Look at what some wealthy people do with their money!

[proud2BlibKansan]

Instead of collecting multi jillion dollar bonuses and buying fancy sports cars and ridiculously expensive apartments like those investment bankers, some wealthy people actually SHARE their wealth.

Secret Santa has handed out $100 bills in poor neighborhoods at Christmastime for many years now.

http://secretsantausa.com/Home.asp



KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The answer to one of the happiest mysteries in the Kansas City area is being revealed this year.

A man who has given away millions of dollars and become known as Secret Santa for handing out Christmas cash to the needy is allowing his name to be publicized after 26 years.

But the reason for the revelation is an unhappy one. Secret Santa has cancer. He wants to start speaking to community groups about his belief in random acts of kindness, but he can't do that without telling people who he is.

more . . . http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15751409/

[acmavm]

1. Yeah, I think I saw that Exxon guy that got half a billion for

retirement out on the corner this morning.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. That is more money that I will make in my entire life!

[tabasco]

44. This guy? He's one of GWB's favorite charities.

[femrap]

46. Is he perfect casting for the next monster movie

out of Hollywood? I mean he absolutely personifies the bloodsuckers, doesn't he?

[acmavm]

66. Yeah, that's the one.

[jayfish]

2. Yeah, But I Have A Feeling That Too Many Do This:

http://www.fao.com/catalog/thumbnail.jsp?parentCategoryId=280&categoryId=401

When I first saw these the other night, I nearly got sick.

Jay

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Yes that is sick

If they all did what Secret Santa did, then no one would be putting his story on the front page. Sad.

[unpossibles]

19. if you think that is bad, check this out

http://www.fao.com/catalog/boutique.jsp?parentCategoryId=280&categoryId=402

such a reasonable price too!

[Kindigger]

23. This kid looks real happy

http://www.fao.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=8896&categoryId=176&parentCategoryId=97

[jayfish]

40. Yep "A true delight! " -NT-

Jay

[Goblinmonger]

54. I puked a little in my mouth

when I saw that.

[jayfish]

64. Reminds Me Of "The Toy".

...and that's not a good thing.

Jay

[femrap]

42. I had no idea such frivolous purchases existed....

that reminded me of something. Before the mid-term elections, * visited New Albany, Ohio for a fundraiser for Pryce at Wexner's home (ceo of Limited...please boycott all of his retail outlets including victoria secrets, express, etc.). There was a small, impromptu demonstration where the roads had been blocked for *'s entourage.

There was a women beside me and she was pissed...she said something that I'll never forget. 'These multi-million dollar homes are just as hideous as the housing in the ghettos.' And she is right.

The GREED of some is ruining our nation....and that this Greed is preached from the pulpits is disgusting. I guess Karma will see to them soon.

[skyblue]

68. Exactly!

Liked her comment and yours.

There was a women beside me and she was pissed...she said something that I'll never forget. 'These multi-million dollar homes are just as hideous as the housing in the ghettos.' And she is right.

The GREED of some is ruining our nation....and that this Greed is preached from the pulpits is disgusting. I guess Karma will see to them soon.

Don't understand what happened to the "Am I my brother's keeper" theme for religions.

[Initech]

49. What the hell? Who would spend that kind of money?

[Straight Shooter]

50. Don't get sick. Feel sorry for the kids. The houses are an enticement to go away.

Make a grand playhouse for the kids, and then maybe the little brats won't be underfoot in the grownups' house. Don't want to be bothered by having to actually interact with them. :sarcasm:

[jayfish]

63. In A Similar Vain.

http://www.fao.com/catalog/newborn_nursery.jsp?parentCategoryId=93&categoryId=139

These things are creepy to me (and I don't get creeped out by much). I have a feeling that little girls "ages 3 and up" couldn't care less about the intricacy of these things. ..mine wouldn't. I think they're adult toys. Why have real kids when you can have a duplicate you can stash away when you've had enough?

Jay

[Straight Shooter]

65. Out of morbid curiosity, I clicked on all the doll links. Guess what color they are?

White, white, white, white, white, ad nauseum.

:puke:

edit spelling

[ikojo]

70. IF I had extra funds I'd totally get this for a kid

and start him/her on the path to scooter love!!

[pitohui]

4. wow

that would make a hell of a movie

if only everybody was like that, it really makes you stop and think about the variability of the human species, how can the same species create a dick cheney and a secret santa?

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. There is a book that just came out

So I wonder if a movie is not far off?

[BlooInBloo]

7. (shrug) It's their money. If they want sports cars & what-not, it's their business.

... Never understood the untoward attention people pay to how OTHER people spend THEIR OWN money. Damn financial peeping toms - get a life.

