Dolly Parton awarded $100 million by Jeff Bezos - Bezos Courage & Civility Award

[KuruPrionz]

This is soooo cool!!!! I think we all knew that Dolly Parton was the awesomest but it's a treat to find out that Jeff Bezos does things so nicely as well.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dolly-parton-receives-100-million-174046349.html

 

"Country music star and philanthropist Dolly Parton received a $100 million prize from the "Bezos Courage & Civility Award" given by Amazon.com founder, billionaire Jeff Bezos, an honor that recognizes leaders who "pursue solutions with courage and civility," he said online."

 

[Joe Muscara]

And Bezos and his partner now say that he/they plan to give most of his money to charity in his lifetime.

[KuruPrionz]

Seems to me it would be hard to spend billions of dollars on your own comfort and security without feeling like an imbecile. 

I imagine there is great joy in trying to do so much good for the rest of the world.

 

My hat is off to Bezos and his partner, and to Dolly since she's already done more than her share but now has another hefty chunk of $$$ to help others. *bows*

[Notes_Norton]

On 11/14/2022 at 8:38 AM, Joe Muscara said:

And Bezos and his partner now say that he/they plan to give most of his money to charity in his lifetime.

He should start by paying his employees a living wage and provide restrooms for the delivery folks so they don't have to urinate in bottles.

 

I think Dolly will give the money away wisely. She has a good track record.

 

Notes ♫

[KuruPrionz]

2 hours ago, Notes_Norton said:

He should start by paying his employees a living wage and provide restrooms for the delivery folks so they don't have to urinate in bottles.

 

I think Dolly will give the money away wisely. She has a good track record.

 

Notes ♫

Well, yes on both counts. 

At least he had the sense to pass money along to somebody who will use it to benefit those in need. 

[David Emm]

I'm fine with whatever Dolly does overall, but its a pity that Bezos never thought to invest some of those bucks in Amazon's customer service. I steadily buy less from them because their checkout has turned into the dog's breakfast and their "customer service" is like a helping of Balls & Vinegar chips with extra balls.  

 

I guess I missed the "civility" part, where he remembers how he got the money. God rot all colonizers!

 

"Odin and I bathed entire civilizations in blood.
  Where do you think all this gold came from?"
     ~ Hela, "Thor: Ragnarok'

[KuruPrionz]

1 hour ago, David Emm said:

I'm fine with whatever Dolly does overall, but its a pity that Bezos never thought to invest some of those bucks in Amazon's customer service. I steadily buy less from them because their checkout has turned into the dog's breakfast and their "customer service" is like a helping of Balls & Vinegar chips with extra balls.  

 

I guess I missed the "civility" part, where he remembers how he got the money. God rot all colonizers!

 

"Odin and I bathed entire civilizations in blood.
  Where do you think all this gold came from?"
     ~ Hela, "Thor: Ragnarok'

Well, I bought one thing from Amazon, once.

I don't even remember what it was except I know it wasn't expensive. 

Maybe Dolly will shame Bozos and give the money to Amazon employees? 😃

[KenElevenShadows]

15 hours ago, Notes_Norton said:

He should start by paying his employees a living wage and provide restrooms for the delivery folks so they don't have to urinate in bottles.

 

I think Dolly will give the money away wisely. She has a good track record.

 

Notes ♫

 

i was thinking those two things exactly when I started reading this thread. Start with his employees, who have largely helped to build his empire while pissing in bottles and rushing around to try to make those insane Prime Day rush deliveries.

 

Dolly Parton is so cool.....

[Notes_Norton]

I think that when the richest of the rich pay less taxes than their employees, pay them substandard wages, and have enough money to take joyrides in space and give millions of tax-deductible dollars to a charity, there is definitely something wrong with the system.

 

But I don't know how to fix it, and if I did, those in power would do all they can to keep me quiet.

 

Anyway, I think Dolly will dole it out wisely.

 

Notes ♫

[KuruPrionz]

1 hour ago, Notes_Norton said:

I think that when the richest of the rich pay less taxes than their employees, pay them substandard wages, and have enough money to take joyrides in space and give millions of tax-deductible dollars to a charity, there is definitely something wrong with the system.

