Job Discussion Forums

[El Gallo]

I read somewhere corporate charity giving is not so much a part of the culture here in Mexico. Supposedly there is an expectation that this is the job of the government. In Interchange there is a lesson on community cleanup. My students can't comprehend why neighbors would go out and clean up the park or football field when this is the responsibility of the government..
Any thoughts?

[ls650]

[MELEE]

[ls650]

Move over, Bill Gates: Carlos Slim is now the richest man in the world!

http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2117330,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=24

[Guy Courchesne]

[notamiss]

I thought I remembered reading something about his philanthropic efforts. Yup, here it is: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/13/business/main2563316.shtml. He pokes fun (at least so the writer puts it) at other squillionaires' charitable work and claims to have no interest in competing with them in that domain. However, while he talks the talk (of an unrepentant money man), he also promises to drop a few centavos here and there with his promise to match donations for health, education and social programs. I also find plenty of references to a "Latin American Development Fund" he heads... what's that? Does it have a website? The Fondo Latinoamericano de Desarollo (http://www.folade.org/new/acerca.htm) doesn't seem to be it, or is it?

[eclectic]

If we give what we have, what we give will set us free; but if we keep what we have, what we have will destroy us.

[geaaronson]

Gates Foundation was the wife�s idea. The two were discussing a will and good ole Bill was soliciting her ideas as to what charities should be included, and she told him, why wait till you drop before you do your Honorable Works. God�s honest truth, surprised the other posters haven�t picked up on that as it has been reported in many stories about the Foundation.
And by the way, Donald Trump, the nubile skirt chaser, likewise pooh poohs the idea of charitable works.

[MELEE]

G-
We did talk about that last time, when the fatman moved into the number two spot. He's a widower in need a good women by his side. Behind every kind man is a good women, whether she be his wife, his mother, or just a friend. All the Mr. Burns of the world are standing alone.

[brianrex]

$100000000 donation by Vancouver tycoon
Giustra's donation is being matched by Carlos Slim, .... You can now listen to every Vancouver Sun story on our new digital edition. ...
www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=9219d6cd-7fbc-49f3-bab9-738eeee9105d&k=85407 - 66k - 3 Jul 2007 -

I found this story in the Vancouver Sun, published June 21st. It's available on-line.
Brian

[Phil_K]

I was just about to post that story!

A lot of money by anyones's standards!

I don't understand why people are so critical of rich people. If you start in business to make a good living for yourself, that is something to be applauded. If, over the course of time, (in Slim's case, over 50 years) that investment generates mega-wealth, that is just a nice by-product. I would bet that if you asked Slim why he continues working past the retirement age, he would say that the thrill of the deal is what motivates him, not the money. After you have secured your future, the rest doesn't matter. After all, this is paper, not money. His current position is due to a 27% increase in the stock of his telecoms arm, it is not as if he is taking truckloads of dollars to the bank every week.

As for charitable donations, well we now see he has no problems with that. He has also regenerated downtown DF, a different place to the one I knew when I arrived in Mexico. The only thing that stops it being better is the pinche PRD. In any case, who are we to tell someone how to spend his money?

Do we give as much in proportion? I don't, so I have no right to criticize someone else.