Comment What amazing PR (Score 1) 742
As this is my first post I'm not sure if this will be perceived as trolling, but anyway I am posting because I am astounded by the level of modded up posts either defending or pro Bill Gates and Microsoft especially as this is slashdot. Why the hell anyone would believe that Bill Gates is really just charitable and this is not him aggressively as ever, furthering the interests of himself and Microsoft with this foundation amazes me. Bill Gates is not leaving Microsoft, he has merely been delegated a greater role of furthering Microsoft in developing countries. In this BBC article he is quoted as saying there is a "common thread" between his work at Microsoft and the foundation. In undeveloped countries this common thread could refer to the influence his "charity" has on their governments to conform to TRIPS. For those of you who do not know what TRIPS is it basically ensures countries wanting to trade goods with the USA and other TRIPS countries respect the protection of intellectual property rights. Countries which do not conform can be disciplined with trade sanctions. And of course Microsoft's software is protected under TRIPS. An article written explicitly on the self serving nature of this 'charity' is located here. In developed countries this common thread also could refer the positive PR halo effect his "charity" has on Microsoft.
Another aspect of this is that from the gatesfoundation website roughly a third of money grants have been for education (over 2 billion). Ok cool, but we all know what operating system they are training teachers with, deploying in schools and setting up wider training facilities for. Basically Bill Gates and his foundation are planting the seeds of Microsoft in the people and their governments for future profit. You only have to look at the history of Microsoft and the types of people he surrounds himself with to know that this is just business as usual. Bill Gates has not gone soft, he's only 50, why would a such a ambitious guy stop doing what his does best now?
Bill Gates has made a twist to the saying "You have to spend money to make money" to "You have to give to 'charity' to make money".
Another aspect of this is that from the gatesfoundation website roughly a third of money grants have been for education (over 2 billion). Ok cool, but we all know what operating system they are training teachers with, deploying in schools and setting up wider training facilities for. Basically Bill Gates and his foundation are planting the seeds of Microsoft in the people and their governments for future profit. You only have to look at the history of Microsoft and the types of people he surrounds himself with to know that this is just business as usual. Bill Gates has not gone soft, he's only 50, why would a such a ambitious guy stop doing what his does best now?
Bill Gates has made a twist to the saying "You have to spend money to make money" to "You have to give to 'charity' to make money".