Publicizing acts of charity is lovely - contrasting them (the "good" guys) to those who spend THEIR OWN money in some other way (the "bad" guys) is just jackass.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. They must never see homelessness

or hungry kids. Or have a conscience. No way could I EVER keep that kind of money and spend it on toys for me. My conscience would NEVER allow that.

[jgraz]

9. Yes, God forbid anyone should speak out against consumption or greed on a liberal forum

:eyes:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

22. I wish I had written this response. Thank you. -nt

[nam78_two]

43. Well said

I swear this place gets more right wing by the day :eyes: I think all the libertarians are coming back to the Dems grudgingly and now want to change the party to go for the "me me me" philosophy.

[femrap]

47. That's a good observation....

and I think you may be right.

[SmokingJacket]

51. Thank you. Well said. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

53. Okay say something good about greed

I am all ears.

[jgraz]

55. Did you intend this as a reply to my message?

If so, I don't think you quite understood the meaning.

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. Yes I just now realized that

I believe you and I are on the same page here.

[jgraz]

59. DU Rule #1: Never leave off the sarcasm tag

DU Rule #2: If you post something so obvious that it clearly doesn't need a sarcasm tag, see rule #1.

;)

[theHandpuppet]

56. Touche!

Couldn't have said it better.

[toshirajo]

10. Right on Secret Santa

A rising tide raises all boats Bloo. Where some of us have a problem is not keel envy but ship displacement.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

13. toshirajo...

to DU!

[panader0]

11. "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than

for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

[pitohui]

14. no, it is MY business because resources on planet earth are finite

the "it's their money" b.s. don't fly in a world of limited resources where 2 billion or so people don't even have adequate access to clean water

after a certain point, every sports car and third vacation home bought is stealing from the rest of us

the bad guys DO need to be held up to social scorn and contempt, peer pressure is a more peaceful way of encouraging decent behavior than actual violent armed revolution, but if we refuse to put any pressure or taxes at all in a peaceful manner on the bad guys (not "bad" guys, they are genuinely evil, since their theft of resources kills) then it is inevitable that we will continue to have violence in this world, if you close the peaceful alternatives you leave nothing else to impose social change but the gun


it's perfectly fine to make judgments and to say here is a kind, decent, truly good guy (not a "good" guy, how can a man giving out cash money to the poor be a "good" guy in sarcastic quotes) as contrasted with the dick cheney greedheads is just making good use of our brains and our powers of observation

we were given brains so we could make judgments and distinctions not so we could sit on our hands and say "whatever" like a bunch of fifth graders

[Missy M]

16. It is their business if they want sports cars and what not but....

how many and how much of that does one person or family need. To share YOUR OWN MONEY with the needy does make you a "good" guy but on the other hand to spend their own money on countless material things and not have a social conscious makes you greedy.

[Double T]

20. Greed is GOOD??? I don't think so........................

# excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves
# avarice: reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)

[mondo joe]

21. It's the flip side of doing what you want with your own body.

And I feel the same about both -- do what you want with yours.

[jgraz]

26. So you won't mind if I come over and take a crap in your living room

No? Well the crap from excess consumption may be harder to see, and the room's a bit bigger, but it's basically the same thing.

[mondo joe]

34. I don't confuse my living room with yours.

Excess children is a problem. Excess smoking is too. And excess consumption.

And yet I believe in freedom and liberty, which means these are your choices until you violate another's rights.

[jgraz]

35. My point is that none of these things are absolutes

It's not as simple violating/not violating rights. It's about balancing rights and freedoms.

[mondo joe]

37. I think it's pretty darn close to being as simple as violating/not another's rights.

That's how you balance rights and freedoms.

[jgraz]

38. I got that much from your previous post

However, things in real life are rarely that simple

[mondo joe]

39. Then by all means, present your better idea for balancing freedoms and rights.

Thank you.

[jgraz]

41. Sure -- teaching you introductory civics is EXACTLY how I want to spend the holidays

:eyes:

[mondo joe]

62. Hm, you seem to be arguing for something OTHER than accepted

civics.

I'm happy to stick with the legal balance - thanks!

[DBoon]

27. what people spend their money on doesn't concern me so much

The fact that such a small minority controls so much of our wealth concerns me greatly. I don't begrudge the wealthy their stupid toys, but I'd rather that there were fewer of them and more money for the many who have made their wealth possible.

From the point of view of someone who is homeless, most of the people on DU have what seems to be insanely expensive toys. What is an obscene luxury is relative to the beholder.

People who buy expensive trinkets like this are not worth the energy spent judging them. People who have the wealth to rule corporate dynasties and buy governments are scary.

[IndyOp]

33. Have you seen the "L-Curve"

IMO, people tend to focus on what the wealthy expend when they themselves are lacking the basics (food, shelter, clothing, health care) or feel great compassion for those who lack the basics and/or when the gap between poor and rich is so huge as to make the wealthy appear bizarre. Right now the wealth & income gap is staggering.

