Bill Gates—admirable?

By Per Cederberg

It is said that one cannot but admire Bill Gates. Admire a person so energetic, a self-made man who have created his own fortune. One of the few intelligent enough to succeed in the marketplace.

But what is it that is so admirable? What is it that is so valuable with these persons that succeed? And why should we praise, admire or worship them?

I am incapable of seeing what’s admirable with Bill Gates. What in his egoism, ruthlessness in business, and luck is worth appraisal? I rather tend to think the opposite. Microsoft’s secret-making, unfair competition, and monopolic behaviour have caused great losses to computer users all over the world.

It is by effective marketing that new market shares have been won, not by new technology. It is by unjust attacks on other companies that competition has been avoided, not by superior products. And it is by obstructing innovation, delaying development, and overpricing that large revenues have been created, not by respecting customer interests.

Instead of admiring the market daemons, we should admire people who do something for others. Instead we should find our heroes among those who show altruism, care for others and the courage to fight for the common good. Instead we should admire persons such as Mahatma Ghandi, Mother Theresa, and Richard M. Stallman.

Let us stop with the silly admiration of ruthlessness, strength, and power. Let us instead listen to those who show us respect, understanding and solicitude. Let us listen to the human.

September 1999