I’m just some loud-mouthed blogger with an opinion on just about everything, so I understand it if some people dismiss me as… um… just some loud-mouthed blogger with an opinion on just about everything. But Seattle Weekly editor Knute Berger, he’s a respectable journalist… a local institution whose Jerry Garcia looks belie his broad knowledge of all things Seattle, and measured punditry on WA state politics.
So if you choose to ignore my scathing criticism of Bill Gates funding of the Discovery Institute, perhaps you’ll listen to Knute’s:
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a major contributor to the Discovery Institute. And while the money doesn’t go toward “intelligent design” work per se, it does support the institute’s own intelligent designer, Bruce Chapman, who runs the place. Bill Gates has also been a vocal advocate for improving public education in this country and has lamented loudly the low level of science education in particular. His foundation has poured at least $1 billion dollars into the effort of remaking schools, and he is reportedly prepared to spend at least $1 billion more. Gates is making a concerted effort to be education reform’s own intelligent designer, a worthy and noble cause.
But the Discovery Institute is a bit like a hole in his pocket: For every dollar he spends abetting the “intelligent design” agenda, he is setting back his own effort to promote good science and learning.
The challenge of education reform that Gates has taken on is big enough without this self-imposed burden. Turning around overcrowded schools that are held back by too many lousy teachers, bloated bureaucracies, and clueless parents who drop their kid off for 12 years of state-run, underfunded day care is no easy task, even for one of the world’s richest
…and the stupidest thing you’ve ever read will be….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/....._6396.html
Looks like RFK jr wrote your next post for you Goldy.
That’s not stupid, zip.
You’re the ones who are always rolling back taxes. Taxes do not get thrown down a well – they are investments. When you guys cut back investments in disaster preparedness, environmental protection, and other safety measures, you should expect to get blamed for it. You’re trying to do it again right here and now with 912.
Gee MOH, looks like you read the OTHER blame Bush nonsense article floating around. RFK jr said nothing about taxes. Nor did I. Keep trying to convince anybody who will listen that the NO disaster was Bush’s fault, and see how many are convinced.
Billions of dollars and plenty of union busting later, we’ll get to see how Bush’s homeland security appartus would handle a terrorist nuclear attack on a U.S. city. Katrina did a pretty good imitation.
If people needlessly die because of a tepid, disorganized, or ineffective federal response — then yes, blame Bush. You know, the guy who’s supposed to be in charge … ?
So Roger it’s your position that homeland security legislation requires that FEDERAL forces are to be “first responders” in emergencies such as this? Just checking.
Roger,
Looks like this astute fellow agrees with you and RFK jr:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/30/20833/9811
Further proof that “progressives” are over the top.
Typical Liberalism!
Freedom of speech? Only if you agree with us.
Property Rights? Only if you use your property as we think you should.
Please help me understand. Is Bill Gates holding a gun to the head of any school district administrator saying if you want our money, you MUST teach ID? Not that I can tell. And aren’t “public school” taxpayer funded? Why would a taxpayer funded public school need Bill Gates money anyway?
One of the problems with you Liberals is you demand your way or the highway. Why do you think you have a monopoly on good ideas? Typical elitism!
WRETCH!
Goldy–
Washington Public Schools are not underfunded.
This is a common LEFTIST PINHEAD (aka USEFUL IDIOT) mantra.
Schools are merely grossly mismanaged.
Washington is only 1 of 3 states that funds more non-certified personnel than teachers. The WEA sucks multi-millions out of the system to give to Democratic candidates. It is a broken system…not underfunded.
Go ahead and believe the illusion.
Besides…who are you to say that intelligent design isn’t the answer. Perhaps God will make a true believer out of you in this lifetime. I hope so Goldy. The consequence of not believing is…..death. No LEFTIST PINHEADED rationale will ever change that.
