World's Most Powerful People

[Guest American Woman]

http://finance.yahoo...-175643537.html

The world's most powerful people, according to Forbes:

_{1. Barack Obama}

_{2. Angela Merkel}

_{3. Vladimir Putin}

_{4. Bill Gates}

_{5. Pope Benedict XVI}

_{6. Ben Bernanke}

_{7. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud}

_{8. Mario Draghi}

_{9. Xi Jinping}

_{10. David Cameron}

Some interesting picks, imo. Angela Merkel is #2, after Obama - well above #10, David Cameron, who evidently some say is standing in Merkel's shadow.

Do you agree with this list? What changes would you make? For starters, I question why Bill Gates would be more powerful than the leaders of countries who are ranked below him in the top 10. I admire him a lot regarding what he's done with his wealth, but does wealth equal power? As for the Pope, I don't question the power he has, and think perhaps he should have been ranked higher.

Edited December 5, 2012 by American Woman

[cybercoma]

What Bill and Melinda Gates have done with their wealth is power. They've affected tremendous amounts of positive change in the world. They've saved tens of thousands if not millions of lives and have been able to dictate to leaders of nations. I think that latter point is what gives them power over the others below him on the list. There aren't many presidents and prime ministers taking orders from the Pope these days. Although he did just start a Twitter account a couple days ago: @pontifex.

edit: typo.

Edited December 5, 2012 by cybercoma

[Moonlight Graham]

Should Benjamin Netanyahu be on the list, considering his influence in the region and on US policy?

Should Xi Jinping, leader of a nuclear-armed emerging economic powerhouse of 1.3 billion people, be ranked higher?

_{Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud} is powerful, but should he be that high, and does he even compare to Xi Jinping in power? Maybe in terms of world oil and regional stability he does.

[Guest American Woman]

Should Benjamin Netanyahu be on the list, considering his influence in the region and on US policy?

He influences U.S. policy? As I hear tell, he's a puppet of the U.S., which just goes to show that the same behavior will be seen exactly opposite by different people. At any rate, I would think that he should be in the top ten.

Should Xi Jinping, leader of a nuclear-armed emerging economic powerhouse of 1.3 billion people, be ranked higher?

Probably. I didn't think Merkel should be #2. Does she really have that much power?

Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud is powerful, but should he be that high, and does he even compare to Xi Jinping in power? Maybe in terms of world oil and regional stability he does.

I was rather surprised to see Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud placed that high, especially as we hear that there is more oil to be found elsewhere. As for stability in the region - do you think that lies in his hands? I would say that Benjamin Netanyahu plays a bigger role in that regard. But yeah, Xi Jinping should have been ranked higher, IMO.

Edited December 5, 2012 by American Woman

[dre]

Probably. I didn't think Merkel should be #2. Does she really have that much power?

YEah germany basically runs the EU which is the largest economy in the world, or at least real close.

Edited December 5, 2012 by dre

[DogOnPorch]

Actual list...

1. Justin Beiber

2. Honey Boo Boo

3. Kim Kardashian

4. Lesser Kardashians

5. Bilbo Baggins (with The One Ring)

6. James Bond

7. NHL owners and players

8. That customs guy going through your sh*t.

9. The people that raised beer prices $2 a case!!

10. Madonna

[Guest American Woman]

Actual list...

1. Justin Beiber

2. Honey Boo Boo

3. Kim Kardashian

4. Lesser Kardashians

5. Bilbo Baggins (with The One Ring)

6. James Bond

7. NHL owners and players

8. That customs guy going through your sh*t.

9. The people that raised beer prices $2 a case!!

10. Madonna

Just like a Canadian to rank Justin Beiber #1 - when everyone knows it should rightfully go to Honey Boo.....

[DogOnPorch]

Just like a Canadian to rank Justin Beiber #1 - when everyone knows it should rightfully go to Honey Boo.....

Honey Boo Boo didn't do the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show...thus #2.

[Bonam]

Should Benjamin Netanyahu be on the list, considering his influence in the region and on US policy?

Should Xi Jinping, leader of a nuclear-armed emerging economic powerhouse of 1.3 billion people, be ranked higher?

_{Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud} is powerful, but should he be that high, and does he even compare to Xi Jinping in power? Maybe in terms of world oil and regional stability he does.

One thing to consider how powerful an individual is, is not just the power/wealth of the entity he controls/commands, but how firm and absolute their power over that entity is. So while Saudi Arabia is a lot less powerful than China, al Saud is an absolute monarch and has absolute power, but Xi Jinping is a newly minted leader of the communist party and has many rivals and potential enemies within it, who keep his power in check.

