Charlie Rose

kimromancorle  08/05/2010 10:40 AM Report

Oh my, there is lots of angst out there - without over-thinking it, it seems safe to land on the simple: good is good, any effort towards helping another serves our higher purpose - to love and be loved - let's applaud their efforts and let some of the suspicion and sarcasm go, better to put our own energies towards helping someone, yes? :)

iLo  07/11/2010 02:05 AM Report

I appreciate the initiative and encourage its success... Yet, I'm still very confused about a global strategy and/or structure to manage, (regulate perhaps) and monitor ALL the philanthropic efforts targeting the major issues in the world. There are so many organizations, charities, independent donations, initiatives like this one, over the years from so many philanthropists and organizations... And now you are raising even more awareness... But, with all the help ans support, with all that money given in various ways, how come there isn't a major CHANGE in today's world, but rather we go into economic crisis causing even more disparity between the too rich and the too poor?! It feels to me like good intentions and actions going all over the place without a clear direction, global serious strategy. Still, amazing to see that yes, there's documented progress, but just not filtering down to a realistic, direct, impactive change, at a bigger scale... Isn't the help big enough compared to the needs?! I just don't get why, with so much wealth around... The charitable share through the years should've been enough to create infrastructures, which could change the way we live in this planet. Is the fact that the needs continue to arise, the reason why 'giving' is enough to think we've done just enough??

luckyman2002  06/28/2010 11:28 PM Report

In response to the broadcast it is great to see these people giving back to the world and perhaps if the world governments...Canada included could learn to spend more wisely alot of the worlds problems would be solved forever. In response to a past post that says that these individuals don't pay their fair of taxes, this is not their fault but the fault of the taxation system. Can anyone honestly tell me that if your IRS says you have to pay 30,000 in taxes that your going to turn around and say thats not enough make it 80,000. I try and help what little I can being on disability...but when Katrina hit I donated...when Nashville got flooded this year I gave...not alot but what I could...No I'm not an American but when tragidy strikes it affects us all. I always get a kick out of some people posts and yes everyone has the right to self expression, but its like some people are never satified and always try and rain on someone elses parade. All I have to say to axpayerforwealthy is you can't just give money to a poor person and expect them to thrive you need to teach people how to fend for themselves and spend the money wisely. You can go to a grocery store and buy fruit and vegetables or you can plant seeds and grow your own. You can go buy clothes from the store or buy a sewing machine and make clothes. If people in impoverished areas learned to work as a group and form small co-operatives they could make there money go further. I remember driving through Amish country in Pennsylvania an watching how they work as a community alot still plowing with a horse drawn tiller. The problem is that today most not all young people don`t want to work to earn, they feel they should have everything now..the house, car and every new gadget. I know because my kids are in this group but with their parents not having a lot they are having to earn everything.

hiziracil  06/26/2010 04:18 PM Report

Reverend, BUFFET, Gates, Rockefeller.

INTERFERENCE * Giving Pledge * I congratulate you.

Would BE GOOD EXAMPLE.

YOU, AS OWNER OF ASSETS you would give to ..

MR.ISMA?L TOPKAR living in Turkey,

BEHIND YOU and went.

LATE TELL was

66 860 PCS TO HOMES has built them, their workers.

86 years old. OWN A HOUSE BUY not to.

FAMILY FINANCIAL their donated, others.

GOODS NOT AS THEIR OWN WITH NO's.

Your PRE-THEREFORE YOU.

It .. REAL LEADER

AND i am proud.

BECAUSE, I'm a VOLUNTEER.

He LEADER, can introduce to you.

Regards.

Abdurrahim BARI

WWW.H?Z?RAC?L.TR.GG

TUGRA113@GMA?L.COM

ISTANBUL

TURKEY

johnm  06/24/2010 09:47 AM Report

One topic that wasn't discussed is the opportunity cost of donating 50% to philanthropy. What wouldn't be done with that money if it goes to charity?

taxpayerforwealthy  06/23/2010 06:09 PM Report

What a joke these characters are,years of transffering the US tax burden to the middle class, while they pay a paltry percentage of their income,leaving behind generations under the yoke of soaring deficits,then having the audacity to spend their billions on foreign countries whose citizens contributed nothing to their tax evaded fortunes, while the very Americans, who spent the money to buy their products and shouldered their share of the tax burden, plus the billionaires share rot in the streets. First take your money to the ghettos of America and the back country of Appalachia, set up some health care clinics in America to help the sick and dying who can't afford health insurance for their families,because the tax burden of supporting you freeloading billionaires is bankrupting their family budget. Even Buffet admits he should pay more tax, but I don't see him spending any money on changing the tax code. The immorality of you watching American poor and middle class, the source of your wealth rot while you trumpet your contributions to African and South American children is sickening. And if you run out of desperate Americans to help, you can use the rest of your donations to start paying a fair tax rate , how about 95% to start to make up for past tax loopholes and corporate welfare. Let's see if you or your wall street co-conspirators were to make say a billion, after taxes you'd be left with 50 million. Think you and wifey poo could make it through the year?

mfatah281  06/22/2010 05:20 AM Report

I must agree with the previous comment that there is something deeply wrong with the utter disparity between the haves and have-nots in the United States today. This form of capitalism I do not see changing anytime soon, unfortunately. With that being said, it is highly refreshing and encouraging to see some of the richest people in the US come forward and pledge stunning amounts of their wealth to excellent causes. It is because of discussions like these that I remain hopeful and optimistic at our future!

jospal  06/19/2010 01:25 PM Report

There is something wrong with a system where the ultra-wealthy can sit around and feel smug about giving back to society money which has been kept from the rest of us (i.e people who work for a living). If that much wealth had been available in the first place for the betterment of society there wouldn't be such a need now for philanthropy. I'm not criticizing the Gates' and Buffet. They are good decent people and are doing the right thing. And I'm not even knocking philanthropy. Everyone should give. But it is the unjust excesses of runaway capitalism in the last decades that empties philanthropy of meaning. It is not longer donation but reimbursement. Thank you.

