Bill Gates on Covid-19

[Midpack]

I haven’t seen him mentioned much here, but Bill Gates has been another good resource as we work our way through this. Their foundation has been involved in world health and epidemics for many years, and they’re funding research on Covid-19 ongoing. His comments below on testing in the US aren’t reassuring, as compared to the more successful Asian countries so far. He covers many current Covid-19 questions.

https://youtu.be/odeq6DRVqP0

https://youtu.be/PDnlDI-VPwA

 

[MichaelB]

To compliment, a BG blog post giving an overview of how the Gates Foundation sees this pandemic, how they think it will evolve, and what they are doing https://www.gatesnotes.com/media/assets/media/files/Pandemic-I-The-First-Modern-Pandemic.pdf

 

[Car-Guy]

I watched the videos above and "skimmed" the PDF. I've seen Gates speak at several IT conferences in the past and was never really impressed. Still not.

 

[ckelly78z]

For some reason, I don't have a high opinion of his foundation's working agenda.

 

[Rianne]

BG Ted Talk in 2015 predicting this pandemic.


https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_the_next_outbreak_we_re_not_ready?language=en

 

[Rianne]

For some reason, I don't have a high opinion of his foundation's working agenda.

Really? What would be your "some reason" not to have a high opinion?

 

[Chuckanut]

Tevya from Fiddler on the Roof singing If I Were a Rich Man.....

And it won't make one bit of difference if I answer right or wrong. When you're rich they think you really know.

 

[LOL!]

The Gates Foundation has an impressive track record and many of the scientists that it supports are truly outstanding. The Foundation is not some billionaire playing with their money in that the people on the Foundation advisory groups are top notch well-informed scientists without a political agenda. I am sure that history will reflect very well on what the Gates Foundation will have done.

Full disclosure: I am a scientist and some of my friends and colleagues were mentioned in the other part of this post.

 

[tulak]

Gates is awesome. As far as I can tell, he is fully funding a covid testing program in King County (Seattle area), even though it doesn’t directly say it’s coming from him. His foundation has also done amazing work.

I’m glad we have somebody knowledgeable and is willing to invest his own money in solving real problems that improve the human condition.

 

[Hermit]

In reading his blog I got the impression he is in favor of stopping the virus way above any economic damage that may do. Herd immunity through mass infection such as Sweeden appears to be attempting is not on his radar. I don't see much chance of his musings being banned from YouTube as the two doctors in California were. I sure would like to be able to read all sides in this conversation including the rebuttals by the medical associations.

 

[Helen]

Bill Gates wrote some of the critical and complex software for the power grid system at Bonneville Power Administration, it's still in use there. He was in high school at the time.

I'm so glad he switch his focus to what he is doing today.

 

[jimbee]

Not unusual for robber barons.

 

[RAE]

For some reason, I don't have a high opinion of his foundation's working agenda.

+1. I personally don't want Bill Gates to be in control of global health policy. He may be one of the richest people in the world, but he has zero qualifications in the area of public health. I don't support much of his agenda, which basically focus on vaccines and how they can (in his opinion) save us all.

[mod edit]

 

[Markola]

Are you an anti-vaxxer?

 

[Shredder]

+1. I personally don't want Bill Gates to be in control of global health policy. He may be one of the richest people in the world, but he has zero qualifications in the area of public health. I don't support much of his agenda, which basically focus on vaccines and how they can (in his opinion) save us all.

[mod edit]

I bet those third world countries that his foundation works in would disagree.

I'm grateful for his work. I think he likes the intellectual aspect of solving a problem. One thing ive learned in my 65 years is to listen to smart people. Whatever his motivations, I wish him well.

As for mandatory big pharma vaccines, sign me up.

 

[travelover]

Get ready.

 

[Helen]

+1. I personally don't want Bill Gates to be in control of global health policy. He may be one of the richest people in the world, but he has zero qualifications in the area of public health. I don't support much of his agenda, which basically focus on vaccines and how they can (in his opinion) save us all.

[mod edit to remove link]

Yikes. Zero qualifications in public health? Have you followed up on what he has been focused on since founding the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 20 years ago?

Edit: Never mind, I just looked up newswars, the publication you cited.

 

[audreyh1]

Yikes. Zero qualifications in public health? Have you followed up on what he has been focused on since founding the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 20 years ago?

Oh, yeah. Ugh!

 

[Freedom56]

I don't have any issues with Bill Gates, but after watching the latest edition of Frontline on PBS, I must say that the Governor and his public health team should be commended for their preparedness and response.

 

[Sunset]

+1. I personally don't want Bill Gates to be in control of global health policy. He may be one of the richest people in the world, but he has zero qualifications in the area of public health. I don't support much of his agenda, which basically focus on vaccines and how they can (in his opinion) save us all.