The L-Curve - You will not be outraged by outrageous statistics
if you don't comprehend the numbers.
http://www.lcurve.org/

As positioned on a football field:
Median US family income (50 yard line) is $40,000 (a stack of $100 bills 1.6 inches high.)
Family on the 95 yard line earns about $100,000 per year, a stack of $100 bills about 4 inches high.
At the 99 yard line the income is about $300,000, a stack of $100 bills about a foot high.
The curve reaches $1 million (a 40 inch high stack of $100 bills) one foot from the goal line.
From there it keeps going up...it goes up 50 km (30 miles) on this scale!

[Bridget Burke]

36. Well, there are rich folks who have a sports car....

A German sedan, a fine house & even a vacation spot. But, rather than buying more cars & more homes & more drugs--they give some money away.

Nobody's saying the rich should impoverish themselves. But it's pleasant to see that some folks with plenty of money enjoy sharing the wealth.

[femrap]

45. I enjoy the comparisons....free speech and all.

And I rather like the circus act of watching rich folks trying to get thru that eye of a needle.

[mark414]

67. anyone who makes money off the hard work of others

is a jackass

[demnan]

12. I hope his cancer continues to be in remission

we need people like this in the world.

[pitohui]

15. i agree

it really makes you wonder sometimes where is the justice in this world, when a pinochet and a reagan can live so long as parasites and someone like this doesn't even achieve the average life expectancy

[Double T]

17. There are plenty of 'good' people in the world, THEY usually do their.......

good deeds without any recognition or fanfare.

[pitohui]

25. he kept the secret for 26 years and now is dying w. no real chance of recovery

he has liver cancer dude

christ, what is it with the damn sarcastic quote marks

this is not a "good" guy, this is just a damn good guy who deserves to hear a few kind words and to tell his story before he passes, which will almost certainly be in months at the age of 58 or 59

what's the matter with people sometime? got to poke holes in every thing

he is clearly not seeking recognition to enrich himself, he won't be around to be enriched, seems to me that he merely wants to spread the secret santa meme before he goes, what the heck is wrong with that?

[Double T]

29. You must be having a bad day

There is NO sarcasm HERE. I was ONLY stating that there are plenty of 'good people', just as there are plenty of 'greedy people'. The 'good' people do their work NOT expecting rewards. Sorry for YOUR MISUNDERSTANDING!!!

[Missy M]

31. I think you misunderstood the posters comment....

he was talking about the Secret Santa not seeking publicity all these years and there are more people out there equally as good as him.

[pitohui]

32. the sarcastic air quotes confused me

usually if we sincerely consider someone a good guy we don't say he's a "good" guy, as this implies sarcasm

not trying to be an english teacher here just explaining where the misunderstanding arises

[Philosoraptor]

18. Don't tell ME there ain't no Santy Claus!

[peacetalksforall]

24. Thanks for telling us about Secret Santa. This guy's friendship

with Buck O'Neil also says a lot. Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! And all honor to Mr. Horn.

[wicket]

28. God bless Larry Stewart

n/t

[BuelahWitch]

30. Thanks for posting this Proud

It's so wonderful he never forgot the kindness extended to him. I'll be praying for Larry Stewart.

[Mad_Dem_X]

48. God bless him!

What a generous and good-hearted person he is. *That* is the true spirit of Christmas.

[quiet.american]

52. What a beautiful story. What kindness! Thanks for posting! n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

57. Giving anonymously is one of the greatest things one can do. This man is a true MENSCH.

:loveya: Giving to those in need without the need for recognition and not expecting anything in return, is special. I hope he beats the Cancer. The world needs him.

[roguevalley]

60. look at that little old man's face. its beautiful.

[leftofthedial]

61. the truly wealthy could hand out $100 bills all day long

as fast as they could with both hands


At the end of the day, they'd still have more money than they started with.

The accumulation of wealth in the hands of a miniscule percentage of the population is immoral and criminal, even if one or two of them are truly charitable.

[skyblue]

69. Some wealthy: Michael J. Fox, George Soros, Ted Turner.

Not all wealthy are bad. But many Americans are f'd up with the keep up with the Jonesing routine where they have to buy fancy crap to impress people. They're basically sick and hopeless. Others just want bling bling to the max because they feel it makes them better than you. It is freakish.

Nevertheless, there wouldn't be museums, libraries, and even a Democratic party without people with money.

Pretty precarious when people prefer to have you rely on voluntary contributions to sustain you when you have some sort of disability or maybe don't have insurance and might lose your house or suffer from some hideous environmental disaster rather than having a public trust fund by taxing the wealthy to help people in crisis.