Ok folks, Slim is a greedy monopolist and Gates is the best example of a humanist.
Even though its true that
"Forbes Magazine reported that, with a US$30 billion fortune, Slim is the world?s third richest man, up from fourth in 2004. Only software magnate Bill Gates and businessman Warren Buffet are still ahead of him."
Why was Microsoft in hotwater with the US government in the late '90s and early '00s? I think it had something to do with mono-, no it can't be, Gates is a saint who got his wealth by doing whats right and good for his country and people. Slim is the evil Mexican monopolist, not Gates, silly me from even bringing the issue the monopolist Microsoft to light.:cheeky:
Then again,
"during the 1980s Slim became a turnaround specialist. He bought distressed companies at bargain prices, made them efficient, and watched their prices skyrocket." Wow, what a greedy man! :cheeky:
But,
"Slim didn?t do what the winners of the privatized banks did ? run them into the ground, in some cases stealing customer deposits, and in all cases leaving the taxpayer holding the bag.
Instead Slim masterminded the biggest turnaround of all. He transformed Telmex into a well-run operation that improved telephone service by an order of magnitude." Hmm, maybe he's not greedy afterall. :cheeky:
But,
"the [Mexican] government neglected Telmex after its nationalization in 1972, so Slim invested heavily on upgrading equipment. That?s where he learned about high returns from infrastructure investment. Later he fiercely guarded his dominant market position." Hmm, is that because of greed? He could've simply shut Telmex out of business and destroy the thousands of jobs like his other less wealthy buddies did. Hmm, confusing.... greedy or not greedy? :cheeky:
"Slim has engineered turnarounds in retailing, mining, and other sectors, and has made some astute stock market moves." So he created more wealth for many people and job opportunities beyond the telecommunications sector! Wow, for a 'greedy' man that's quite something! :cheeky:
"As his businesses grow, Slim is turning more attention to serving the community, mainly through two charitable foundations ? the Grupo Carso Foundation, started in the 1980s, and the Telmex Foundation, established in 1996." Why would a greedy man turn more attention to serving the community? :cheeky:
"Slim says great wealth brings with it great responsibility. However, like all of us, he has contradictions." Interesting considering that its very similar to what Gates said and look, Slim is a normal human being with contradictions too! OMG! :cheeky:
"To make his fortune he used his monopoly position to ensure that his customers financed the expansion of Telmex." Geez, he even copied Gates on wealth creation with a monopoly, except that Gates monopoly is global and Slim is less so. Wow, Slim is such a 'greedy' guy. :cheeky:
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Considering that Slim's foundations are not supported by the two wealthiest man on earth who contribute to the Gates Foundation, it should be no surprise that the Gates Foundation will have greater endowments than the Slim foundations.
But, Slim made his money in similar was Gates made his money, with one of the few difference being that one is a Spanish speaking Mexican and the other is an English speaking American.
But, I'm sure that has nothing to do with the Slim bashing and Gates glorification around here. It has to do with Slims monopolistic ways, oh wait, Gates was and to a certain extent continues to act like a monopolist as well, bummer there goes that theory.
Maybe its because Slim's foundation is smaller than Gates, oh wait, Gates foundation is supported by two of the wealthiest humans alive, plus its a little older than Slims foundation which is a one man venture, so to speak. Hmm, there goes that theory too.
Oh I get it, it has to do with the high prices Slims companies charges and lack of diversified product, no wait, Gate's Microsoft company is the preferred computer software and running programs on earth not because people prefer Microsoft over all others, but rather because Microsoft was a monopoly for a couple of decades and.... oh well, there goes that argument as well.
Hmm... maybe its the extension of the British vs. Spanish rivalry from colonial times which continues to be manifested today by the demonization of the Spanish conquistador, their decendants, and the ruling elites of Spanish America while those of Anglo America are seen as more benevolent? Hmm, but wait, didn't the British gave Native Americans blankets as 'gifts' without telling them that the blankets were intentionally tainted with Smallpox viruses in order to create a virtual genocide of Native Americans..... ah, what the heck, I'm sure it has nothing to do with Slim being from Spanish America and Gates being from Anglo America. :cheeky:
It's just that Slim is evil and Gates is not. (If there was a puking smiley, now is the time I would use it).
The Different Faces of Carlos Slim of Mexico
Gates Foundation Fact Sheet
-NALs