 

But I don't know how to fix it, and if I did, those in power would do all they can to keep me quiet.

 

Anyway, I think Dolly will dole it out wisely.

 

Notes ♫

It's impossible to respond to you on MPN since we are on the edge with politics (even in this forum) already. 

I'll only say - be careful what you wish for. 😊

I don't have answers (or more to the point, should probably not post them) but yes I do think Dolly will dole it out wisely. 

For me, that was the main point of this thread, that Dolly Parton has another opportunity to do good things for people and the secondary point was that I am surprised at where the money came from, I did not expect that. 

FWIW, I'm GLAD that MPN moderates with a bit of a heavy hand, unlike so many forums we have a very civil and considerate place to share our thoughts and I hugely prefer that over the open sewer that so many forums become/became/are. Cheers, Kuru 😇

[Anderton]

The irony, of course, is with the level of quality we have in the participants, I've yet to use my heavy hand to moderate anything. The only exception was when the original covid thread went off the rails, but given the circumstances at the time, emotions were bound to run high.

 

As to Bezos and Dolly, it does seem odd that Bezos didn't reward those who made him successful instead of an admittedly super-cool, and super-smart, singer/business person. Then again, you know that Dolly Parton isn't going to buy some $100 million dollar yacht. Just sayin.'

[timwat]

There will always be opinions about how very wealthy people should spend their money. 

 

It seems to me that on the one hand, any gift of money is to be lauded (as in this case, because Bezos wasn't forced to give a penny), and that on the other hand, we realize there is a big difference between giving away a sum that you won't ever feel, and making a real sacrifice for the sake of others. Still, at the end of the day, I choose to be hopeful that we will all be better off in some small way for the public promises of philanthropy.

 

And God never intended for me to just lean on a shovel and pray for a hole.

 

 

 

[KuruPrionz]

3 minutes ago, timwat said:

And God never intended for me to just lean on a shovel and pray for a hole.

That's awesome, may I steal it? 😇

[timwat]

Just now, KuruPrionz said:

That's awesome, may I steal it? 😇

Absolutely - it wasn't mine to begin with

[Delaware Dave]

Billionaires giving money to millionaires.  It solves what problem?  How about giving it to a charity of the millionaires instead?

[KuruPrionz]

Just now, Delaware Dave said:

Billionaires giving money to millionaires.  It solves what problem?  How about giving it to a charity of the millionaires instead?

https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/a_timeline_of_dolly_partons_philanthropy/s1__28363436#slide_1

 

A list of of Dolly Parton's philanthropy, she's been at this a long time and many people have benefited. 

 

That could become complicated, given Dolly Parton's spreading donations to many different needs. 

The award allows Bezos to pass a nice chunk of cash along to somebody he knows will do many positive things with it. 

Then he doesn't have to make all of those choices and write all of those checks. 

 

Which single charity would you give that much money to? What if they don't need that much?

 

I think in this case that the $100 million is in good hands and will bring positive results in a broad variety of ways. 

I do get your point but I think Dolly will take good care of many with this opportunity. 

[Anderton]

1 hour ago, KuruPrionz said:

I think in this case that the $100 million is in good hands and will bring positive results in a broad variety of ways. 

I do get your point but I think Dolly will take good care of many with this opportunity. 

 

Agreed. I don't think Bezos is an expert at philanthropy, might as well give the money to someone who is.

[RABid]

20 hours ago, David Emm said:

and their "customer service" is like a helping of Balls & Vinegar chips with extra balls.

While it can take a few steps to get to talk to an actual person I've always had great results from their customer service. I wish other companies were as good at customer service.

[David Emm]

3 hours ago, RABid said:

While it can take a few steps to get to talk to an actual person I've always had great results from their customer service. I wish other companies were as good at customer service.

 

I'm surprised to hear it! I always get someone from India who is apparently speaking with me through a tin can and a length of string. It cripples most of the process. I can barely recall the last time it worked smoothly. Maybe you're between exactly the right ley lines or perhaps I live on top of an Indian burial ground.

 

Same with synthesizer manufacturers. Some are real sweethearts. Others give you a stale candy heart from 2017 that reads "Up Yours." 😛