Bill gates annual letter, note his point about climate change. – Anthony
By almost any measure, the world is better than it has ever been. People are living longer, healthier lives. Many nations that were aid recipients are now self-sufficient. You might think that such striking progress would be widely celebrated, but in fact, Melinda and I are struck by how many people think the world is getting worse. The belief that the world can’t solve extreme poverty and disease isn’t just mistaken. It is harmful. That’s why in this year’s letter we take apart some of the myths that slow down the work. The next time you hear these myths, we hope you will do the same.
…I am optimistic enough about this that I am willing to make a prediction. By 2035, there will be almost no poor countries left in the world. (I mean by our current definition of poor.)2 Almost all countries will be what we now call lower-middle income or richer. Countries will learn from their most productive neighbors and benefit from innovations like new vaccines, better seeds, and the digital revolution. Their labor forces, buoyed by expanded education, will attract new investments.
A few countries will be held back by war, politics (North Korea, barring a big change there), or geography (landlocked nations in central Africa). And inequality will still be a problem: There will be poor people in every region.But most of them will live in countries that are self-sufficient. Every nation in South America, Asia, and Central America (with the possible exception of Haiti), and most in coastal Africa, will have joined the ranks of today’s middle-income nations. More than 70 percent of countries will have a higher per-person income than China does today. Nearly 90 percent will have a higher income than India does today.
It will be a remarkable achievement. When I was born, most countries in the world were poor. In the next two decades, desperately poor countries will become the exception rather than the rule. Billions of people will have been lifted out of extreme poverty. The idea that this will happen within my lifetime is simply amazing to me.
Some people will say that helping almost every country develop to middle-income status will not solve all the world’s problems and will even exacerbate some. It is true that we’ll need to develop cheaper, cleaner sources of energy to keep all this growth from making the climate and environment worse. We will also need to solve the problems that come with affluence, like higher rates of diabetes. However, as more people are educated, they will contribute to solving these problems. Bringing the development agenda near to completion will do more to improve human lives than anything else we do.
Read the entire letter here:
http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/?cid=bg_pt_ll0_012122/
h/t to Barry Woods
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Which contract?
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Jim,
Tesla was the one who made the first working AC generator, as brothers Write made the first airplane that could be really controlled, and as Marconi made the first radio that could be really used. Yes, there were many inventors who worked in the same fields, some of them earlier than those with the famous names, and it would be a shame to forget them.
Nevertheless, it is Tesla’s generator that gets our world going, because, unlike his predecessors, it is working.
Tsk, tsk tsk; from a previous post you did not read:
Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovsky built the first full 3 phase AC generation and distribution system in the 1888-1891 period. Tesla continued to be stuck in his two-phase system which proved to be less effective than three.
You need to find better history books, something with more technical content than marketing ‘fluff’. And something not so US-centered. Let me ask you, did you not understand this previous statement: “Tesla worked the technical ‘arbitrage’ between English-speaking western-world and Eastern Europe, having had access to both European technical journals and patents at the time …</b"? There was even a definition of the word "arbitrage" as it is applied here.
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As much as I admire Bill Gates, he has no depth to his commitment to property rights and the rule of law. These are the essence of civilization and indeed are well expressed by several of the Ten Commandments, starting with the Command that forbids coveting. Anyone who finds it easy to suggest that government coercion be used, or taxes be raised or that government must imposed its idea of what prices are right is coveting and stealing the rights and property of another person.
Indeed, I wonder where Bill Gates would direct his fortune had the covetous inheritance tax that his own father so vocally supported never existed. But do not let me be too harsh on him. If I had his wealth and was faced with government seizing most of it upon my death (to avoid the very tax his father supports), I too would want to direct it to a use that benefited humanity the most.
If Mr. Gates’ wealth funds the vaccine for malaria, in 100 years he will be remembered by far more people for banishing that horrible disease than for any computer software his company produced. I wish that effort every success, and the sooner the better.
Jim,
I’ve read your post and understood it. I also studied Tesla’s biographies (many of them) in detail, since I was interested in his personality and work.
Your attacks on Tesla are typical of people with hurting egos who want to diminish greatness to sooth their burning disappointment with themselves.
