for Bill Gates is this: How many people would be poorer without him? How much has his software etc raised the standard of living of a huge amount of the worlds population? Poor countries have Mother Teresa types-but they all lack a Bill Gates type?
For those who would answer Bill Gates, they'd ask who has in real terms benfited more of humanity?
Is materialism and buying power the only benefit he offered or did he really do something of some substance. How many people whose buying power was enhanced by computer technology was really that bad off in the first place?. Aren't there other jobs that don't involve computers. You seem to forget that Microsoft also dominates the market, some say through unfair business practices.
If they suppress other software companies that could potentially benefit peoples buying power wouldn't that also suppress their power to do so. wouldn't it somewhat negate the positive impact of Microsoft or is this forgiveable?
If the modern definition of benifitting humanity is that now more people can afford that HUMVEE they had their eye on, we really have come a long way from something.
I have no problem with capitalism and enhancing my buying power but when we are making comparisons like Bill Gates vs. Mother Teresa they are playing on two dofferent ball fields of "benifiting humanity"
Political forum vanguard.