Episode 45: The Not-So-Benevolent Billionaire - Bill Gates and Western Media by Citations Needed Podcast published on 2018-07-25T14:27:15Z Russia, as we all know, has sinister “oligarchs” whereas in the United States, we are told, we have “philanthropists,” “job creators,” and “titans of industry” who earn their wealth through hard work, moxie, and guile. Aside from a few cartoonishly evil billionaires – like the Walton family, Peter Thiel, and the Koch brothers – the average American has a warm and fuzzy feeling about the super wealthy. The most notable of these Benevolent Billionaires is Bill Gates, whose foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, operates the largest overseas “nonprofit” regime in the world, worth over 40 billion dollars–– twice that of the next biggest foundation. The Gates Foundation receives almost uniformly softball coverage from the media, many of whom receive funding from Gates through various investment and donor arrangements, both from his personal coffers and the foundation that bears his name. In this two-part episode we ask how much this network of patronage effects Western media’s overwhelmingly positive and uncritical coverage of Gates. How can one can be critical of this type of massive outsized influence without devolving into paranoia? What is the nature of the capitalist ideology that informs Gates’ so-called philanthropy? And how do his programs often harm those they allegedly aim to help? We are joined this week by Dr. Linsey J. McGoey, associate professor of sociology at the University of Essex and author of the book, “No Such Thing as a Free Gift: The Gates Foundation and the Price of Philanthropy.” Comment by Max Random Bill Gates - the sixes on his head look fuckin great! 2021-03-15T00:05:11Z Comment by DJ REAGANOMICS pretty much https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubZ3rwP5Czw 2019-10-20T04:26:17Z Comment by papermashea "Why are there Billionaires?" Amber A'lee Frost 2019-01-04T18:37:41Z Comment by steve_from_richmond More bashing of free enterprise without the least appreciation for the wealth it has created for mankind --- especially for the very poorest of the world. Grossly unequal distribution of wealth, though one of the shortcomings of free enterprise --is NOT a reason to discard the system, especially considering the prosperity it has brought to people all over the world. Stick to what you guys know (which is not economic theory). 2018-08-15T21:37:24Z Comment by diggaderbe Was hoping for Richard Stallman. 2018-07-25T19:42:15Z Comment by Four-Three-Five Recorder I do have to say that I've heard of PS teacher "rubber rooms" before, and I think it's bad that teachers can spend close to a decade (in some cases) sitting around doing nothing. 2018-07-25T16:50:40Z Comment by Four-Three-Five Recorder Bill Gates is a Harvard drop-out - he should have nothing to do with education. 2018-07-25T16:38:22Z Comment by Four-Three-Five Recorder Money hides stupidity if you know how to do it right, and Gates' people keep the news away. 2018-07-25T16:11:19Z