In the same vein, modern archaeologists still cannot hear Heinrich Schliemann’s name without cringing. He “didn’t apply scientific methods,” he was a “grave robber,” he was an “unscrupulous capitalist using his ill-gotten money to finance his fame,” etc., etc., ad nauseam. But it was Shliemann who [found] Troy and Mycenae (and correctly identified the location of Knossos, too). There’s simply no around it.
The first postage stamp was successfully introduced by Sir Rowland Hill in 1840. It is true that he didn’t invent it. The idea of as postage stamp was first proposed, quite a few years earlier, by the postal service official in Serbia, then a part of Austrian-Hungarian Empire. That official was fired for going over the head of his immediate superiors, and nothing became of his idea practically.
First radio signal was sent and received by Russian Navy, testing the idea of Aleksanr Popov. But it was Marconi who designed an apparatus that was practical and ready to implement on a large scale.
Similarly, Nikola Tesla was the one who designed the first working industrial AC generation grid, and no slurs would ever change this fact. My hat off to Dolivo-Dobrovsky, but it was Tesla, and in the US, not in Europe, who designed, tested, and implemented the first industrial-scale system of electricity generation and distribution.
Please note that I will not continue our conversation if you wouldn’t immediately change your tone to much more respectful one. I don’t suffer jerks gladly.
[Though others would claim he did, indeed, “wound” Troy. 8<) mod]
Another thing Bill got wrong — Bill Gates has created immense wealth not only for himself, but for millions of people worldwide. All that wealth allows people to not only give back, but to start new enterprises that generate more wealth.
Wealth is anti-poverty. It’s not something to be ashamed of. You can’t discount what Gates achieved just because he started with more advantages than most people. (Sure, Gates isn’t rags-to-riches like Jobs, but remember, Microsoft saved Apple all those years ago. Remember?) Gates helped take personal computers from a toy for hobbyists and proto-nerds.to an essential tool for business. Gates didn’t invent DOS, he bought it (and DOS itself was a port of CPM to the Intel 8086 processor). Gates didn’t invent the GUI (and neither to Jobs) but Gates helped make Windows the most popular OS in the world. And while Microsoft was late to embrace the internet, people still primary run computers with Microsoft Windows to run their browsers. Gates should be proud of all those achievements.
For the first time I’m starting to believe that Gates gets it.
Now if Mr. Soros would only run out of money, or disappear from the scene, or both.
Moderator, thank you for fixing some typos. I guess I am too used to a spellchecker in my work, and inability to edit makes me furious.
Bill Gates ..thinks there are too many people on the planet. spends millions on research to save lives in poor countries.
…something doesn’t add up.
Gates holds a lot of sway in Washington DC, he goes there quite often. Kurt Delbene going in to help ACA probably has a lot to do with him. So if he wants cheap energy there’s a high probability folks around DC will listen.
I’m sitting right down the road from Microsoft as I write this, and you know – I think Bill misses the point.
My standard of living has been dropping like a rock, much the same as nearly everyone else I know in my generation. Prices and taxes are going up while my income keep going down. I can’t properly heat my home because the government fees to install the right equipment are exorbitantly high. My opportunities for work are shrinking because I can’t afford the licensing.
I don’t think I can name a friend who really cares how the third world is doing; we’re all too busy getting poorer and trying not to get ground under the heel of government.
Actually we have cheap energy, it’s just that the prices get manipulated way up by the bankers b/c of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 slipped in by (R) Phil Gramm while everyone was looking at Florida and hanging chads. We saw this in the crash of 2008 when gas got well below $2 because the banks were temporarily forced out. Gas could still be below $2 if Dodd-Frank were ever implemented. Taxes could also be a lot less on the little people by closing the overseas tax havens that the billionaires use. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Bill Gates says: “By almost any measure, the world is better than it has ever been.”
Anon says on January 24, 2014 at 12:59 am: “I’m sitting right down the road from Microsoft as I write this, and you know – I think Bill misses the point. My standard of living has been dropping like a rock, much the same as nearly everyone else I know in my generation.”
_______________
I think you are on the right track Anon.
The Western world is over-governed and our legislators keep piling on more and more laws and regulations that add little if any value, but drive up the cost of everything. The false global warming crisis and green energy nonsense are good examples of expensive government foolishness.
Our government services are bloated and civil servants enjoy job security and defined-benefit pensions that the rest of us can only dream of. Those in the private sector will be working to 75 so that government workers can retire at 55.
