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Adam Doree

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OK Steve Jobs, now Let's See Some Charity

Posted: 01/09/11 08:25 BST

2011-09-01-stevejobs.jpg

We all knew it was coming. And in the wake of last week's news about Steve Jobs' resignation, some commentators have talked about how Apple will be fine under the leadership of new CEO Tim Cook; others reckon Apple will be the next biggest gaming company - with or without him.

That's all well and good, but if you ask me, the big discussion point now is this: isn't it about time Steve Jobs got involved with some charitable activities?

Having created some superb products and built what was recently the most valuable company in the world, Jobs is now worth over $8 billion.

Yet despite pressure from extremely generous and inspiring philanthropists like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates (whose occasional portrayal as the "evil" one next to a Jesus-like Jobs is, in this context, nonsensical), it would seem that Jobs steadfastly refuses to donate any of his wealth to good causes, in a world where charitable opportunities are abundant.

As far as I'm aware, this fact is undisputed. As an article on AOL site Daily Finance puts it:

He doesn't give any money to charity. And when he became Apple's CEO he stopped all of its philanthropic programs. He said, "wait until we are profitable". Now Apple is profitable, and sitting on $40 billion in cash, and still no corporate philanthropy.

But the same author of this article - actually a chokingly biased, self-confessed Jobs admirer - argues that the great products he's given us over the years - and the jobs it has created - is in essence a cause for good.

That may be a fair comment, but only up to a point - only the most blinkered of technology users could not love some of Apple's recent innovations like iPhone, or at the very least appreciate the impact they have had on the technology world at large.

But it is obviously not charity.

Some choice comments from regular people in response to his argument:

"His avoidance of ANY charity, in this day when so many billionaires are pledging to give away their wealth to worthy causes, is... contemptible." - joeomar
"Giving people jobs is not charity....especially when you need their jobs to make you more rich. People in other parts of the world will never have a chance at this money or his jobs." - Sarah Kent
"I'm sure starving kids in Africa or any other suitable charity will care more about their next meal on the table than whether we have an ipod/iphone/ipad to play games on." - cmaxwell

Let's be clear, this is not about "do-goodery". This is about legacy. How do we want to be remembered after we die?

Gates may end up being remembered more for his charitable foundation than as the founder of Microsoft. Buffett, who I think pledged something like 99% of his wealth to Gates' foundation (pointing out that the remaining 1% is still more than he and his family would ever need for the rest of his life) and called for other billionaires to do the same, will be admired just as much for doing what's right as for being the world's smartest investor.

Much as I love my iPhone and can't wait upgrade from 3GS to iPhone 5 (supposedly being announced within a matter of days now), I am not a "die-hard" Apple fan - and I can't help thinking that too many people writing about Steve Jobs these days are.

It beggars belief that none of the recent coverage about him even mentions the issue of his and Apple's anti-charity policy. Nobody seems to want to talk about it, even though now seems like the ideal time to raise the question.

Of course, everybody's making the connection between Jobs' resignation and his unfortunate health concerns; ugly rumours about death lurking around the corner that were rife earlier this year are obviously very uncomfortable to talk about, but if you ask me it only increases the relevance of the philanthropy issue; you would think that Jobs, a victim of cancer, would want to do something to maybe help others suffering from the same thing in the future, or for any number of other good causes.

As my friend just said to me when I told her I was writing this piece: "Really? Is that actually true [about Jobs'/Apple's anti-charity position)? What is the reason? I just don't get it."

Neither do I.

Jobs has achieved something amazing with his life so far. His business empire, product and marketing genius and resulting vast wealth seem alien to most of us.

Now is the time for him to honour that achievement by showing that he is, in fact, human after all.

 

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02:07 AM on 09/06/2011
Sounds like Charity means doing what you want him to do. Worry about yourself.
student21218
Respect, love and admiration
09:10 PM on 09/05/2011
Charity would be if Apple paid its associates that work in the Apple stores a better hourly wage or at least full time hours.
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julieJgoldengay
Buffalo Woman of the L-Train
06:16 PM on 09/05/2011
Schools hold book-n-bake sales,
To buy copy paper, toner, and surge protectors.
Splurge in the Schools.
There's a Job.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Aroon
07:05 PM on 09/04/2011
Steve Jobs has a given the world almost-flawless computer. That is Charity, unlike you know who!
07:21 PM on 09/04/2011
Are you referring to the man who has given more money to humanitarian causes...who's done more to ease the suffering in the most impoverished & disease stricken regions of the world...than any single person in human history.

Shame on you...trying to create a puny electrical box with human lives.
07:33 PM on 09/04/2011
eh, I guess that Salk guy & some other scientists did some OK work too, so I'll qualify this to "any single non-scientist/medical practitioner" in human history.

