---
title: A belated thanks to Bill Gates
date: 2005-07-08T22:37:32Z
modified: 2005-07-08T22:37:32Z
permalink: "https://redmonk.com/jgovernor/a-belated-thanks-to-bill-gates/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 285
categories:
  - Uncategorized
timestamp: 2005-07-08T22:37:32Z
tags:
  - Uncategorized
---

Dear Mr. Gates,

I just wanted to thank you for your personal appearance at last week’s Live8 show in London.

You added some important business-side credibility to the event.

I was quite surprised when you were introduced on stage.

You did a great job.

I don’t believe in trickle down economics and I think the Invisible Hand leaves something to be desired.

Too many Americans don’t realize they were born into privilege. Evidently you do. Self-made, indeed.

I appreciate that many people have written off Live8 and its intentions. That’s their prerogative\*. I would ask however that people actually look into its stated goals before writing the campaign off. Trade liberalization is an important plank of the Make Poverty History prospectus. [The Commission for Africa](http://www.commissionforafrica.org/english/report/thereport/english/11-03-05_cr_report.pdf) is not some soft-hearted soft-headed document. It details the corrosive affects of corruption and the need for reform on the continent.

G8 is not about hand outs, which is one reason, I assume, that you became involved. Thanks again to you and your wife Melinda for your Live8 booster and [all your charitable works](http://www.gatesfoundation.org/GlobalHealth/).

Yours Truly,

James Governor

————————————————————————————-

\* Its no surprise the privileged should exercise this prerogative:

 **pre·rog·a·tive** [![Audio pronunciation of "prerogative"](http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/JPG/pron.jpg)

](https://secure.reference.com/premium/login.html?rd=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fsearch%3Fr%3D2%26q%3Dprerogative) ( P ) [**Pronunciation Key**](http://dictionary.reference.com/help/ahd4/pronkey.html "Click for guide to symbols.") (pr![](http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/ibreve.gif)

-r![](http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/obreve.gif)

g![](http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/prime.gif)

![](http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/schwa.gif)-t![](http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/ibreve.gif)

v)
_n._

1. An exclusive right or privilege held by a person or group, especially a hereditary or official right. See Synonyms at [right](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=right).
2. The exclusive right and power to command, decide, rule, or judge: the principal’s prerogative to suspend a student.
3. A special quality that confers superiority.

\*\* My favorite “naysay” on the subject came from Noel Gallagher of pub rock band Oasis. As he [said](http://www3.contactmusic.com/news/index7.htm) recently:

> Correct me if I’m wrong, but are they hoping that one of these guys from the G8 is on a quick 15 minute break at Gleneagles (in Scotland) and sees ANNIE LENNOX singing SWEET DREAMS and thinks, ‘F\*\*k me, she might have a point there, you know?’
> 
> “KEANE doing SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW and some Japanese businessman going, ‘Aw, look at him… we should really f\*\*king drop that debt, you know.
> 
> “It’s not going to happen, is it?”

Good point Noel, but what if you _are_ wrong? We live in a world dictated by media agendas. As your huge album sales amply demonstrate.