ran 3.0 miles
Forbe’s “List of the World’s Most Powerful People” recently dethroned Barack Obama as the world’s most powerful and influential man and replaced him with China’s president, Hu Jintao. Forbe’s comprises this list with one single standard, regardless of whether the people on the list are leaders of nations, terrorists, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, media personalities, or religious figures. According to Forbe’s these are the individuals who, “In various ways, bend the world to their will.” Here is the top ten:
1. Hu Jintao, president of China
2. Barack Obama, president of the United States of America
3. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, king of Saudi Arabia.
4. Vladimir Putin, prime minister of Russia.
5. Pope Benedict the Sixteenth.
6. Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany.
7. David Cameron, prime minister of the U.K.
8. Ben Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
9. Sonia Gandhi, president of the Indian National Congress political party.
10. Bill Gates, for his philanthropy (not Microsoft)
The rest of the list, 68 people, is here.
There’s really not much left to be said as that number one ranking speaks for itself. You have to appreciate Forbe’s honesty and their commitment to printing real facts, unlike so many of our media outlets. For instance, where have you read, heard, or watched, anywhere in America, how ridiculously expensive Obama’s ten day excursion to India is? $200 million a day! If you want any facts about the money he is spending on this trip, the immense entourage he is taking, or what real purpose he is serving in proportion to the taxpayer money he is spending, so conveniently close to a dismal midterm election, you have to look at papers from India, news from the BBC, European papers, or even Australian articles. The rest of the world prints facts and commentates truths about our president and country while our own country prints spin and puffery, or news that will not disrupt the delicate fabric of our ignorance to important issues that are so crucial to our nation.
On a personal note, today marks exactly two years until the November 6, 2012 presidential election. When I started this campaign, the goal I set for myself was extremely overwhelming and I’ve had weak moments over the past three months, but as each day goes by I feel stronger and stronger about the statement I am trying to make. Ultimately, I am in the early stages of peacefully protesting against Barack Obama’s presidency for what will amount to two years and a little over two months. Today is a milestone because tomorrow will be one day less than two years until this country makes a big decision to continue feeling sorry for its excellence or to begin redefining the excellence of the people that make America the amazing country it is.
1,897 miles to go.
