Business mischaracterized

“Big business doesn’t care about the public good,” says Nancy Runyan (March 26 letter). Let us take a look at a few examples indicating just the opposite.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation in 2012 alone gave more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind gifts in the United States. Add to that another $82.2 million in cash and in-kind gifts in international markets. Volunteers donated more than 2.2 million hours to U.S. nonprofits.

The Gates Foundation in 2012 made grant payments of $3.4 billion. The Buffett Foundation, not including his joint venture with the Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge, has total annual disbursements of more than $12 million. Susan Buffett’s will has added about $2.5 billion to the foundation. If Warren Buffett carries out his long-stated intentions, most of his net worth will go to the foundation.

These are just a few examples. Now, should we or the government be the decision-makers on what they do with the rest of their hard-earned or inherited money? I think not.

Also, take a look at who the chief executive officers of the above supported in the 2008 elections, and the “creepy dance with the Republican Party” that she refers to gets even creepier.

Denny Soller

Spokane Valley