Comments on: Tom Perkins: The Captain Of Capitalism

Tells 60 Minutes Correspondent Lesley Stahl He Regrets Quitting HP's Board

[scundy2]

Leslie Stahl is the second-luckiest person in the world -- she got to sail the Maltese Falcon.

- Steve Cundy
Reno, NV

[hbciv]

I was channel surfing, and came across the Perkins interview tonight. In spite of long ago giving up on 60 Minutes as a legitimate NEWS source, I am nonetheless revulsed, though not surprised by your patent pandering to the grotesque excesses of capitalists. What a shame that someone such as he also revels in your platform of self-indulgence. How does Leslie Stahl live with herslf on an honest basis, if there be as much deep in her psyche? I know how she can delude herself by her own estimation of cloistered self-importance, but it''s hardly the stuff of a healthy human being. And your program content decisions are stunning though obvious. Why remotely consider anything of substance that might further confirm your dereliction of responsibility as journalists (previous cheerleading for the invasion of Iraq once more being vividly recalled) when you can dumb us down at the disconcerting, diverting altar of greed? Shame on you.

[cooljazz4]

apparently some of the people who posted in November weren''t listening...

"...the deals that made him so wealthy -- starting with the first biotech company, Genentech in San Francisco. He and his partners launched Genentech in 1976 with nothing more than a checkbook and an idea.

"The idea was to trick nature into letting us make something that didn''t exist in nature, in particular, human insulin," Perkins explains.

Genentech''s success led to new ways of treating everything from diabetes to dwarfism..."

[nbrown1378]

Mr Perkins, you need a project that will provide you the opportunity to redeem yourself, stimulate your interest and permit you to now utilize and develop your spiritual potential...I have just the project, and your genius, is needed.

Urban children are engaged in self destructive violence. My vision is to create an initiative, let''s call it The Perkins Urban Olympics, wherein bi-coastal competing teams of youth, east and west, will score points and earn rewards for themselves, and their communities, by reducing violence, and engaging in activities which will foster character, principles, and knowledge.

Their efforts will also be heralded with media accolades, which will form them into heroes, and role models, using youtube, and possible a reality show to create public allegiance to the project. A marketing division could be developed to create products specific to the initiative whose profits could be returned into the project.

Here is where you can place your considerable ego, and immortalize yourself in elevating the lives of angry and despairing urban
youth. I ask only for the children. Do you have the character and the ego to take on such a vision, before your time on earth is all but done Mr Perkins, or will you go out, playing with your toys ?

[e-mail]

[mckinley091]

Mr. Perkins if you see this comment I just want you to know I mean your corner life is too short not to enjoy. Just do me a favor just sail one for me.
Thank you Dee

[kombuis-2009]

I wish Mr. Perkins will help me pay my college loan than investing that money in the ocean where marine animals don''t actually need it that way.

[zachy682]

Since he sold the yacht after the original broadcast, perhaps he was using "60 Minutes" to advertise the boat.

[tjl912]

Tonight I am sending my first email to 60 Minutes. I may have just watched this program for the last time. How dare they - when the world is full of tragedy - war, hurricanes, earthquakes, starvation, genocide, pollution, drugs, murder, homelessness, etc. again - how dare they glorify this man and his ostentatiousness? I''m disappointed in 60 Minutes running this story, not just once, but twice. Sickening.

[zachy682]

Since he sold the yacht after the original broadcast, perhaps he was using "60 Minutes" to advertise the boat.

[zachy682]

Since he sold the yacht after the original broadcast, perhaps he was using "60 Minutes" to advertise the boat.

[hypnotoad72]

sudsyhp True, it created jobs, but I bet he looked for the cheapest sub-subcontractors...

[maggg1]

I can only speak for myself but I find this incredibly alluring.

[ffischer2]

Perkins is a sharp contrast to Inventor Dr. Forrest Bird, (Oct 8 60min). A truly hardworking and benevolent person, Birds accomplishments benefit us all. Compare him to this egotistical jerk who takes pride in his ego, his money, made at the expense of others, and all his %u201Cstuff%u201D. Dr. Bird has made money but has plowed it back into more inventions for society, a museum to educate and excite kids. Perkins flaunts his wealth by paying others to be inventive for his own amusement and self aggrandizing. What has he done for society to EARN the wealth he commands? I wish I had his money to share. I%u2019m angry because many creeps like Perkins, a member of the 1% of our population that hold and control more than 70% of the money that they %u201Cearn%u201D on the backs of the working class, choose to do little for the society that enabled them. Then they take tax breaks so they can make more $$! Perkins money %u201Cwas not handed to him on a silver platter--he earned it%u201D? You call *** people and sending them packing %u201Cearning%u201D a living? Yep, guess that%u2019s the American Way. I too am so thankful for people like Dr. Forrest Bird, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffet (who is now campaigning to change the tax code to benefit the middleclass rather than wealthy).

[barbaraf4]

Ah, conspicious consumption....I wonder if he would adopt me.

[gjflosi]

Tom Perkins needs to wrap up his ego for posterity. His inventiveness with that fabulous sailboat could be used to power ships. What a gift for the environment and all of mankind. I applaud his use of his money and time -- to be creative and involved. I hope he finds a wider application for his creativity and involvement.
Duly impressed with a well-turned ego,
Jody Flosi

[jetranger7]

Wonder if Mr. Perkins would mind, if I asked him to pay-off my house that I owe on, I only owe about 70,000 left on it, but I''d sure like to have it paid for, if he didn''t mind ! Please !!!Just asking ! Never hurts to ask, does it ???

[sudsyhp]

My God how quick are we to judge. All ye self righteous rise up!!! This article was not a life history. Like all journalism it zeroed in on something that would get attention. What made you jackasses instant experts on the man''s philanthropic efforts. By the way the millions put into the boat did not go to political campaigns, investment art or the like. The building of the boat produced wage paying jobs. Is there something so wrong about that? You can find plenty of less productive rich people to bash.

[cestirling]

This ostentatious display of wealth is a prime example of the decadence of American culture. If the 60 minutes staff had done their research they would have discovered that Mr. Perkins and Genentech got their start by stealing information regarding Human Growth Hormone from an UCLA laboratory. UCLA settled their lawsuit against Genentech for a paltry few million dollars, probably less than the cost of one of the sails on his ship.

New York Times
Genentech Trial on Patent Ends With Jury Deadlocked
By ANDREW POLLACK
Published: June 3, 1999

[lasabrosona]

Just another segment that drags us through a publicity stunt designed to promote another book that nobody wants. This is the second show where this technique is employed (Valerie Plame''s appearance is another example). Why not report on "Mexico''s Katrina" in the state of Tabasco, on our healthcare system, on the millions of displaced people in Iraq, and on and on...

[whitemaurice]

Thank you 60 Minutes for running this story on the egotistical Mr. Perkins. I am sure there will be a special place in the hereafter for him and his ilk. We all need to be reminded of the need to share our wealth and sometimes the best reminder is someone like Mr. Perkins, who seems to know end in his materialistic ways.

MJW
Whitby, Ont.