Too many people are taking out much more than they can ever contribute to society.
The USA, Japan, the UK and the European Union are printing money like Zimbabwe and this will end badly.
In my country Canada, the hard-working (and resource-rich) people of Alberta are supporting most of the country through huge Transfer Payments to “have-not” provinces – which in some cases enjoy better services than we can afford here in Alberta. Federal Transfer Payments were intended as a “hand-up” to help the have-not provinces become self-sufficient, but after 55 years are clearly a “hand-out” to continue indefinitely.
Regarding Bill Gate’s contention that “the world is better than it has ever been”:
I suggest that the Western world has been slipping for several decades, with lower living standards, rising unemployment and youth alienation.
I further suggest that sub-Saharan Africa is much worse than it was fifty years ago. Prior to the African Independence Movement circa 1960, many of these countries had rule–of-law, effective government, and functioning economies and infrastructure that has since been destroyed.
Were these African colonial governments democratic or fair? No they were not.
Was the average African nation and the average citizen, black or white, much better off than today? I suggest they were.
I further suggest that if you are hungry, see your children die before you, and live in constant fear, then you really don’t give a damn about democracy or fairness – you just want to be safe, have food and a future for your children.
I suggest that as a human society, we have somewhat lost our way, and renovations are overdue.
In the developed world, we need less government, not more, and we need much more common sense than is displayed by our current global leadership. Obama and most of the leaders of Western Europe have failed badly. The average world leader today is lacking adequate education to function effectively in this complex modern technological world, and is easily misled by the latest fads and foolishness. Again, global warming hysteria and green energy nonsense are excellent examples.
Our current Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper appears to be the exception – a man with significant education and common sense. Canada’s economy is the strongest in the G8, and we have NOT resorted to excessive printing of money. If Canada could print money proportionally to the USA, we could pay of about half our National Debt.
Yet the leftist mob continues to criticize Harper, complaining that he is not more like Opposition Leader Justin Trudeau, or is it Justin Beiber. Justin Trudeau overplayed his hand long ago – he has his mother’s looks, AND his mother’s brains. He is a male bimbo.
In the developing world, we need Rule of Law and some honest, competent form of government. Corruption and incompetence are endemic. Sadly, many of these societies were significantly better off under the “yoke of colonialism”.
Allan M.R. MacRae says:
January 24, 2014 at 9:11 am
Bill Gates says: “By almost any measure, the world is better than it has ever been.”
Anon says on January 24, 2014 at 12:59 am: “I’m sitting right down the road from Microsoft as I write this, and you know – I think Bill misses the point. My standard of living has been dropping like a rock, much the same as nearly everyone else I know in my generation.”
_______________
I think you are on the right track Anon
Yet the leftist mob continues to criticize Harper, complaining that he is not more like Opposition Leader Justin Trudeau, or is it Justin Beiber. Justin Trudeau overplayed his hand long ago – he has his mother’s looks, AND his mother’s brains. He is a male bimbo.
AMEN …you both got it nailed. This post should also link Bill Gate’s TED talk where he said we need to cull the humans.
The deference shown here to Bill Gates,is quite disgusting. This brown nosing of the wealthy on this site is disturbing to say the least. Why don’t you all bow down and make an idol to him? Gates’ twisted ideas and the addled phlosophy he inherited from his father only emphasize how dangerous it is to treat him like royalty. Most people on this thread seem to be shamefully ignorant of what the Gates family stands for.
David G says on January 24, 2014 at 9:42 pm
“The deference shown here to Bill Gates is quite disgusting.”
David – I suggest you are mostly wrong – most people here are being polite, even though many disagree with Gates on major points.
Speaking for myself, I completely disagree with Gates on global warming alarmism – he was (until recently?) a warmist acolyte who placed his faith in the IPCC, which has abjectly failed in its predictive record – ALL the IPCC’s scary predictions to date have failed to materialize.
I also disagree with Gates’ contention that “the world is better than it has ever been”. See above at
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/22/bill-gates-3-myths-that-block-progress-for-the-poor/#comment-1547803
For more on the Gates warmist position, see his post on THE BET at
http://www.thegatesnotes.com/Books/Personal/The-Bet?WT.mc_id=12_13_2013_TheBet
I suggest that just because I think Gates is wrong on several major points is no reason to be rude. Nobody responds favorably to rudeness.