I hate charities.


You know why I hate charities? Because they're not effective at solving the problems of the world.

Think: when was the last time a charity changed the world?

Take your time. I'll wait.

Now when was the last time a for-profit business changed the world? Google, which owns YouTube, comes quickly to mind.

Obviously not every for-profit company changes the world for the better. Even the almighty and deeply adored YouTube is not without fault; though rarely mentioned, YouTube censorship of political content is a regular occurrence.

But charity is not the answer. Charity is for people who want to buy the feeling of being a martyr.

Which I is fine, I guess -- if you want to be a martyr. But if you want to change the world, there's only one thing you need to do:

Make a lot of money and go shopping.

Just spend it wisely. Part of my longer term Internet business plan includes building a massive store for products and services that don't go to corporate criminals and their corrupt government pals -- but rather to regular honest business people (I'm working on a bunch of niche stores for bloggers now, then it'll be all about creating the network of bloggers that combines all the niche stores into a mega store that is owned by the bloggers....we've talked a bit about this before; see our report on the Mythology of Web 2.0 for a convoluted explanation of sorts). Then, slowly but surely, we'll create a clean and just economy, one that does not reward criminals, but rather rewards the Truth. When this concept is embraced to its fullest, we'll change the world (and make a lot of money!).

The business and technology stuff is the easy part (well, not easy, but I have an almost laughable and unjustified amount of confidence in my ability to do it...I'll tell you I was born to do it). The hard part is in ensuring that people are not be intimidated by villians who work against such efforts, but rather that they possess the love, faith, and courage needed to make it happen. (Like the Sinead O'Connor album Faith and Courage....best Sinead album, you gotta check it out!).