I would also use this argument to suggest that Obama should not be #1. While he leads the US, certainly the world's most powerful nation, the extent of his leadership is quite weak, there is in fact very little he can do without the approval of congress, which as of right now is committed to blocking his every action above all else.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that elected leaders of democratic nations with term limits really don't have that much personal power at all. The power is all temporary, limited in duration, subject to the popular approval, and restricted by other organs of government like the legislature and the judiciary.

[TimG]

One thing to consider how powerful an individual is, is not just the power/wealth of the entity he controls/commands, but how firm and absolute their power over that entity is.

I would say the power to influence the people who have the ability to make decisions is key. Obama, as president, does not have absolute power but nor can Congress ignore him. This gives him great influence.

al Saud has power to increase or decrease world oil prices by changing Saudi production. This also gives him great influence outside of Saudi Arabia.

I would put Xi Jinping lower on the list because it is not clear how much power he really has. i.e. is he a figurehead that simply represents the ruling committee. If so his power is limited to his ability to influence the committee we don't know how much that is.

Edited December 6, 2012 by TimG

[Bonam]

al Saud has power to increase or decrease world oil prices by changing Saudi production. This also gives him great influence outside of Saudi Arabia

But what is power really? Power to somewhat influence world events is one thing. But what about personal power, the power to have your every whim instantly fulfilled?

[TimG]

But what is power really? Power to somewhat influence world events is one thing. But what about personal power, the power to have your every whim instantly fulfilled?

I think that is what we are debating. I see the list as a measure of the personal influence over world events - not a list of people who can have their every whim fulfilled. If it was the latter I would expect to see a lot of third world dictators on the list. Edited December 6, 2012 by TimG

[Moonlight Graham]

He influences U.S. policy? As I hear tell, he's a puppet of the U.S., which just goes to show that the same behavior will be seen exactly opposite by different people. At any rate, I would think that he should be in the top ten.

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/john-mearsheimer/the-israel-lobby

equals:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/05/israeli-prime-minister-gets-20-standing-ovations-in-congress-sends-message-to-white-house/

[Moonlight Graham]

One thing to consider how powerful an individual is, is not just the power/wealth of the entity he controls/commands, but how firm and absolute their power over that entity is. So while Saudi Arabia is a lot less powerful than China, al Saud is an absolute monarch and has absolute power, but Xi Jinping is a newly minted leader of the communist party and has many rivals and potential enemies within it, who keep his power in check.

True point.

I would also use this argument to suggest that Obama should not be #1. While he leads the US, certainly the world's most powerful nation, the extent of his leadership is quite weak, there is in fact very little he can do without the approval of congress, which as of right now is committed to blocking his every action above all else.

Do you remember the presidency of Bush Jr.?

Obama is number 1 by a mile, it's not even close. He has checks on power, especially domestic policy (the president can't even introduce a bill to congress), but he has much more power in the foreign policy realm. He needs congressional approval to go to declare war, but:

On at least 125 occasions, the President has acted without prior express military authorization from Congress.^[15] These include instances in which the United States fought in Korea in 1950, the Philippine-American War from 1898–1903, in Nicaragua in 1927, as well as the NATO bombing campaign of Yugoslavia in 1999.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_war_by_the_United_States#Other_undeclared_wars

Also, when was the last time a President wanted military action that was rejected by Congress?

Many other areas don't have to be approved by Congress. Obama could nuke South Korea this very minute based on some false flag perceived nuclear threat. A President has many means at his disposal to get what he wants in foreign policy (even if needing congressional approval), some shadier than others. The President also has ridiculous international influence in so many areas.

[Guest Peeves]

Now if Johnny Carson was still with us.........

Besides they passed up Big Bird and Joe the Plumber so how accurate can it be?

[-TSS-]

Actually, if one asked a number of random people do they know who the leader of China is it would be quite a worrying result to find out that very few people can name the leader of the most populus nation on earth.

[Rue]

See now if we are talking simply political power at the international level and not say cultural influence power then I for one see the politicians as puppets all of them.

For me the real power would be with those able to direct the world economic trade markets and their policies.

Interesting the head of the IMF for example is not on that list.

I think true power politically is held by the economic definers of our times....people behind the scenes controlling the international movement of markets.

Then on a far lower and isolated scale are a handful of psycho or sociopaths who have immediate control over their masses using violence.

I think Netanyahu would love for you to say he is in the top 10. His ego would love it..but he would be the first to tell you if he was that powerful his country would not be surrounded by terrorists, civil wars and hostile regimes.

One thing is for sure the first thing people with power do is make themselves invisible. You can be sure you and I have no idea who they really are and the ones who want you to think they are powerful are pathetic baboons like Donald Trump-useless piles of lard that make loud noises but not much else.

Edited December 21, 2012 by Rue