Bill Gates and Schools

Mr. Codebear,

Recently I have read your posts that say:

"When I discovered that Bill Gates was running the school district, I wasn't terribly pleased."

"....that has blackmailed more than 500 public schools that I'm aware of."

"....for exploiting public schools"

"If Bill Gates wants to destroy my school district, I'll destroy his business. It's that simple."


Not once, however, have you backed up these statements with HOW Bill Gates is destroying your school district. I for one would like to see the facts. Mind you, I said facts. Not suspicions. Not allegations. Just cold hard facts spoken without emotion.

"Not once, however, have you backed up these statements with HOW Bill Gates is destroying your school district. I for one would like to see the facts. Mind you, I said facts. Not suspicions. Not allegations. Just cold hard facts spoken without emotion."

If you're looking for a signed confession, forget it; even Bill Gates isn't that stupid.

But it isn't hard to figure out if you know anything about public education politics. Even if you don't, it shouldn't be hard to understand the basics.

Consider the folowing:

1. K-12 Leadership Institute - Bill Gates founded this institution, which is located at the University of Washington. Noble idea and impressive title, right?

Now type "K-12 Leadership Institute" into Google and see what you come up with. Not much. My education reform website probably has more information than the K-12 LI did on its website - if it ever had one.

Gates recruited some of the biggest thugs in education to staff it, starting with Rudy Crew. Do you know who he is? Let me give you a hint: He abandoned his post as supt. of the Tacoma school district with not advance notice, then distinguished himself in New York City primarily by collecting outrageous pay raises.

Then Bill Gates recruited him to head his K-12 Leadership Institute. So what did Rudy Crew do? What did he say? Don't bother looking for answers online; he just hid in his office until he jumped at an opportunity to make even more money in San Francisco. (He's probably working with Arlene Ackerman. Don't EVEN get me started on her.)

Gates also recruited Tom Vander Ark, along with Trevor Neilson, who was the spokesman of the Washington Education Association - possibly the most disgraced teachers union in America. Gates even collaborated with Roger Erskine, who probably stabbed more Seattle teachers in the back than anyone else in history.

If these names don't mean anything to you, do some research. You'll quickly discover that they loathe publicity, and for good reason; they're a bunch of gangsters.

Bill Gates' partner in crime bankrolled a state charter school initiative a couple years - and Paul Allen is no friend of children. This year, charter schools are being promoted by Bill Gates, who's collaborating with Governor Gary Locke - probably the most corrupt governor in Washington State and the worst enemy children ever had.

Many people cheered when Bill Gates donated several million dollars to the Seattle School District, even though no one could tell me exactly where the money went or how it was spent.

It's interesting that a man who's SO interested in education has nothing to say about education's biggest problems. It's also interesting that the Seattle School Board continues to lose or embezzle tens of millions of dollars - but only from the taxpayers. They don't lose a penny of Bill Gates' money. Why is that? And why would Gates trust such derelicts with his money?

Several years ago, I ran for a seat on the Seattle School Board. At the time, I wasn't criticizing Microsoft. I really didn't know much about it, partly because I was so focused on education issues.

I was dumbfounded when I received my first computer virus ever - on the day of the general election. It was sent to my via e-mail by a rather prominent member of what I call the "Seattle Mafia." He said he was delivering it on behalf of Bill Gates' senior, and he added this message:

"It just goes to show, you can never be too careful."

It was obviously a warning to butt out of politics - and I wasn't even criticizing Microsoft!

I don't take that kind of crap. That little stunt turned me into an instant Microsoft critic, and I ran for office twice more. The last time, I blasted Microsoft in the Voters Pamphlet, read by thousands of people.

In the meantime, I heard through the grapevine that Bill Gates wanted to get rid of a bunch of teachers (among other stunts). I'm not really sure why, but I wasn't terribly surprised when I was one of hundreds who were laid off. Why?

The official reason was that the Seattle School Board lost over $30 million - but none of it Bill Gates' money. Our corrupt superintendent simply jumped ship - though he still got his salary - before returning as a consultant. Many of the people who supported him and still work with him are also affiliated with Bill Gates.

Spend enough time studying Seattle politics, and you'll quickly begin to see how everything fits together.

You might also do a search for Microsoft's blackmail campaign. They blackmailed more than 500 schools across America. I have the information somewhere in my notes; I'll be putting it online when I launch my new education reform website.

