Live From Davos: Bill Gates Becomes God
January 31st, 2008
Yesterday Bill Gates announced a new approach to 21st century capitalism, and in the process he apparently transformed himself into God. Yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gates declared that the world’s top executives should supplant capitalism for charity. Gates asserted that the world’s most successful executives and companies should switch from American capitalism to “creative capitalism” to assist the world’s poor and under served. While a very worthy idea, it begs the question: why didn’t Gates promote this idea when he was a capitalist himself?
For the past thirty years, Bill Gates has been a competitive, tough businessman obsessed with getting his product into the lives of every human on the planet. “Now that he’s done with capitalism, he declares that everyone else should give it up, as well,” says Mark Stevens, CEO of the global marketing-sales-management firm, MSCO. “In the wake of a U.S. recession, the sub-prime crisis and vast federal debt, Gates wants us to abandon capitalistic pursuits,” says Stevens. “Unfortunately, like so many capitalists before him, Gates reached an unfathomable pinnacle, and now is taking a free fall plunge into the surreal.”
Stevens cites other examples of such a peak-and-free fall pattern including Henry Ford, who became an avowed anti-Semite after his success 
mass-producing the automobile; John D. Rockefeller, who oversaw a petroleum production monopoly and then gave his vast fortune away; and Charles Lindbergh who completed the first solo transatlantic flight only to then help the Nazi regime during World War II.
Stevens adds: “Hey Bill, what time is Ballmer getting on the plane for Zaire?”
Tags: american capitalism, bill gates, charles lindbergh, davos switzerland, federal debt, management firm, mark stevens, marketing sales, msco, world economic forum
January 31st, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Obviously Gates didn’t promote this idea before because he didn’t realize it yet.
Is a matter of human sensibility, for a few people it takes years to feel but most people never found it and a very few people born with it.
But now when Bill has improved his thoughts he has the courage to tell the world his new social vision of capitalism like in the past he shared his IT vision with everybody.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Bill is a few years late to the party. I know plenty of capitalists who balance their professional ambitions with those of family, community and faith, all the while developing and helping to bring out the best of those around them. Perhaps in his quest to dominate he missed the lesson on charity and selflessness. These ideas are not mutually exclusive. Capitalism driven by passionate, others-focused individuals is the best system.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Absolutely, the fusion of capitalism with the ideals of faith and charity are not only compatible, they make for richer lives and superior businesses.
What I object to is Bill advocating all companies put their best people on the front lines of poverty. While noble, it is not realistic. And Bill wouldn’t have done it when he was still building an empire. Even now, he is not suggesting that his CEO give up the bid for Yahoo to join The Peace Corps.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I say, better late than never and anything is possible these days!
February 13th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I do not grudge Gates giving away his fortune. However, he is also starting to lecture to others and becoming a salesperson for altruism. And, in his recent speeches, he is becoming a spokesman against capitalism. The solutions he offers are old wine in old bottles.
As another blog put it: “… Gates’ … fundamental error, altruism. … … What’s Gates solution? It’s nothing new, just the good old mixed economy of course.”