By Free Republic | Created at 2025-01-18 08:47:20 | Updated at 2025-01-18 12:23:37
3 hours ago
Tech founder pledges to give away half his wealth to make the American dream more possible
Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle / SFGATE.com ^ | Updated Jan 17, 2025 8:42 a.m. | By THALIA BEATY, Associated Press
Posted on 01/18/2025 12:32:02 AM PST by thecodont
Unfair. Astonishing. Un-American.
That is how tech entrepreneur Jeff Atwood sees the staggering wealth inequality in the U.S. today. In response, he and his family have pledged to give away half their wealth within five years, starting with $1 million gifts to eight nonprofits this month.
His warning about the dangers of growing inequity was echoed by outgoing President Joe Biden in his final primetime speech Wednesday.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.
Atwood, who co-founded Stack Overflow, a popular forum for software developers, made the pledge Jan. 7 in a blog post.
“The American dream isn’t about just getting rich. It’s about everyone succeeding,” said Atwood, in an interview with The Associated Press from his home in the Bay Area.
Atwood said the inequity reduces hope in the American dream, which he sees as the possibility of being “rewarded handsomely for a combination of hard work and good luck.”
Atwood's initial gifts support a range of nonprofits, from PEN America, which advocates for free speech, to reproductive health organization Planned Parenthood to Team Rubicon, a disaster response organization.
“What’s unique about his donation is, it’s essentially built on trust,” said Art delaCruz, CEO of Team Rubicon, saying the gift had come out of the blue.
The commitment to give away half of his family's wealth is unusual even among the richest people. And beyond giving his own money away, Atwood sincerely hopes to move others to action.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: siliconvalley; tech; wealth
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1 posted on 01/18/2025 12:32:02 AM PST by thecodont
To: thecodont
Sounds like a rat offensive against Elon.
2 posted on 01/18/2025 12:37:42 AM PST by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump)
To: thecodont
Yeah, that’ll do it.
Virtue signaling clown.
3 posted on 01/18/2025 12:39:43 AM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
To: thecodont
“The American dream isn’t about just getting rich. It’s about everyone succeeding,” said Atwood ...
Who gave this guy the right to tell us what our dreams should be?
4 posted on 01/18/2025 12:40:57 AM PST by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump)
To: thecodont
Ok, I accept. My charity is called The Slush FundTM. The motto is, "Money Is Good".
5 posted on 01/18/2025 12:42:55 AM PST by Lazamataz (The BEST birthday present I ever got WAS DONALD TRUMP WINNING IN 2024!!!)
To: HIDEK6
Who gave this guy the right to tell us what our dreams should be?
Yeah. My American Dream is:
"It Is FAR Better To Water-Ski Behind Six Yachts,Than It Is To Water-Ski Behind Five."
6 posted on 01/18/2025 12:45:33 AM PST by Lazamataz (The BEST birthday present I ever got WAS DONALD TRUMP WINNING IN 2024!!!)
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