How about Queen Elizabeth II, she is the head of the Commonwealth of Nations. Which has about a third of the Worlds population (2.2Billion) and yet she has no real power.

How about Queen Elizabeth II, she is the head of the Commonwealth of Nations. Which has about a third of the Worlds population (2.2Billion) and yet she has no real power.

Doesn't the monarch have substantial power de jure but not de facto? She has never attempted de facto power as there may be a constructional crises or whatever you call it. Doesn't the House of Lords have some limited power? Don't they serve at the pleasure of the monarch much like the governor generals?

This is an interesting piece of oral history I got from a 90 year old Italian WWII veteran. After the death of Mussolini and with the Germans retreating the country was on the verge of anarchy. The remnants of the Italian army didn't know who to follow and if they didn't chose the Germans they would be shot at.

The former King of Italy with absolutely no power de jure got on the radio and ordered the Italian Army to return to there homes and get busy rebuilding the country. No one person has any real power, power comes from those who will follow you. It was one of the most interesting history lessons I ever heard because it was not really history but a life story from one who was there with the nuances one cannot get from a book.

He was in a rehabilitation hospitable in he next bead to my Father a veteran of the same war who served in Italy too, on the other side though. They got along great swapping war stories from a prospective of the other side.

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I can't think of any one individual who qualifies but in the more general meaning I would guess the group known as the United Nations would be who an alien envoy should approach to speak for the world.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Too late to edit but back to the UK monarch's power. From 1946 on the UK and USA had a top secret agreement to share intercepted transmissions; this is whear the "special arraignment" comes from. Well soon the two became five, called "Five Eyes"; the USA, UK, Canada, OZ and NZ. They joined in the early 50's. The US had spies in an Australian secret listing post. Now get this, the OZ PM didn't find out about this until 1971. So someone went over his head and most likely the other two PMs in NZ and Canada. I doubt Churchill had that power so that only leaves the Head of State, with the advice and consent of Churchill no doubt.

The Queen has a weekly hour meeting with her PM when parliament is in session; the King meat with Churchill daily during WWII.

UKUSA Agreement

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Also, don't forget that the USA & UK were very nice to their alies at the end of WWII in providing modified Enigma machines which were used by those allies for Intelligence/Diplomatic purposes.

It wasn't until the 70's that many found out that the USA & UK were reading all their mail.

With incidents such as that, I don't think in today's society that any one individual would be allowed to speak for all of humanity...

...another sad indictment of mankind!

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I shall speak for planet earth.
I know where they come from.
I, at times, believe I am from there.

Not the best ambassador, you might say?

I bring kitties.........
Who better to bring our truest thoughts and greetings?

I do hope that our visitors would not see them as snacks.
But if they do, we would be the subject of lunch.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Thanks for that: Conceded.

Although from past history and for leopards normally not changing their spots: I cannot help but be very suspicious... Perhaps it is mainly a game of buying himself into heaven and also into the history books...

Why is it that no one would dare to claim such a thing about Ghandi or Mandela? We can't know what goes on in someone else his head, what their true motivations are, all we have is what they claim to be their motivations and we have to take their word for it.

I'm willing to take Bill Gates word for it that he does it because he honestly believes that because he is so insanely wealthy he has to help others with that wealth. Perhaps he secretly only does it to buy his ticket into heaven, I don't know, and to be honest, I don't really care either. The man's actions speak for themselves. The same goes for every other person who have devoted their time and resources towards making the world a better place.

Thanks for that: Conceded.

Although from past history and for leopards normally not changing their spots: I cannot help but be very suspicious... Perhaps it is mainly a game of buying himself into heaven and also into the history books...

Why is it that no one would dare to claim such a thing about Ghandi or Mandela? We can't know what goes on in someone else his head, what their true motivations are, all we have is what they claim to be their motivations and we have to take their word for it.

I'm willing to take Bill Gates word for it that he does it because he honestly believes that because he is so insanely wealthy he has to help others with that wealth. Perhaps he secretly only does it to buy his ticket into heaven, I don't know, and to be honest, I don't really care either. The man's actions speak for themselves. The same goes for every other person who have devoted their time and resources towards making the world a better place.

I would probably opt for your second option in your original post, Мишель, Warren Buffet, because his charitable work started much earlier on in his life than Gates's, and much of it was anonymous. He also may be a little less motivated by the worry about rich men passing through the eye of the needle than Gates might be at present (just a tongue in cheek observation people - so try not to get too miffed please :))

With regards political leaders, I thought Kofi Annan made a good Secretary General of the United Nations, and could possibly be a compassionate speaker for humanity, but I imagine not many would agree. The fact is the best speaker for our planet is probably someone not in the public eye. They're probably too busy doing everything they can to help ease the suffering on this earth without the incentive of monetary gain and profit guiding them.

I shall speak for planet earth.
I know where they come from.
I, at times, believe I am from there.

Not the best ambassador, you might say?

I bring kitties.........
Who better to bring our truest thoughts and greetings?

I do hope that our visitors would not see them as snacks.
But if they do, we would be the subject of lunch.

As My kitties said, after they read the above: MEOW!!! (YES!!!)

Lil Bub for president!

