WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Microsoft mogul Bill Gates says increasing aid to the Third World is a worthwhile project that Americans will support despite the tough economy.
Gate said Sunday that targeted aid from the developed world has paid off in the battle against overall poverty and helped slow the spread of dread diseases such as AIDS and malaria.
Speaking on ABC's "This Week with Christiane Amanpour," Gates said he and President Obama had a solid case to make for increased aid at next week's G20 Summit in France. "If we really look at how the world has improved in the past few decades, it's very impressive in how we reduced poverty, reduced malnutrition, reduced the under 5 death rate," Gates said. "And we need to take lessons, the generosity, the innovation, and carry that forward despite the fact that we have this economic crisis."
Gates shrugged off the idea that the United States was degenerating into "class warfare" between the wealthy and working class. "I just can't imagine these millionaires and billionaires going down and barricading the streets because they're going to have to pay 4 or 5 percent more in taxes," he said. "There certainly is a case to be made that taxes should be more progressive and that's being debated by various people."
