Gore: “I Put My Money Where My Mouth Is" Others Resent His wise Investments

[DearAbby]

Al Gore could become world's first carbon billionaire



Last year Mr Gore's venture capital firm loaned a small California firm $75m to develop energy-saving technology.

The company, Silver Spring Networks, produces hardware and software to make the electricity grid more efficient.


The deal appeared to pay off in a big way last week, when the Energy Department announced $3.4 billion in smart grid grants, the New York Times reports. Of the total, more than $560 million went to utilities with which Silver Spring has contracts.

<Snip>

Critics, mostly on the political right and among global warming sceptics, say Mr. Gore is poised to become the world's first "carbon billionaire," profiteering from government policies he supports that would direct billions of dollars to the business ventures he has invested in.

<snip>

Mr Gore had said that he is simply putting his money where his mouth is.

"Do you think there is something wrong with being active in business in this country?" Mr. Gore said. "I am proud of it. I am proud of it."


More at Link

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/6491195/Al-Gore-could-become-worlds-first-carbon-billionaire.html

[gratuitous]

1. Apparently, you can only do good if you remain dirt poor

But if you're a greedy bastard, intent on inflicting as much harm on society as possible to line your own pockets, you're a hero of capitalism and a captain of industry. Odd that the writer would use the word "profiteering" to describe someone making coin from government policies he supports. Has something illegal, unethical or shady and behind the scenes been going on here?

[monmouth]

2. I'd certainly invest in some shares .....n/t

[DearAbby]

3. Could be a wise decision

if you had some cash to invest these days.

[polichick]

4. Wish I'd copied Gore's early investments in Apple and Google! nt

[Cirque du So-What]

5. If he hadn't invested in the industry

he would be vilified for being a hypocrite. Can't win with some people.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I'm so glad he did this.

I remember asking on this newsgroup, years ago, what kinds of occupations were more Democratically oriented. I asked because I was hoping to do some job searching and was looking for ideas. But the only kinds of professions that people kept coming up with was the teaching profession.

And soon after that, Gore took on this green venture and I'm thrilled he's doing well with it.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

7. What a crock of shit.

Without investment, the company wouldn't have been able to develop the technology that got them the contract.

[Winterblues]

8. Leave it to Republicans to complain about someone making money..

And bringing in thousands if not hundreds of thousand of new jobs that will remain within the USA and never be "outsourced"..Is there anything that Republicans will not complain about or fear?

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Al Gore's desks notice the three apple cinema displays

[monmouth]

10. As a former secretary I wretch at the unorganized desk and office in

general. However, experience has taught me that he most likely knows where every folder, paper, note and magazine is....Yikes!

[imdjh]

13. Horsecrap. Disorganized people waste hours and hours looking for stuff....

.... and then scream when you have cleaned up and organized their mess that they "can't find anything". They can't find anything on a normal day, but now they have the excuse that it's "your fault".

Sorry, but I get sick of the excuses, because I spend so much time putting out fires for people who don't read the directions, can't find the manual, and forgot where they put their fucking common sense.

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. When I was doing academic writings my desk looked like his.

I knew where everything was and didn't have a secretary.

Gore was writing his book at this time.

I thought it was cool myself.

[GoCubsGo]

15. Mine often looked like that, too,

I admit I am organizationally challenged, but seeing that photo makes me feel so much better!

[Uncle Joe]

16. This also serves as an added layer of security as it would require any snooper a longer time

to find what they were looking for.

[ret5hd]

18. Let us know the next time you clean Gore's office.

:rofl:

[imdjh]

19. Well, I'm not sure why you're so amused, but happy to have amused you.

Hopefully you are simply easily amused rather than being simpleminded.

[tinrobot]

11. I hope he becomes the first green energy billionaire.

That way, people will finally realize that green energy is not just for hippies - it's profitable and worth pursuing. The more people pursue it, the quicker it will happen, and it can't happen soon enough.

[earth mom]

12. Go Al!

:yourock:

[DearAbby]

17. Video of Gore on Morning Joe...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x397892