While we’re at it we could send them John Chaney too. God knows they might need a good 2-3 zone D.
I’d probably ask them where stood on the whole Bradgelina situation.
Did you like the Chuck Berry we sent you?
I swear, I came in here to post a Chuck Berry joke.
Are you the guys piloting the UFO’s?
a/s/l please 
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Have you been here before?
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Are you comming back?
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Will you bring Pie?
Is Jacko one of yours?
On a serious note, I’d probably be more interested in energy sources and scientific knowledge.
Energy source questions.
I’d also ask if they have great works of literature to share. Or music. Or pictures. What things about themselve are they most proud of. And most ashamed of.
“Can you hear me now?”
Then after I get slapped for that by the people here on earth…
“Do you want fries with that?”
Then I’d be clobbered for having such a hackneyed sense of humour.
Okay, no. Let’s be honest, I’d probably get on the line, freeze up for a few seconds, then finally say, awed, “W…w… woooooooow. This is really cool. I’m talking to an alien. I can’t think of anything to say. You take it.”
I have a million great (or pretty good) questions in my head right now, sure. “Do you believe you were created by a greater power? If so, is it unseen?” (If no, “Can I see it?” 
) “How many leaders do you have?”, “How many countries, if any, and what do you call them?”, “Do you war?”, “Do you feel emotions strongly, or at all?” “Is there famine?” “Are there homeless?” “What do you use for currency/trade?” etc. But when it comes down to it, I’d stammer and pass it on. Or ask, “Do you come in fun size?”
Or “All your base are…” ow. Okay, okay, I’m done. Aliens. Cool.
Great replies, thanks.
Questions about science can be relatively easily asked, because they can be built up from basic universal constants, but I’m curious; does anyone have any idea as to how you’d frame a question about religion, art and sociology?
I wouldn’t ask them about free energy until I found out how they deal with “corporations” and no one doing anything unless it involves “profit.”
You can bet if we discovered cheap easy cold fusion today by the time “big business” was done with it, it’d still cost $200/month to heat your house in winter.
First thing I want to know is, is your society & culture based on business and profit? If not, what do your people do all day?
We never got communism to work here. What system do you use?
Good one. Made me laugh out loud.
I would have too many questions about science and religion to ask, most of which have been covered here. But I wouldn’t forget to ask if they’ve figured out teleportation.
Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?
“Is this your first time too?”
I think I’d ask for their pictures too.
When are we gonna [–bleep–]?
If I might stir the pot a bit:
I find it somewhat disappointing that so many people would squander the opportunity to commincate with an unknown extra-terrestrial being by asking about God and religion. I mean, the concept would be nearly impossible to explain unless they already knew it, and even if they did what kind of questions could it possibly answer.
“Many beings on our planet believe that Blorgrak Tozarsd created the planet Gorgot and is responsible for the well-being of all Marklar. However, many others do not believe.”
Now what?
How many genders do you have?
Do y’all like to party?
I would ask if their government had sent the transmission picked up by SETI, or if it was more like a bunch of alien geeks running Transmission@home stuff on their personal computers.
I would also ask if they have pets, and if so, what kind of pets, and also, could I have an alien pet. That’s actually my serious question. I think it would be interesting to find out their views about other life on their world.
Now, learn earth’s philosophies post-Neanderthal. Theology long ago blew past the god of fire stage. Nothing could be more interesting than a hearty discussion of philosophy and metaphysics with beings whose frame conditions are convergent or shift reflexive.
I agree. What if they have religion and they’re just as, or even more fanatical about it than some of our religions are? Uh-oh. Big trouble.
OTOH, what if they gave up religion 5,000 years ago because it’s dangerous & primitive and all of a sudden they meet us and our first question is “how does your God compare to our God?”
Oops, they just cut off communication and there goes our chance at learning about free energy, advanced medicine, etc.