It is really dumb that Gates is sending money to Chapman and being used to grow other funding (by proving a huge boost to Dsicovery’s ability to create an aura of credibility) for Discovery’s intelligent design PR campaign. But being stupid is perfectly within the rights of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Perhaps the foundation doesn’t care that this giving to Discovery is viewed as a huge negative, shamefully wasteful and counterproductive to acheiving goals advanced by the bulk of its giving.
thor, it could also be along that old saying….keep your friends close and your ENEMIES closer. Like us here at HA with all of our perverted trolls like Cynical, MTR, Righton etc….If you keep them close and ‘wound up’ we will be able to better understand how the wingnuts disfunctional brains work and implode
Ah, the tried and true technique of 2ndary boycott from the left.
Is your next move to Bork gates? dig through his garbage?, dig up his blockbuster records
JC @7, righton @11,
And where were you complaining about that Christian women’s group demanding that Starbucks changes the quotes on its coffee cups? Oh… I get it… it’s okay when righties use boycotts and other forms of public pressure to try to force corporations to change their policies, but it’s not okay for some little liberal blogger to demand the same. What a bunch of fucking hypocrites. Either that, or you are so incredibly blind… so amazingly angry… that you simply cannot see anything but a black and white world where your side always does good, and the other side always does bad.
Goldy, have you ever thought that Bill Gates probably believes in God, may practice some sort of religion, and certainly has his own truths and values? And that these beliefs and values may be very well what motivates Gates to give his billions to so many worthwhile charitable causes (most of which you seem to approve of)? If he wants to give his money to promote religion or religious-type beliefs, then that is his right as well.
richard@13
To be frank, Gates is too, well, *intellegent* to fall for a blatant trojan horse like ‘intellegent design’.
Your Papalness @ 13
Google: Bill Gates athiest, and the evidence is pretty strong that he doesn’t believe in god. No matter what the Christo-fascists (my new fave term, BTW) believe, god isn’t the only source of moral thinking and behavior.
Of course Wiki famous atheists also lists Lance Armstrong, and he wears a crucifix around his neck, so who knows? (my theory on that one is that the cross swaying at the end of the cain gives Lance an inconspicuous indicator of his pace and exertion on those long climbs, but y’all probably don’t care bout that.)
Richard @13,
Yes, it has occurred to me that, unlikely as it may be, Gates may actually support the teaching of so-called “intelligent” design… which would be all the more reason for outrage than if he is just lending the cause money and credibility by association. Just because he has billions of dollars to spend, does not mean he has a right to impose his own peculiar beliefs on America’s schools, and if he does support ID, then all of the money he gives towards educational reforms is suspect.
I would go so far as to say that if Gates were to come out on the record stating is his support for ID, then no public school system should accept a dime of money from the Gates foundation… for it simply cannot be trusted to be promoted rational, science based reforms.
Of course, I find it hard to believe that Gates rejects evolution and supports ID. But yes… the thought has occurred to me.
I hear the Gates Foundation knows it made an extremely stupid move by funding the Discovery Institute and that they can’t get out of the grant without providing Mr. Chapman with an extremely healthy windfall. Too bad Cascadia (a generally mainstream constructive organization) is hooked into this via Discovery – because Chapman clearly spends next to zero time on the transportation stuff the grant is supposed to support (when is the last time Chapman said anything new or did anything productive on transportation?) And Cascadia has now been publically stained by Discovery’s PR campaign on intelligent design – see Joel C in the PI this morning. Isn’t transportation difficult enough around here without inserting the wacky Discovery generated PR on stem cells and ID into the mix?
I am amazed at how messed up the wingnuts here are on free speach. Bill Gates has every right to spend his money as he chooses, but Goldy and others have every right to say he is spending his money on foolish, stupid, evil things like Neo-Creo, and Bill Gates has every right to consider this information and change his mind. That is the market place of ideas.
Thor: I can’t see how the Gates Foundation would have to pay a windfall to Discovery if they pull their funding. It is theirs to give, and theirs to take away. I would be amazed if they do not have the right to just take it away. I can’t imagine that they will imediately do so, but I would not be surprised if in a few months the grant dries up. Gates is not a fool, and while he probably cares about transportation issues, he has to realize now that he is helping to fund an anti-scientific institute that is at odds with one of his major goals.