By the way, did you see that lame "60 Minutes" interview just after Gates got his butt kicked in court (his antitrust trial)? That was filmed just a few blocks from where I live, in a fast food joint owned by **** Spady, Washington State's foremost charter school advocate and, I believe, a member of the bizarre Discovery Institute - http://www.discovery.org/

Nuff said.

Nuff said? I don't think so. You have talked a lot; that I will give you. A lot about nothing.

I asked you for "Just cold hard facts spoken without emotion." and you gave me an emotionally winded speech about people he hired and what they did and a half cocked story about someone sending you a computer virus.

If you have facts to back up what you are saying, please present them. Let's see the police report you files for this virus this person sent you. Or were the police "in on it" and you couldn't file the report? I guess Gates runs the whole town right? No one farts without Gates approving of it?

Let's take the issue of the "blackmail". Please enlighten me with exactly how Microsoft blackmailed schools?

I have an open ear to what you have to say, but you need to speak in a logical manner. All these conspiracy theories and whatnot will get you nowhere. I am willing to bet that is why you have failed at any office you have run for. You need to back up what you say with facts and sources.

"I asked you for 'Just cold hard facts spoken without emotion.' and you gave me an emotionally winded speech about people he hired and what they did and a half cocked story about someone sending you a computer virus."

I gave you the facts. If you can't deal with it, that's our problem.

However, I should point out that you live in FLORIDA (a long ways from Seattle) and have probably never worked in public education. I live in SEATTLE (Bill Gates' back yard), spent nearly sixteen years in public education and have run for public office. You probably wouldn't ask me for advice regarding PHP and MySQL since I jumped in just a couple weeks ago. Likewise, I would never ask you for advice about BILL GATES and the SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

"Let's see the police report you files for this virus this person sent you. Or were the police 'in on it' and you couldn't file the report?"

I think you answered your own question. Stranger things have happened in Seattle. You should see if you can find the story about the guy Bill Gates and Craig McCaw wanted appointed as U.S. Secretary of Education. I laughed myself hoarse when I learned that the police picked him when he was walking along Broadway in the nude one night!

"I guess Gates runs the whole town right? No one farts without Gates approving of it?"

Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Paul Allen is focusing on his football stadium and South Lake Union. (If you can't find anything through Google, type "Paul Allen" and "South Lake Union" into the archives of the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.)

"Let's take the issue of the 'blackmail'. Please enlighten me with exactly how Microsoft blackmailed schools?"

Sheez, you can't even figure THAT out?

"I have an open ear to what<snip>

Blah, blah, blah...

I've heard that line a thousand times. You never were interested in the truth.

You are just a typical politician. You can't answer a direct question.

I ask again, "Please enlighten me with exactly how Microsoft blackmailed schools?"

Lay your case out now or forever hold your peace.

It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. He threatens to audit them if they don't buy Microsoft products. And that's not a casual threat. Microsoft plays dirty, and there are lots of Microsoft operatives in public education. (Volunteer to install Linux in some of Seattle's public schools, and you'll see what I mean.)

If you need further elaboration, get off your butt and use Google. This blackmail campaign was discussed by many newspapers and magazines. I'm sure you can find all sorts of angles to the story.

There were also some business that got tired of being blackmailed and jumped ship for Linux. One that made headlines was a city government in Texas - I can't think of the city offhand.

Now it's your turn. Since you're such an expert on Bill Gates and public education, please explain what Bill Gates has done to improve education.

Saying "He donated money" doesn't cut it. What has his money ACCOMPLISHED? Lay your case out now or forever hold your peace.

I vote for codebear to hold his breath.


Dont stress yourself too much, maybe you should get a secretary to type your searches for you. Or better yet some voice recognition software from Microsoft

"Since you're such an expert on Bill Gates and public education, please explain what Bill Gates has done to improve education."

I haven't claimed to be an expert on Bill Gates and public education. That is why I am asking you to educate me on the subject; as task you are not doing very well.

I'm simply asking you to tell me the facts in the case of Microsoft blackmail. If you can't do that, then please stop wasting our time.

"I'm simply asking you to tell me the facts in the case of Microsoft blackmail."

I've done that.

If you want me to take you by the hand and explain what every word means, then you need to visit Seattle and make an appointment to see me.

Otherwise, you're just wasting our time. Please note that a number of newspapers and magazines accused Microsoft of BLACKMAIL, and Gates didn't sue them for libel.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Gates doesn't have a leg to stand on.

You obviously don't want to answer the question. I'm done with this thread.