I shall speak for planet earth.
I know where they come from.
I, at times, believe I am from there.

Not the best ambassador, you might say?

I bring kitties.........
Who better to bring our truest thoughts and greetings?

I do hope that our visitors would not see them as snacks.
But if they do, we would be the subject of lunch.

As My kitties said, after they read the above: MEOW!!! (YES!!!)

Lil Bub for president!

+1

And oops edit... re:

rich men passing through the eye of the needle

that should read "camel" :)

Thanks for that: Conceded.

Although from past history and for leopards normally not changing their spots: I cannot help but be very suspicious... Perhaps it is mainly a game of buying himself into heaven and also into the history books...

Why is it that no one would dare to claim such a thing about Ghandi or Mandela? We can't know what goes on in someone else his head, what their true motivations are...

How are you using Mahatma Gandhi as an example there?...


All in our only one world,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Thanks for that: Conceded.

Although from past history and for leopards normally not changing their spots: I cannot help but be very suspicious... Perhaps it is mainly a game of buying himself into heaven and also into the history books...

Why is it that no one would dare to claim such a thing about Ghandi or Mandela? We can't know what goes on in someone else his head, what their true motivations are...

How are you using Mahatma Gandhi as an example there?...


All in our only one world,
Martin

No one would dare to claim that Ghandi was only good because he believed that was his ticket into a happy afterlife. We all seem to assume that Ghandi did the things he did because he was basically a reincarnation of Jesus, completely selfless in every aspect. But how do we know that? We don't have access to his mind and therefor we cannot truly know the motives behind his actions.

Thus you assume that Ghandi had no selfish motivation for his goodness while you assume Bill Gates only does it to stroke his own ego/buy a ticket to heaven/tax reasons. On what do you base those assumptions and how do you know without having privileged access to either of those peoples minds.

Responding to Gandhi.

Gandhi wanted a Pluralistic India, including Muslim's. Wanting an Ancient Enemy within an Independent India, moves Gandhi closer to my short list.

I'm in no way disputing the fact that Ghandi was an amazing human being.

I'm just saying you can't know his inner motives for doing all the amazing things he did, just like you can't know the inner motives of why Bill Gates donates billions of dollars to charity.

... We all seem to assume that Ghandi did the things he did because he was basically a reincarnation of Jesus, completely selfless in every aspect. But how do we know that? ...

I'm sure various religious groups will try to hijack his name for those claims.

Myself, I like to believe for his case that he was of a unique background to be able to strive for what he thought was the 'best cause' for what he though was 'right'. Someone who was too honest not to 'turn a blind eye'... All very Buddhist?


All in our only one world,
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Interesting reply, I have got to read this whole thread and sort of get everyone's opinion.

My suspicions are that he is 'giving away' an insignificant 'token' of his wealth for any/all of:

# For tax reasons;
# To wield power/influence in the same way that governments do in giving grants and 'aid';
# To buy his way into heaven;
# To look good for his wife;
# To reduce the negative press against him;
# As an experiment to see what it might feel like.

... And all at our expense and continued unnecessary expense...

Sorry dude, but that is just plain false. Bill Gates has repeatedly stated that the idea is to give away about 95% of their wealth before their death. Given that he has donated already 28 billion and is worth about 76 billion it can hardly be said that he isn't serious about his philanthropic efforts or that they are just a way to stroke his ego/tax reasons or anything like that.

Besides that, he lobbies governments to spend more on poverty reduction and aid programs and one cannot deny the fact that his money helped wipe out a number of infectious diseases in developing countries.

Thanks for that: Conceded.

Although from past history and for leopards normally not changing their spots: I cannot help but be very suspicious... Perhaps it is mainly a game of buying himself into heaven and also into the history books...

Noone with acceptable morals becomes the supposed most 'wealthy' on earth...

A bit of an over generalization. Not all people who became rich did so by lying and stealing their way to the top. Some actually just got lucky or came up with a brilliant idea and turned that into a successful business.

Unfortunately, our present systems of politics and business appear to require a game of dirty tricks and worse to out-dirty the competition :-( All very uncooperative expensive for everyone else. Just take a look at the negative Marketing perpetrated by some of the biggest and richest...

Those that rise above the others in business by honest business are a rare and beautiful and worthwhile rare breed.


All in our only one world,
Martin

I read the slam against Bill Gates up above. The man gives 28 billion of HIS money, Not his company's money, For great humantarian causes, And yet you condemn him beacuse he invented an OS you dont like.
And yet when called out you still think hes buying a stairway to heaven.

I pity you.

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[/quote]

Old James

I'm just saying you can't know his inner motives for doing all the amazing things he did, just like you can't know the inner motives of why Bill Gates donates billions of dollars to charity.

I was rented a store front from his father for 5 or 6 years prior to the creation MS and he is a true credit to the species, one can argue the apple does not fall far from the tree.

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Bill is a geek, all geeks are pure at heart.

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Bill is a geek, all geeks are pure at heart.

Bill's father was not a geek back in the 70's, just a real good person.

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Bill is a geek, all geeks are pure at heart.

Bill's father was not a geek back in the 70's, just a real good person.

I thought we were talking about THE Bill Gates. I looked it up and Gates II was an Eagle Scout, that is uber geek.

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