Goldy, have you ever thought that Bill Gates probably believes in God, may practice some sort of religion, and certainly has his own truths and values? And that these beliefs and values may be very well what motivates Gates to give his billions to so many worthwhile charitable causes (most of which you seem to approve of)? If he wants to give his money to promote religion or religious-type beliefs, then that is his right as well. -Comment by Richard Pope— 8/31/05 @ 8:02 am
I understand his wife is a life long devout Catholic. It is my understanding from someone involved there was discussion (and angst from other parents) about his daughter attending a local Catholic elementary school (where Melinda attends Mass) because of security concerns for the rest of the student population.
The Gates, the Goldy’s, the Cynicals, the Bunny Butts and the Proud Asses can all fund whatever cause they damned well choose with their OWN hard earned money – it’s none of your, or anyones, business: you don’t get a vote.
Get over it.
What a great subject.
The wonderful part of of gates funding is that he does not have to listen to the likes of Goldy, Rabbit, etc…
Here’s an idea. If you’d like to change what is happening, outfund gates, if not, shut your mouth.
So we can say goodbye to the days of complaints about George Soros? Excellent!
Reply to 5
For a disaster of this magnitude, yes, federal resources are required. No state or local government can mobilize the resources or funding required to respond to something like this. Everyone accepts the idea that defending the nation against enemy attack is a federal government responsibility. Why should it be different for a natural disaster that causes equivalent devastation?
Reply to 6
How is that guy “over the top,” zip? Did you read it? Since it appears you didn’t I’ll summarize it for you: He says it was racist to leave the poor black population in the city to drown; that news media are misleading us by focusing on looting (by desperate people who don’t have food or water) when thousands are dying; and that Bush should be doing something besides vacationing on his ranch. He’s spot-on right, zip!
And how do the right-wingers respond? “your title is absurd and you need to change it.” Are you fucking kidding me? The worst natural disaster in U.S. history is unfolding before our eyes, thousands are dead, people are trapped and dying, and all some right-wing asshole can think of to say in response to perfectly valid criticisms of how authorities and media are handling the situation is to criticize the guy for using the “N” word in the title of his post to draw attention to the situation?
Zip, your silly post could serve as a poster boy for why conservatism is a temporary phenomenon in our society. When people wake up and realize what a piece of shit philosophy it really is, you and your fellow traveling idiots will be peremptorily consigned to the ash heap of history.
Go get a life.
Bobblehead Bob @ 7
“One of the problems with you Liberals is you demand your way or the highway.”
And you conservatives don’t? ROFLMFAO!! :D
@12
“you simply cannot see anything but a black and white world where your side always does good, and the other side always does bad.”
You nailed it, Goldy. That’s exactly how these mental midgets think. Actually, “think” isn’t the right word … what they do is more akin to mechanical data processing. No matter which key you press, they always print out …
It’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault, it’s Clinton’s fault …
Related Observation on a Different Matter — It is NICE that Bill Gates GIVES his money selflessly to charitable causes. And it is also nice that Bill Gates makes his money from a company (Microsoft) that doesn’t depend on government subsidies for its existence.
The same cannot be said about Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and the inspirational guru for the Democratic Party in King County. Have you ever heard of Paul Allen actually giving his money to anyone, without expecting far more back in return? Every business project that Paul Allen undertakes requires some sort of government subsidy or special favors — Seahawks stadium ($300 million taxpayer giveaway, plus as much in bond interest), South Lake Union (lowering Aurora for $500 million as part of Alaskan Way viaduct replacement — totally unnecessary, subsidized street car, lots of other giveaways and favors), and I am sure there are lots of others.
The only justice is that Bill Gates fortune is far more than Paul Allen’s, and that gap keeps expanding. In spite of Gates giving billions away and Allen receiving a billion or so in government handouts. Fortunately, honest private enterprise is still the best way to go in this country, even in the Soviet of Washington.
17
Discovery Institute and Chapman will pay in the end for their silliness. Mainstream funders will run, not walk, away from his sideshow.
@21
You’ve proved again the right-wing hypocrisy — wait until the next time Soros funds a cause they don’t like, then listen to them howl at the moon.
26
“the inspirational guru for the Democratic Party in King County”
WTF are you talking about? Do you know how Allen votes? I don’t.
