I have far more faith in the ITER approach than I do in Gates' TWR. At least ITER is under construction.

Um it will take more than just Bill Gates funding projects for potential energy breakthroughs.

Bill Gates is pretty awesome.

Gates is a brilliant guy, always powered by a vision of how the world could be improved.

He could rest on his money like they others who have been the richest men in the world, but he doesn't.

 He gets in there and gets dirty again and again.

Agreed completely.  I dont see how anybody could disrespect him.  People do but they dont really think about what they are disrespecting either.  I mean think about it, if it wasnt for Gates where would this world be tech wise today?

I agree with this completely!

I bet the 47,500 children who now suffer from some form of paralysis due to the polio vaccines his organization provided would highly disagree!

http://pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=68352&sid=1

Well, some form of paralysis is better than Polio, though.

Like that? Watch this too:

I'm a big fan of nuclear personally.

The United States has a great history of producing Philanthropists, and it is a shame that we do not have more of them in our times. Far too often you find the super rich squirreling away their money, and in the process helping nobody other then themselves. It is actually a life affirming thing he is doing. Spending his fortune to create a legacy for all of mankind.

Like his ideas, or don't like his ideas, but don't fault him for making the effort. We don't have enough civic minded people in this world as is. Without us mocking those who have decided to not be apathetic.