Clinton to dedicate life to redistributing world's wealth

The Age (Australia) ^ | 02/27/2002 | Barbara Adam

[Pokey78]

Former US president Bill Clinton today vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to helping redistribute the world's wealth.

At his fourth Australian speaking engagement, Mr Clinton said prosperous nations including Australia and the United States held the key to the world's future.

He said it would cost America $US2.5 billion ($A4.87 billion) to meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's request for an extra $US10 billion ($A19.47 billion) to fight AIDS and other infections diseases.

"For us, you know what that is?" he asked the $1,100-a-head charity dinner in Melbourne for the Microsurgery Foundation.

"Two-and-a-half months of the Afghan war, and about one tenth of one per cent of the federal budget.

"That's it.

"There are 40 million AIDS cases a day and if we don't do something about it, there will be 100 million AIDS cases a day."

Mr Clinton said Australians needed to identify with people of poorer nations.

"If we can, then our children will have the most peaceful and prosperous and the most interesting and fun time in all of human history," he said.

"I'm going to do what I can for the rest of my life to make that happen, and I hope you will too.

The 42nd president of the United States said Australians should not be afraid of change, or of people who were different.

Such fears had resulted in the assassinations of Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Israeli President Yitzak Rabin and the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"We are struggling to find a balance in our two countries to not just tolerate people who are different, but actually venerate those differences, respect them, celebrate them, in the context of our common humanity," he said.

In a direct reference to the Howard government's woes, Mr Clinton also warned Australia needed to pull its weight in addressing global warming or the refugee crisis would get worse.

"If the world warms in the next 50 years as it has done in the last 10, ...agricultural production will be disrupted across the globe," he said.

"You'll have literally millions upon millions of food refugees, leading to more violence, more disruption and more boatloads of refugees that you will have to face."

[x]

There's nothing surprising about this at all. The man has spent most of his life "redistributing" rather than creating wealth. The good news is that this probably means he won't run for elective office again. He's headed for that never-never land over the horizon where Democratic ex-politicians, ex-supreme court justices, ex-university presidents, ex-stars and ex-news readers hobnob -- that imaginary realm where Cronkheit and Redford pal with Ramsay Clark, George McGovern and Derek Bok.

[Magician]

Re: No one from one of the permanent members of the Security Council can become Secretary General.

You are right. But rules can be changed, particularly or the benefit of Bill Clinton. Arkansas Governors were not supposed to serve more than two terms. Clinton had the Arkansas state Constitution changed so he could run for a third term.

This guy is the Super-Kingfish. He makes Huey Long look like an amateur.

[harrym]

"If we can, then our children will have the most peaceful and prosperous and the most interesting and fun time in all of human history,
I don't want my children to have any kind of "fun" or "most interesting" time based on the immoral world view of this *******. I want my children to struggle for what they get, so that they may truly appreciate it. I want them to find interest in high pursuits, so that they may advance mankind. I want them to be generous to others because that is their nature, not because some politician wants to redistribute the wealth and gain power through the credit he receives.

[Chance]

You have to admit, Clinton has a lot of experience in redistributing wealth..... only problem is, he collected more than his share. Add up all the world sightseeing trips with his family, inlaws, hangers on, and others in his entourage and it would probably be enough to bail out Afghanistan. Then add in what he lifted from the white house on his way out... man he was 'distributing' ALL THE TIME. He had so much fun in those 8 years, he wants to keep it going.

[crystalk]

He started by stealing half the furniture and fixtures from the White House, and now he is asking at least $100,000 to $200,000 for giving a speech!

Now THAT is what I call income redistribution!

[Revolting cat!]

And here's a quote from the link you provide in post # 20. I think it's worth repeating here (don't flame me, I'm not the one spewing out this nonsense) because it so well illustrates the delusionary thinking of those, ahem, intellectuals:

"When a retro moron would gloat, as Chimpy did in the debate with Gore, "Well, that's class warfare!," the proper reply would be, "Are you saying that the well-being of 98% of the population is not the proper concern of a democracy?"

So, that's my proposal for this morning: Let's push for fairness, and let's do it by being brave enough to call things by their proper name. Truth in language!"

This stuff doesn't need a parody. It parodies itself!

[Jadge]

"Bet you a buck he isn't including his OWN ill-gotten wealth."

My sentiments exactly. Where does he think wealth comes from? Individuals.

He can start by redistributing some of his wealth into my pocket!

[lonestar]

Lord! How I despise this piece of human-like garbage!!!

What do you have against garbage?

[Zack Nguyen]

"There are 40 million AIDS cases a day and if we don't do something about it, there will be 100 million AIDS cases a day."

Hmmm....40 million AIDS cases per day? That would mean that the entire world's population would be infected in...150 days!

Good grief, I guess we'd better get our affairs in order. We're all coming down with AIDS in the five months, you see.

[SAMWolf]

Yor're right, I shouldn't disparage garbage that way. I just got carried away in the heat of the moment.

[Steve_Seattle]

"40 million AIDS cases a day"

If Bush made a gaffe like that, we'd never hear the end of it. Just ask Dan Quayle.

[arly]

Bubba you filthy piece of garbage you would make Karl Marx proud!... puleeeeease go away!

[RnMomof7]

How much was he paid for this speech and where is he redistributing it?

[MeekOneGOP]

I love that pic. Especially Kay Bailey's eyes bugging like that! LOL!

[wjcsux]

I think there ought to be a fund set up for people who feel "guilty" about their own success. They can put their own money into it for "re-distribution". Governor Huckabee of AR set up a similar fund for people in his state who want to pay more taxes.

[livius]

Oh, please. Somebody forgot the barf alert.

[lentulusgracchus]

"Former US president Bill Clinton today vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to helping redistribute the world's wealth."

As opposed to what other part of his life, when he wasn't busily redistributing other people's wealth?

The guy's a professional parasite, and he pretends it's a morally uplifting way to run a grift.