Zip @ 1,
Actually, the stupidest thing I’ve read in recent days was an article that purported to debunk RFK Jr’s article, yet managed to confuse the distinction between the words “intensity” and “frequency”. If you want the full low-down on the correlation between global warming and hurricane intensity, google for “Kerry Emanuel MIT”.
As for the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, it was a statement made some years ago by Rush Limbaugh in which he rather strenuously pointed out that there is no environmental crisis. Is that the official method of right-wing politics–wait until a problem reaches crisis proportions before we do something about it?
I always find it fascinating that people who have no or little money always think they know how people who do have money should spend it. People who have a demonstrated inability to make or manage money giving financial advice to billionaires. Cracks me up…
MTR,
So you think Gates’ donations to the Discovery Institute constitute an investment?
Hillary Clinton/Maxine Waters for Democrat 2008 ticket!! If you disagree you are racist and sexist!!! [hehe]
Oh No!!!! The FSM has a Posse!!
http://www.zefrank.com/fsm/
Goldy: “And where were you complaining about that Christian women’s group demanding that Starbucks changes the quotes on its coffee cups? Oh… I get it… it’s okay when righties use boycotts and other forms of public pressure to try to force corporations to change their policies, but it’s not okay for some little liberal blogger to demand the same.”
The difference here, Goldy, is Starbucks Corp. vs. Gates Foundation… You or I not buying Microsoft products is not going to effect (at least directly) the Gates Foundation. Starbucks is a public company, the Gates Foundation is not. That’s a big difference. Again, what folks like Bill Gates (or George Soros, for that matter) do with their money is their business, plain and simple. Your point about school districts accepting Gates Foundation money, however, does make sense, as it is then a public matter.
Goldy; the opposite of the Starbuck, Discovery thing would be
a) Left wingers boycott Marriott cuz they have book of mormon in the rooms
b) Right wingers urge Sam Walton foundation to stop sending money to Brookings institute cuz it sometimes funds pro abortion/evolution type stuff.
Otherwise your comeback above is really apples to oranges, as Jon points out.
I’m really not sure what problems you have with stating the obvious: funding the Discovery Institute goes against the Gates Foundation mission of improving education.
It doesn’t matter what religion the Gates believe. If you make a big show of improving education while simultaneously funding a group dedicated to making Americans stupid, you should expect to be called out on that.
Of course, it’s Bill Gates’ money and he’s free to spend it on whatever he wants. But he’s not free from criticism.
It is real funny to hear all the donks criticize Gate’s and the discovery institute on how it is “dummying down kids” when they are the same people who run public education. Let teach kids how to read, write and add before we worry about whether it is proper to teach I.A. or evolution. OK
RR @ 29
Well, your Democrat biggies like Christine Gregoire, Ron Sims, Greg Nickles, and Gary Locke sure fell in slavishly to subsidize Paul Allen’s various business ventures.
If you don’t like that, YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR PARTY BACK! Stop being merely a half-assed imitation of the GOP (and a refuge for wealthy folks whose main beef with the GOP is the influence of religious conservatism in the Republican party).
RP @ 39 “YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR PARTY BACK!”
Yep! And all of us real Republicans and real Democrats NEED TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK FROM THE NEO-FACISTS that the real Republican chowder heads let take control of their party.
Donnageddon—@40
Perhaps it’s worth pursuing….it’s not impossible you know.
Ross Perot was going to win and blew that 1992 Election on purpose. It’s not impossible…takes a unique leader and a willingness for everyone to swallow a few hunks that fly in the face of what they would really like….know what I mean?
Another TJ: We complain about Soros because he is the main enabler for hate messages on your side. Yes, he does give to some causes, but his gifts to legalize some illegal drugs?
Well Don*****Don, you guys need to take back your party from the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY out leftist moonbat donks. Maybe then we could meet in the middle and discuss issues in a sensible manner. But when your HA leader spews fecal material in his opening thread diatribes it doesn’t help matters, right?
Oh, don*****don: Waiting for your answer!!! What? If you honestly answer me you will offend Goldy? Have some balls since you admitted they are attached still, right? Lets read your response.