[mod edit to remove link]

Exactly.... People forget how Polio made everyone appreciate the ability to walk and run. Bring back Polio so folks will be happy and proud to walk everyday instead of driving around..

Let's not forget the fun of connect the dots with smallpox, these days children are deprived the fun of that game.

Polio for the People

 

[RAE]

Are you an anti-vaxxer?

No, I'm not. But vaccines are not the answer to the world's health problems, either. The world's biggest health problems arise due to things like inadequate nutrition, poor sanitation, and lack of access to clean water. Vaccinations don't address any of those issues. I personally think Gates' billions would be better spent on programs to address lifestyle issues like nutrition and clean water, which are at the root of the problem in developing countries. Those things are necessary to build strong immune systems that help fight disease.

There are other things the Gates Foundation does that are not necessarily very helpful to people in developing countries. Take a look at the articles I've linked below if you want to know more.

With regard to qualifications - Gates has no formal education in public health or medicine that I am aware of. And, for the first 18 years that his Gates Foundation was in existence, the CEO's he chose came from Microsoft, and also had no background in public health. I believe he finally (since 2019) has a new CEO now that does have a public health background, but it took 18 years to hire someone with those qualifications.

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www.vox.com

https://newint.org/features/2012/04/01/bill-gates-charitable-giving-ethics

 

[eytonxav]

I have no issue with Gates or vaccinations, but no doubt better nutrition and health practices around the world would go along way in reducing impacts from viruses like Covid. I was shocked to hear that there are wet markets in NYC, and that does not seem like something that should be tolerated by our public health officials.

 

[Midpack]

No, I'm not. But vaccines are not the answer to the world's health problems, either. The world's biggest health problems arise due to things like inadequate nutrition, poor sanitation, and lack of access to clean water. Vaccinations don't address any of those issues. I personally think Gates' billions would be better spent on programs to address lifestyle issues like nutrition and clean water, which are at the root of the problem in developing countries. Those things are necessary to build strong immune systems that help fight disease.

There are other things the Gates Foundation does that are not necessarily very helpful to people in developing countries. Take a look at the articles I've linked below if you want to know more.

With regard to qualifications - Gates has no formal education in public health or medicine that I am aware of. And, for the first 18 years that his Gates Foundation was in existence, the CEO's he chose came from Microsoft, and also had no background in public health. I believe he finally (since 2019) has a new CEO now that does have a public health background, but it took 18 years to hire someone with those qualifications.

Loading…

www.vox.com

https://newint.org/features/2012/04/01/bill-gates-charitable-giving-ethics

Well I read the second one, and I’m not swayed at all. Are you aware of New Int’s bias track record?

I’d much rather have Bill & Melinda Gates devoting their intellect, time and money to solving health issues than legislators who know little to nothing about health challenges throwing tax dollars around guided by polls, special interests and their re-election needs. Democracy or Socialism isn’t the best answer to world health, and the Gates Foundation has accomplished a lot in 20 years. They could have just enjoyed their billions and done nothing to give back. We should be grateful IMO. What organization has comparable results in world health?

Vaccines are a crucial part of controlling various diseases IMO, and the medical community seems to agree overwhelmingly. We need clean water too, it’s not either or - and clean water is one of Gates projects.

The Foundation’s 26 strategies are reviewed annually, and although CEO Jeff Rakes stresses that it is making ‘a systematic effort to listen’ to grantees, Gonsalves and others are sceptical: ‘It’s not a democracy. It’s not even a constitutional monarchy. It’s about what Bill and Melinda want. We depend on them learning, and it’s not as if there are many points of influence for this.’

In general, New Internationalist reports news accurately and with a strong left leaning (Socialist) bias. A factual search reveals they have not failed a fact check. Overall, we rate New Internationalist Left Biased based on editorial positions that favor socialist positions.

 

[Midpack]

I have no issue with Gates or vaccinations, but no doubt better nutrition and health practices around the world would go along way in reducing impacts from viruses like Covid. I was shocked to hear that there are wet markets in NYC, and that does not seem like something that should be tolerated by our public health officials.

No one is saying there’s one solution, it’s several/many.

 

[zinger1457]

I personally think Gates' billions would be better spent on programs to address lifestyle issues like nutrition and clean water, which are at the root of the problem in developing countries. Those things are necessary to build strong immune systems that help fight disease.

The Gates Foundation does fund research in clean water and nutrition problems among many other things. As with any research into new areas you will likely end up with more strike outs than home runs. It's his money that he's giving away, of course he's going to have a say on where it goes, there will never be a 100% consensus that it is being put to the best use.