The Lindners Tsunami Contribution

While everyone here knows how I feel about the Lindners (I don't think much of them), I can't help but be annoyed by the constant media attention to their $200,000 donation for the tsunami relief cause.

Let me preface this by saying I think any donation is wonderful. Every little bit helps.

But let's face it folks, $200,000 split amongst a couple Lindners is literally less than pocket change. For the sake of comparison, it's like someone who makes $60,000 giving away $12).

$200,000 is but a drop in the bucket when compared to the needs of those affected by the disaster.

So I wanted to barf this morning when Carl Lindner Jr. was on WLW radio. He talked about taking a trip on the flight the Lindners funded so he'll feel good about the "investment" they made.

Yeah...that's what he called it - an investment.

The Lindners certainly have gotten a lot of mileage out of this. Several days after the announcement of the donation, the media is still talking about it.

The senior Lindner is a billionaire. What percentage of one billion is $200,000? Do the math! (That's .02 percent before the tax deduction)

Why does the Lindner family need to make a public display of their charity? Why does Carl Jr. have to travel across the world so he can "feel good" about his "investment?" Do these areas really need Carl Jr. in the way?

And better yet, with wealth spread over $1 billion amongst the Lindners, shouldn't the contribution be more?

I know Uncle Carl is a sacred cow. Bring it on. Bash me for hating Uncle Carl.

I think the Lindners are self-serving twits.

<font color="#a52a2a" size="1">[ January 04, 2005 01:07 PM: Message edited by: Sarcazmo ]</font>

Actually Sarcazmo, I agree with you.

I despise the Lindners.....

$200,000 is a lot of dough rey me. They are also supplying a plane to transport it over if I'm not mistaken.

I love it when people bitch about people who actually do donate to these things. Judgemental people like reason who never think anything is good enough.

Suppose you dont think Sandra Bullock giving $1 million wasnt enough either.

I'm not standing up for anyone, bnut you just bitch about everything reason. Even when someone does something good you bitch.


You can never look at anything and not find a reason to bitch. You are complaining that someone donated $200,000.00 to a cause.

Think about how stupid that sounds.

<font color="#a52a2a" size="1">[ January 04, 2005 02:32 PM: Message edited by: cincygreg ]</font>

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Originally posted by cincygreg:
$200,000 is a lot of dough rey me. They are also supplying a plane to transport it over if I'm not mistaken.

I love it when people bitch about people who actually do donate to these things. Judgemental people like reason who never think anything is good enough.

Suppose you dont think Sandra Bullock giving $1 million wasnt enough either.

I'm not standing up for anyone, bnut you just bitch about everything reason. Even when someone does something good you bitch.


You can never look at anything and not find a reason to bitch. You are complaining that someone donated $200,000.00 to a cause.

Think about how stupid that sounds.

<font color="#a52a2a"><font size="1">[ January 04, 2005 02:32 PM: Message edited by: cincygreg ]</font></font>

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You do not understand the context of my original post, and I did not complain they are donating $200,000 to a worthy cause, a point I clearly made.

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Suppose you dont think Sandra Bullock giving $1 million wasnt enough either.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">While very wealthy, I don't believe Sandra Bullock is a billionaire. Furthermore, she is just one person, whereas the Lindners are multiple people.

Yet Sandra Bullock gave 5 times as much as the Lindners, nor do I believe she's making the trip over to make sure she can feel good about her "investment."

And I doubt the local media will give Sandra Bullock 1/5 the attention given the Lindners.

<font color="#a52a2a" size="1">[ January 04, 2005 03:21 PM: Message edited by: Sarcazmo ]</font>

Reason - I agree with you & Jumper. I HATE the Lindners!!!! They are crooks and drug dealers. I HATE THEM!!! BUT, while I do agree with the fact that $200,000.00 is merely a drop in the bucket, if each & every one of us gave the same percentage of our income it would be a sizable donation. BUT - how many of us actually give that much?? I give and I don't want or need any publicity. But what percentage do I give? I don't really know. Do you?

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Originally posted by Sluggo:
Reason - I agree with you & Jumper. I HATE the Lindners!!!! They are crooks and drug dealers. I HATE THEM!!! BUT, while I do agree with the fact that $200,000.00 is merely a drop in the bucket, if each & every one of us gave the same percentage of our income it would be a sizable donation. BUT - how many of us actually give that much?? I give and I don't want or need any publicity. But what percentage do I give? I don't really know. Do you?

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sluggo, based on what you've said in the past, I believe you live on a fixed income. Afterall, you are retired.

