Warren Buffett and Bill Gates: Keeping America Great (1 hour CNBC Town Hall)

cnbc.com

20 points·j_b_f··10 comments

I've watched most of the show now, and I don't recommend it. Lots of feel-good fluff, basic regurgitation of Buffet's philosophy, and back story on their careers that you can find in the introduction to their wikipedia bio articles.

I used to be amused at how the deeds of robber barons like Andrew Carnegie got forgotten and they were lauded when they turned to philanthropy later in life. I'm substantially less amused to see the process happening with Bill Gates.

Warren Buffett, however, I've always liked.

It is certainly something different hearing them say it rather than reading it in Wikipedia. I find their optimism very reassuring and enjoyed the Q&A format.

"A generation looks for guidance to the nation's two greatest capitalists."

Oh please. Gag me with a spoon.

The whole thing reminds me of Oral Roberts back in his Heal! days. Is this a student body, or a cult?

Isn't nationalism great?

Neither of these guys have an MBA, why in the world did they do this at a b-school?

Warren Buffet received a MS in Economics from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business, which is where this event was held.

Buffet's mentor Benjamin Graham also taught at at Columbia. Buffet always speaks of Graham as one of the most influential people in his life.

In fact, I watched a few minutes of the town hall last night, and he mentioned Graham at least 4 or 5 times.

I'd imagine that CNBC chose the location and not Gates or Buffett. It seems like the most obvious place for them to hold an event such as this (excluding perhaps the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting).

Edit: Apparently that came off as sarcastic, it wasn't supposed to be.

Please watch the video and say something insightful, don't just flame something about business schools.

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