Signs of Hope

While it's encouraging to see generally balanced and rational Angela Merkel topping Forbes list of the most powerful women in the world, look at where the eighth and ninth women are -- at two of the five most evil, dangerous corporations in the world. Monsanto, Phillip Morris (though technically part of Kraft) and Haliburton would likely be the ones to flesh out that list. As always, it's hard to say whether Monsanto or Haliburton deserves the honor of the most evil of them all.

Personally, I would rank Michelle Bachelet, Chile's unmarried, pro-choice, agnostic President as the greatest sign of hope that a backwards country such as the U.S. could also muster the courage to elect a sane, visionary leader. (And, just to be clear, I am not implying that Chile is backwards, but the U.S. very clearly is.)


1. Angela Merkel - Chancellor, Germany
2. Wu Yi - Vice Premier, China
3. Ho Ching -CEO, Temasek Holdings, Singapore
4. Condoleeza Rice - Secretary of State, U.S.
5. Indra K. Nooyi - CEO, PepsiCo, U.S
6. Sonia Gandhi - President, National Congress Party, India
7. Cynthia Carroll - CEO, Anglo American Co., U.K.
8. Patricia A. Woertz - Chairman, Archer Daniels Midland, U.S.
9. Irene Rosenfeld -Chairman/CEO, Kraft Foods, U.S.
10. Patricia Russo - CEO, Alcatel-Lucent, U.S.