To put this in perspective, if you gave $10, you would proportionally be giving a greater portion of your annual income than Uncle Carl and sons are giving of their vast wealth. I know these are two different measures, but I think it's appropriate given the enormity of the Lindners' fortunes.

Now...I have to ask...what's this about drug dealing? Are you referring to one of the sons being arrested for possession of cocaine?

I'll have to check into this more, but I believe it was Carl III who quit his job at Great American to do charitable work. While this is great, he left with a very very nice severance package.

I've always been amazed/appalled at the salaries the Lindner boys receive to run Great American, but the goodbye pat of the back and reward of a stuffed wallet made me sick.

Carl III owns 3.7mm shares of Great American alone. At today's price of $30.78, that's $114.5mm worth of Great American shares.

His dividends from those shares come to $1.86mm a year, on top of his $1.59mm salary.

So for Great American alone, Carl III hauls in $3.45mm a year. I'll have to go check to see what their holdings are in Chiquita, Infinity Insurance, etc.

Needless to say, Carl III alone is flush with cash.

What about Carl Sr. Let's just say he owns about 8.9mm shares of Great American. $30.78 per share...do the math.

Infinity Property and Casualty, a recent spin off from Great American. $34.44 a share:

TOP INSIDER & RULE 144 HOLDERS

Holder Shares Reported
LINDNER, S. CRAIG 20,347,083
12-Mar-03
LINDNER, CRAIG S. 20,347,083
12-Feb-03
LINDNER, CARL H. 20,347,083
12-Mar-03
AMERICAN FINL GRP,INC. 7,850,465
12-Mar-03
LINDNER, CARL H 7,850,465
12-Mar-03

I want to make it clear that I don't begrudge wealth. I do begrudge an obscenely wealthy person taking the headlines because they gave what is relatively few dollars.

Sometimes I do agree with Reason and this is one of them. I've worked for the Lindners, and I've been around enough people who have worked with them/against them to know that they have, at times, been absolute bastards. Quite honestly, you don't make that kind of money unless you do sell your soul; it sort of comes with the territory.

But legacy is so important to the extremely wealthy (also for various tax consequences) and the Lindners have made sure that they've done enough 'good' around here that no one will touch them. Proof all you need is the Enquirer fiasco from a few years back. No one ever argued with the things that their investigation uncovered, the squawk was over the tactics used to do the uncovering.

When the old man dies, the local community here will place him second behind Jesus. As far as I'm concerned, they're a bastard family and I while I don't wish alien abductions on anyone, if an alien came up to me and said "We're thinking about taking the Lindners with us to Ceti Alpha 6, what do you think?" I'd be like "10-4, good buddy."

Yes, all donations are welcome. The Lindners still suck.

Reason - NO! I don't mean one of the Lindner boys being caught with cocaine. I mean the Lindners are among the top drug dealers/smugglers/suppliers in the entire city of Cincinnati. That is all I can say on this board. Did you forget that my son was fired from the CPD for "misuse of a computer"? The Lindners are just one of the reasons for the firing. If you want to hear more, e-mail me and I will give you more info than you will want.

You have my email, Sluggo. DISH!

And I'll risk going to hell for asking why we're sending money to begin with.

I'm all for aid to all of the countries affected EXCEPT Somalia. International aid has already been tried with them and they have shown themselves to be unworthy of saving.

If you have ANY doubts that Somailia is a shithole and should have been wiped from the face of th earth I point you to this link: KIA in Somalia

Now I know the US forces were under a UN commander and that they were there as part of an overall UN humanitarian mission.

However my topic sentence is: Aid to everyone but Somalia. They are unworthy of aid. It's been tried before and failed. Fuck them!

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Originally posted by gae:
You have my email, Sluggo. DISH!

And I'll risk going to hell for asking why we're sending money to begin with.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">HERE, HERE! This sounds like some really good shit!

When I have time, I will email, YES!

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Originally posted by gae:
You have my email, Sluggo. DISH!

And I'll risk going to hell for asking why we're sending money to begin with.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If it makes you feel any better, there are some reputable charities that have received more funds than they can use, and are now diverting these funds to their general account.

This was in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, but I did not save the article.

The same thing happened after 9-11 - too many people sending all sorts of contributions to one cause.

I'm willing to contribute to the latest cause, but I'd like to wait and see where my small contribution would be best used.

<font color="#a52a2a" size="1">[ January 05, 2005 09:47 AM: Message edited by: Sarcazmo ]</font>

gae - I did not get an e-mail from you. Could you resend it?

Reason - I await your e-mail.

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Originally posted by Sluggo:
gae - I did not get an e-mail from you. Could you resend it?

Reason - I await your e-mail.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I PM'd you earlier.