Billionaires gather in Arizona to discuss giving (Warren Buffett)

Source: AP

What do dozens of American billionaires talk about when they get together? Their topic this week was of course money; not how to make it, but how to give it away.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said Friday that a private gathering was a great chance for the billionaires who have pledged to give away at least half their wealth to meet each other, compare notes, eat and laugh.

The media was banned from Thursday's first meeting of the group that has accepted the giving challenge by Buffett and his friend Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Since last June, 69 individuals or couples have made the giving pledge.

Buffett knew only about 12 of the 61 people at the dinner at the Miraval Resort in Tucson before the famously gregarious Berkshire Hathaway CEO worked the room and made 40 new friends.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110507/ap_on_re_us/us_gates_buffett_pledge

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Rare is the non-'worthless' billionaire these days. Good for these folks.

Pardon me if I don't think of them as marvelous billionaires. We would NOT be in this situation if elites weren't constantly working for tax cuts for themselves in the first damned place.

And now they expect adulation for a one-time correction against years of lobbying to fill their own pockets?

Meh.

They still have figured ways of benefitting in public while plotting in private.

Warren Buffet has put his money where his mouth and it's nice that a few of these guys are atleast doing something positive with their money. I could care less if they benefit from it.

The man is sleazy and this PR campaign isn't going to restore his image.

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of all kinds. That's a good thing in itself. That doesn't require your "adulation." I'm sure the people who will be donating this money don't really give much of a damn what you think of them in the first place.

However, the organizations who are the beneficiaries of those billions will no doubt send their thanks, and will use the money to benefit their causes.

Sorry, but I don't see any negative consequences here. Maybe you can describe some of the ways these billions of dollars will not benefit people. I'd love to hear that description, if you can muster one up.

-100 for Scrooge-like grumbling.

His public image has suffered enormously in recent weeks, which is likely why he's doing this. He will probably have to sit in front of a jury at some point as the Sokol affair plays out.

He wouldn't have those billions if it hadn't been for American taxpayers. Personally, I would prefer if my taxes had gone directly to help the poor, rather than being funneled through this insider trading, business destroying clown.


http://blogs.reuters.com/rolfe-winkler/2009/08/04/buffetts-betrayal/

years ago, in fact.

There's a whole bunch of reasons to boycott that state - guns, Brewer, and the 60% of AZ's who agree with her.

Although we're doing all right economically, compared to many other states.

Why do people and companies hold their conventions in various states or various hotels or convention centers, or various cities, any time? The reasons run from it was the choice of the staffer who put it together to it was the best deal offered from any hotel/state/city, to it was the most convenient or centrally located for the people who would be attending.

People of conscience have been cancelling events there, not booking them.

I assumed people would recognize that my question was rhetorical, given that no one here can read the mind of the person who chose Arizona. Maybe I over-estimated.

resort in Scottsdale or someplace like that. I'm sure they'll enjoy the views and the weather while they figure out how to distribution billions. I hope they do. The end result of this will benefit many people and many causes. Where these people meet is irrelevant.

Besides, lots of other U.S. locales have lovely weather now.

What kind of message does that send? It negates all of the goodwill from the conference. Sometimes Buffett has a tin ear and this is one of those times.

party is giving. I like what Buffett and Gates are doing but then there are the Koch brothers who give only out of self-interest. I would rather see them agree to a good tax increase.

We know it won't be the U.S.

And they'll give it to other billionaires, of course. Nothing goes to help "the people". We're human resources. The most important thing in the world is to make rich people richer.

And people there are truly needy.

where they really belong.

I hope they talk about giving billions to small companies in the Green Industry.

I hope they give to universities in the form of donations and grants for research and scholarships for students.

and I know Buffet has spoken out against tax cuts for the ultra wealthy.

I know people are frustrated by the growing inequality in this country and I sure am too, but unless they have clearly committed crimes, I don't really understand these flippant comments about them deserving to be in jail, by mere fact that they've become very wealthy.

Now on the other hand if you were talking about the Koch brothers, then I agree - those two are grade A ass holes.

Instead of handing Billions over to Foundations and Corporations,
Generate a list of People living below the Poverty Level, here in
the States, of whom there are an abundance, and make them all a
Millionaire. It would end the Recession within weeks, as these
poor creatures would do one thing with the money., BUY STUFF!
Demand for goods, and services, would go into orbit as a result.
Of course they would go spend money. Isn't the lack of commerce
whats killing the Economy?

Instead of handing billions to the Thieves on Wall Street, which
did nothing but make them even more Rich, using the Taxes of the
Plebs, try thinking of the Plebs for a change. Since you want to
hand Billions out, give it to the People that never get a break.
You might think of the Homeless Children, and do something for
them for a change. No one else does, or will. That the US has many
Homeless Children is a disgrace. Criticize the Europeans all you
want, they do not allow Homelessness, and Hunger in their Union.

Don't give a penny to the Churches, as Bush already made them all
Rich thru 'Faith Based Initiatives'. The Vultures constantly have
their hand out for more.

If you hand the Money over to Corporations and Foundations, they
will bank it and collect interest, and the Plebs will get nothing.
As usual. The bailouts of 2008 and 2010 were great for Bureaucrats,
Bankers, and their Wallets. Do something for the Working Poor for
a change. The Common Plebs in the States have been bled white by
the System.

Their wealth is amassed on the backs of sweatshop labor, the working poor and custom made tax laws.

They are scum.

in Africa, have way too many harmful strings attached.