Interview of Bill Gates

[PerryChase]

Great Charlie Rose interview of Bill Gates.
You can view it on http://www.charlierose.com
http://charlierose.com/

 

Subjects discussed include software, immigration, economics, China, India.

An interesting point the Bill Gates made that, as the world gets richer, America will have get used to having a lower share of the total wealth, influence, and political power in the world.

[bgates]

The world got richer between 1900 and 2000, yet American influence increased. I often detect some breathless anticipation among those forecasting a decline in American power, which is troubling given the potential successors. China, Russia, Iran, and the EU are each more authoritarian than the US. Perry, I take it you look forward to diminished US power; who would you like to see fill the void, and why?

[PerryChase]

Opps, sorry for the typos. It was late at night and I forgot to proof.

I posted this link because I admire Bill Gates, not because he’s rich, but because of the charity work that he’s doing in the developing word. His work to improve education in poor American communities is also wonderful.

I agree with his views and I found the interview very interesting.

As for waning American power, I believe the point was that America needs not fear the economic and political rise of other countries. We can find ways to work together for the benefit of all.

I’m not looking forward to diminised US power. But I think that we should work cooperatively with others rather than try to impose our will. It’s not a good idea to make enemies unless we are prepared to eternally watch our backs.

Times have changed. It used to be that industries in advanced countries had 50-year comparative advantages over competitors in developing nations. But now, transfer of technology, knowledge and financial assets and can happen almost overnight.

I’ve been to China and Northern Thailand. Bill Gates is right, Capitalism in China is extremely dynamic and there is a sense of urgency there. And Northern Thailand is definitely one of the best places to live on $1 per day.

[bgates]

Do you have an example of a country that does not impose its will on others to the extent it is able? China blocks international action in Darfur because of its oil interests; France maintains a military presence in its former African colonies. If anything, the US does not impose its will enough. Japan’s constitution was written by MacArthur, and Japan has been a stable democracy for 60 years. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we stood by and watched as Islamic bigotry was enshrined in the central law of both nations.

I’m not reflexively opposed to the rise of non-US nations, but there aren’t very many responsible actors on the world stage. India, from what little I know, seems respectable, and I think Bush has done well to improve relations with them. But I have scant hope that the gentlemen behind the Tiananmen Square crackdown want to treat me any better than they treat their own citizens.

Where would you like to see more cooperation? With whom would we cooperate? What would it cost us? And what would we get?

[socalarm]

nice post bgates. sharp and well-reasoned.

[Author]

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