At some point in the distant future, we’ve discovered that not only is there intelligent life on other planets, but they’re already set up an intergalactic government. They’ve cordially invited Earth to send two delegates to represent Earth’s interest in intergalactic matters.
How would we go about electing these representatives? It seems like it might incite a civil/world war just fighting over who to send.
Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Just to get them off the planet.
Seriously, I doubt there could be any means of deciding.
Due to a spectacular mixup, we send Michele Bachmann and Rush Limbaugh. The extermination fleet is dispatched to Earth immediately afterward.
Exactly their point IMO. If the newly contacted world is civilized and organized enough so that selecting such a delegation is handled calmly and efficiently, then it’s worth starting the negotiations. Otherwise let them render themselves harmless by internal fighting.
Whichever country initiated contact first would obviously get to send one. And then probably the U.N. could just vote on another.
I’m thinking there would probably be a lukewarm Christian (from the Americas or Western Europe, probably from the USA) and either a lip service Moslem or progressive Chinese person making the cut. They’d probably be well known politicians (there’d be a glory factor, at least at first) and have advisors representing the major nations of the Earth. No political group wants deals being brokered without their knowledge.
If Obama is no longer president, he’d be a leading candidate. If there’s an appropriate female candidate (famous, lukewarm religion, highly competent) she’d probably make the Christian cut. Hillary is probably too old. A lot would depend on what the potential benefits and dangers of belonging to the Council are.
The selections might be made through the UN with much wrangling, promises and indirect money involved.
Even if that’s not America?:dubious:
Cool. The initial discovery was made by Canada. We’re sending Gordon Pinsent or Jean Chrétien.
Actually, we’d need one male and one female, preferably representing wide swathes of humanity. I’ll nominate: Sally Ride (female, scientist, North American, Astronaut) and Vikram Seth (male, South Asian, novelist and poet ).
“We need representatives of all beings on the planet. Not just one country, all humans need to agree. And chimps, dolphins, elephants, dogs and termites. And mermaids, yeti and three other species you don’t have names for. Then we will consider your application.”
Good point. I’m not sure they’d want human representatives at all.
Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and Matt Smith.
Yes, I left out Colin Baker, because I’m assuming we don’t want the aliens to hate us.
Chuck Norris and R. Lee Ermey.
The rest of the galaxy won’t fuck with us.
Distant future? I suppose the elephants will send one, the porpoises won’t care, and the hominid remnant will freak out that they weren’t consulted and declare war on the elephants.
Jimmy Carter and George Clooney
Yes, probably ought to be a man and a woman, just like on the Pioneer plaque: File:Pioneer plaque.svg - Wikipedia
If it’s in the distant future, it probably won’t be anyone alive today. Each national or regional government (if we have still them) will nominate one man and one woman, and then the Republic of Humanity’s legislature will vote. Any nominee should be, I think, a smart, experienced, calm, honest and skilled diplomat.
If First Contact was tomorrow, I would nominate Madeline Albright and Nelson Mandela.
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye.
Just to be on the safe side, they should be sent naked.
I’m not trying to start any trouble, but if it’s the distant future like the OP states, who alive today is going to be around then?
Dracula
Good pick. Used to confined places, knows humanity, cool with the dark interstellar reaches. Might be trouble on the trip.