Vazrakapars  06/19/2010 01:22 PM Report

Mr. Charlie grand salute to you and your team for the outstanding broad casting show that we as your audience receive from you! Would it be about business,finance such as, bankers, oil, trade, think thank or would the topic be about science & health where people how believes in angel and locking themselves in the closet start to walk, or penetrating into their soul quote, climate change, brain series, Genetic Cancer, politics, religion, Art & design and the list can continue in the same spirit that has a positive lecturing impact on your audience.

Because of this reason I am great full and wish you and your team a great success in the coming broadcasting show as well.

Hence I have a tiny request

Next time you and your team are going to visit Iran in purpose to make a interview could you bee so polite and record an segment of the interview about the hero’s of Iran that died during the imposed war when the PUPPET Sadam invaded Iran, their grave yard is located inside Tehran (Beheshte Zahra) Many thanks Charlie from a fan living inside Scandinavia.

salgadoce  06/19/2010 12:32 PM Report

I was interested in this program, not to hear their views on philanthropy or giving, but to see if they touched the issue of how that giving was made even possible, i.e., how they approached and thought about the accumulation of wealth throughout their lives, and the impact this accumulation had on the world, whether positive or negative, compared to the future benefits of their potential gifts.

That would have been much more interesting, but I fear it would have also meant forcing them to stare into the Capitalist Abyss, and perhaps having this abyss - and its stark consequences - stare back into them.

tonkatruk  06/17/2010 11:13 PM Report

In listening to this interview, I was struck by the depth of the answers and the apparent joy it gives to them. I've always viewed Mr Gates as aloof to most topics he discussed. I was obviously wrong in that regard as this interview illustrates that he very emotionally involved in this endeavor and he really enjoys the outcomes.

My family has always given resources to charitable causes with great enthusiasm. We certainly do not have the resources of which these benefactors speak, but our small contribution makes possible the subtle changes in outlook that affects everyone involved -- my brothers and sisters and parents and our friends who have been enlisted for numerous events can see the changes in our own lives. Money raised by a community is an investment in those less fortunate that reaps rewards for generations. As parents, we have a duty to give our children the opportunity to know the pride and esteem that comes with being a part of something greater than than our fleeting wants.

I am glad that Mr and Mrs Gates and Mr Buffett have taken on not just the causes they fund but the task of bringing the responsibility of expanded and future funding to those most able to provide it. Does their work negate mine? Not at all, it makes it more valuable than ever. More funding means more suffering alleviated and more opportunities for each of us to know the happiness and satisfaction that is apparent on Mr Gates face as he speaks of his work.

Cheers!

robdverity  06/17/2010 10:42 PM Report

cerule - pt taken. . . . damning.

cerulean  06/17/2010 08:42 PM Report

Buffett's good guy persona is melting away faster than an arctic glacier. His true indefensible isn't his jet, but his investments in and excuses for Goldman, Sachs and Moodys. Buffett may not be greedy in a materialistic sense, but he's ultra-competitive in a money as score way. Thus, he can never pass up a good money-making, but legal scam like Goldman or Moodys.

robdverity  06/17/2010 04:24 PM Report

Capitalism (perhaps) is too skewed. When the rewards of success pile up to be deemed (in a literal sense excessive - or in the participants case) more than we need or want, just maybe the mechanics of the system are flawed? Would Bill have walked out of his garage if the rewards were somehow less than they turned out to be?

Admire the three of them, but bettin they would have performed the same even with more modest rewards. Plus if the "difference" would not be a social benefit I suppose it's moot.

So why am I talking? Damned if I know. I quit.

agent99712  06/17/2010 02:12 PM Report

there are many ways to channel these funds, this effort of being philanthropic. they are targeting uber-wealthy individuals who may not be giving the way they truly want to, are able to or are aware of. it's a concept, a model, a framework to use your wealth differently. not just trust funding the family or generational-giving.

i advised high net worth individuals, with millions only ;) not billions and people are fearful of the unknown. so the gates/buffet union is aiding a very small population with most of the wealth, but there are also lots of mindful, thoughtful people who have less and who could be doing this too. hopefully they will do things a bit differently with regards to their marketing/branding of this and bridge to less wealthier individuals. let's face it, the u.s.s' overindulgence is hopefully coming to a slow halt and these funds need to go somewhere, not just amassing more wealth for people who do really have most of what they need.

'estate planning' and 'philanthropy' are not user-friendly terms, so most are put off by them.

melissa's reference to children being involved is also important. it can open up aspirations and thoughts that are attainable. i volunteer with disadvantaged children and exposing them to as many of life's possibilities is necessary. these kids deserve and desire it.

i definitely believe there is a 'market' for lack of a better term, for this, and not only because the czar's of wealth have spoken.

REMant  06/17/2010 02:11 PM Report

I suppose this publicity will pique some interest or emulation among the yacht-set, but any philanthropy professional will tell you the way to get capital gifts is to identify a leader in a geographical or other area and ask him to put the arm on two others he knows personally, and they to do likewise, etc. While we do have to have capital accumulation, and I'd rather private individuals than the govt do charity and venture capital work, I still wish this kind of situation could be avoided.

rps  06/17/2010 01:09 PM Report

These people unanimously profess the motive of "giving back." They are dead wrong. Philanthropy is an investment which displaces a different investment which otherwise would have been made, and whose benefits are now lost.