That includes enticing other multi-zillionaires to help him out, like Warren Buffet. And just wait until Gates (and/or Buffet) dies...the charitable windfall will be earth-shaking.
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06:41 PM on 09/04/2011
It's His money and His choice, end conversation.
07:23 PM on 09/04/2011
bwahaahaahaa...

LOVE the deitific capitalization of "His".

Too bad he's been so lacking in the loaves, fishes & lepers departments.
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10:26 PM on 09/04/2011
It is not up to me, or you, how anyone else spends their monies. Though many around here seem to view other peoples wealth as their own.
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ElmCreekSmith
I hunt the things that go bump in the night.
05:54 PM on 09/04/2011
To you I have only one thing to say: Mind your own business.

ECS
05:44 PM on 09/04/2011
Wow...the Applostles really are out in force! How sweet, someone even found a way to slam Bill Gates for giving away more money than anyone in history!

I mean, how DARE anyone suggest that their lordnsavior might be shockingly uncharitable. And not just personally, but that he's also fostered a culture of stinginess at his company...where he apparently even LIED about trying to use a tiny fraction of Apple's corporate wealth to help other human beings ("...when we're profitable.").

I didn't know any of this, and I'm DISGUSTED! Just for shizz 'n grins, I went to google to see how charitable the Koch bros have been, figuring they'd surely out-miser Uncle Stevie. Guess what, David's given $HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS$ to hospitals (including Sloan Kettering's FERTILITY CENTER...wow!), cancer care, the arts, etc. Condé Nast Portfolio described him as "one of the most generous but low-key philanthropists in America." The other one is either more low key, or not as giving.

Sorry, fanboys, but knowing Apple is such freakishly uncharitable corporate citizen is CERTAINLY a nasty, big ole' worm in the pomme. And it's emperor is also wearing some really ratty clothes.
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theveggiedude
my body is a temple, not a living graveyard
05:00 AM on 09/06/2011
Bill Gates could have given $60 Billion to charity and still be far richer than Steve Jobs! Maybe we are not asking the right question. And maybe Bill ain't the saint you think he is.
04:55 PM on 09/04/2011
So the fact Steve Jobs is slowing dying from cancer is not enough proof he is "human after all" for you?

If he does give to any charity, it should be done because he wants to. Not because you need that sort of giving as a requirement for anyone to be considered "human". Only charity freely given is a virtue. Charity given to buy grace or good opinion is a sin.
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tnlcallen
02:46 PM on 09/04/2011
I think it is Steve's choice whether or not to give money. I'm not a religious person, but the Bible has a lot of good things to say about Charity. First and foremost, it says that God loves a cheerful giver. There are many motivations for giving, but the very best reason is because you feel strongly about the charity you are giving to. Hopefully Steve will one day realize the real joy of giving on his own. I think he is really missing out if he doesn't
04:45 AM on 09/04/2011
Bill Gates charity spends it's time reminding us how great he is for giving charity.

I would rather live in a nation where workers are able to work and corporations are free to fail without constant bailouts and constant corporate welfare.
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06:38 PM on 09/04/2011
Microsoft received a bailout?
08:00 PM on 09/03/2011
Steve has helped create jobs - and tremendous tax revenues by extension - in the US. If he wants to give his fortune away that's fine. If he wants to give his fortune away to his family that's also fine. He earned the money.

Additionally this man is an "Entertainment Media Specialist". Why did you take that job? How does that help society? I'd rather have 1 Steve Jobs than a million Entertainment Media Specialists. If that offends you, simply recognize that we ALL make self-interested decisions. You made one. Steve made one. He owes you nothing.
04:56 AM on 09/04/2011
If we each owe eachother nothing then don't ask me to pay for injured vets. And don't ask me to defend this nation. And don't ask me to pay any taxes.
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notadumbblonde
Strong and independent
02:35 PM on 09/04/2011
That's not what the man said.
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cdub1991
Seek first to understand, then to be understood
07:17 AM on 09/03/2011
If you had written this ten years ago when he still had some time , maybe it would have mattered and maybe I would have cared. Arguing the point now just seems inappropriate.
02:22 AM on 09/03/2011
Demanding charity from others? Please publish your tax returns so everyone can see how much you give each year.
11:22 PM on 09/02/2011
It is not our place to judge another's charity. If he donates privately, like some do, then perhaps he doesn't want to sound his own horn. Besides, the man may likely be nearing the end of his life. Leave him be and allow him to choose what to do with what he earned.
08:05 PM on 09/02/2011
or maybe, you could just let the man live whatever kind of life he has left in front of him. given that he's rumored (and looks) to be so ill, you could let him have some peace.