for scholarships to high achieving minority students.[30]
NewSchools Venture Fund
The Foundation contributed US$30 million to help NewSchools to manage more charter schools, which aim to prepare students in historically underserved areas for college and careers.
Strong American Schools
On April 25th, 2007, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation joined forces with the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation pledging a joint $60 million to create Strong American Schools, a nonprofit project responsible for running ED in 08, an initiative and information campaign aimed at encouraging 2008 presidential contenders to include education in their campaign policies.[31]
Texas High School Project[32]
University Scholars Program
Donated US$20 million in 1998 to endow a scholarship program at Melinda Gates' alma mater, Duke University.[33] The program provides full scholarships to about 10 members of each undergraduate class and one member in each class in each of the professional schools (Schools of Medicine, Business, Law, Divinity, Environment, and Nursing), as well as to students in the Graduate School pursuing doctoral degrees in any discipline. Graduate and professional school scholars serve as mentors to the undergraduate scholars, who are chosen on the basis of financial need and potential for interdisciplinary academic interests. Scholars are chosen each spring from new applicants to Duke University's undergraduate, graduate, and professional school programs. The program features seminars to bring these scholars together for interdisciplinary discussions and an annual spring symposium organized by the scholars.
Washington State Achievers Scholarship
The Washington State Achievers program encourages schools to create cultures of high academic achievement while providing scholarship support to select college-bound students.
William H. Gates Public Service Law Program
This program awards five full scholarships annually to the University of Washington School of Law. Scholars commit to working in relatively low-paying public service legal positions for at least the first five years following graduation.[34]

Pacific Northwest
Discovery Institute
Donated US$1 million in 2000 to the Discovery Institute and pledged US$9.35 million over 10 years in 2003, including US$50,000 of Bruce Chapman's US$141,000 annual salary. According to a Gates Foundation grant maker, this grant is "exclusive to the Cascadia project" on regional transportation, and it may not be used for the Institute's other activities, including promotion of intelligent design.
Rainier Scholars
Donated US$1 million
Computer History Museum
Donated US$15 million to the museum in October, 2005.[35]