dk
04-30-2009, 06:16 PM
Today, being payday, I had to spend a little money. While wandering the Foster PX, I did manage to find something a little more valuable than rows upon rows of <topic> for Dummies books. A book called Creative Capitalism perked my interests, so I picked it up, read the back, and decided to spend $26 on it. What the hell.
Anyway, the first chapter is a speech by Bill Gates, and I really appreciated what he had to say. The following doesn't cover the motive of the speech, but I found it interesting, especially when surrounded by endless volumes of negative media and feedback. I've always disagreed with those who have told me that the world was getting worse, that we were gradually spiraling down into utter chaos. I do believe that nothing good ever lasts forever, but at the moment, things do seem alright--for the most part--from where I'm sitting. I am ignoring the "financial crisis" as I am not a money guy. I also have not really even bothered reading much about the supposed global warming that is taking place. I'm purely IT, but when Bill Gates says something, I perk up.
Anyway, here is just a short highlight from Chapter 1. Maybe I'll run into more gems later.
Bill Gates @ World Economic Forum, January 24, 2008 - Davos, Switzerland
Let me begin by expressing a view that might not be widely shared.
The world is getting better.
In significant and far-reaching ways, the world is a better place to live in than it has ever been.
Consider the status of women and minorities in society--virtually any society--compared to any time in the past.
Consider that life expectancy has nearly doubled in the past one hundred years.
Consider governance--the number of people today who vote in elections, express their views, and enjoy economic freedom compared to any time in the past.
In these crucial areas, the world is getting better.
These improvements have been matched, and in some cases, triggered, by advances in science, technology, and medicine. They have brought us to a high point in human welfare. We are at the start of a technology-driven revolution in what people will be able to do for one another. In the coming decades, we will have astonishing new abilities to diagnose illness, heal disease, educate the world's children, create opportunities for the poor, and harness the world's brightest minds to solve our most difficult problems.
This is how I see the world, and it should make one thing clear: I am an optimist.
But I am an impatient optimist.
The world is getting better, but it's not getting better fast enough, and it's not getting better for everyone.
And then he goes on to describe how those with the greatest needs are not financially profitable to serve. Or, for example, how "Diseases like malaria that kill over a million people a year get far less attention than drugs to help with baldness."
Very interesting book so far. I'm only on page 8, but I'm enjoying this.
Just thought I'd throw this out there.
Anyway, the first chapter is a speech by Bill Gates, and I really appreciated what he had to say. The following doesn't cover the motive of the speech, but I found it interesting, especially when surrounded by endless volumes of negative media and feedback. I've always disagreed with those who have told me that the world was getting worse, that we were gradually spiraling down into utter chaos. I do believe that nothing good ever lasts forever, but at the moment, things do seem alright--for the most part--from where I'm sitting. I am ignoring the "financial crisis" as I am not a money guy. I also have not really even bothered reading much about the supposed global warming that is taking place. I'm purely IT, but when Bill Gates says something, I perk up.
Anyway, here is just a short highlight from Chapter 1. Maybe I'll run into more gems later.
Bill Gates @ World Economic Forum, January 24, 2008 - Davos, Switzerland
Let me begin by expressing a view that might not be widely shared.
The world is getting better.
In significant and far-reaching ways, the world is a better place to live in than it has ever been.
Consider the status of women and minorities in society--virtually any society--compared to any time in the past.
Consider that life expectancy has nearly doubled in the past one hundred years.
Consider governance--the number of people today who vote in elections, express their views, and enjoy economic freedom compared to any time in the past.
In these crucial areas, the world is getting better.
These improvements have been matched, and in some cases, triggered, by advances in science, technology, and medicine. They have brought us to a high point in human welfare. We are at the start of a technology-driven revolution in what people will be able to do for one another. In the coming decades, we will have astonishing new abilities to diagnose illness, heal disease, educate the world's children, create opportunities for the poor, and harness the world's brightest minds to solve our most difficult problems.
This is how I see the world, and it should make one thing clear: I am an optimist.
But I am an impatient optimist.
The world is getting better, but it's not getting better fast enough, and it's not getting better for everyone.
And then he goes on to describe how those with the greatest needs are not financially profitable to serve. Or, for example, how "Diseases like malaria that kill over a million people a year get far less attention than drugs to help with baldness."
Very interesting book so far. I'm only on page 8, but I'm enjoying this.
Just thought I'd throw this out there.