@missingbite For me the point is both are important, they are not mutually exclusive. The government does not always have its eye on a specific need that might be out there, or politics might get in the way of the government moving forward on a specific concern. Education is a big deal to the Gates, and they spend their money where they see fit. My guess is they are also out to show that money can change things in that realm; maybe it will lead to people not able to deny a concentration on education makes a difference. And, their focus on world health, and eradicating certain diseases is a wonderful cause, and helps everyone.
But, things like social security, medical care, bridges, water systems, and public education in the entire United States is not something the Gates’ can fix on their own. It will take a cultural shift. Too many people are private school oriented, which is intertwined with politics, and feel people at the bottom are a waste to spend any money on. Many people are too narrow in focus to care about world health. Or, don’t understand government funding does a tremendous amount of research in the medical sciences.
Also, we are lucky the Gates’ want to give away their money. They could easly have kept it all and passed it on to their children, or built their own church like at least one famous person I can think of. Actually, I can think of two sort of. Their right, I am not complaining or judging, just making a statement. I guess if we get lucky, the more liberal minded will be among the superwealthy, and try to tavkles these sort of things. I know some stats fly arpund abour Republicans giving more, it would be interesting to know what they are giving to?
I was wondering just the other day if small pox was eradicated because governements vaccinated everyone? Or, how that actually played out? I don’t know the answer.