Who runs the world?

[Pimander]

I was mulling over some material the other day and trying to wrestle with the question above.  Who really runs the world?  I'd love to hear what ideas the members have.

What triggered me thinking about this was a book I read a few years ago, about secret societies.  I was scanning it again to look something up and finished up reading the final chapter entitled "The Present Day".  The authors ponder whether and who are the secret group in charge today.

I know I have found this a tough question to answer.  Who are the "they" who are often accused of all kinds of things to stay in charge?  Who are TPTB, The Cabal, The Invisible Hand or whatever else they are called.

A few candidates could include:-

Rome: The Catholic Church is a continuation of The Roman Empire effectively.  How much power do they wield through their many branches including the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)?

The Rothschilds:  Allegedly the Rothschilds and their allies control international finance via the World Bank and other bodies.  Is this true?

The Military Industrial Complex?  The British Establishment including the Royal Family and Secret Service?

There are obviously other possibilities.  I just wondered whether any of you might have nailed this.

[ArMaP]

Nobody, although many are trying to.

[petrus4]

There is a very simple rule of thumb, here.

If you know their name, they don't have real power.

[Pimander]

I have comments but I'll give folks time to have their say.  The only thing I'll note so far is no commitment so far to name any names of groups or people.

[Wrabbit2000]

Nobody, although many are trying to.

I have to go with you. Many try, and most carve out a large piece of being 'TPTB' in a region, nation or set of nations....but the ultimate powers around our world aren't on the same sheet of music to dance and they each have the power and wealth backing them to clash like titans if it ever comes down to a 'there can be only one' type deal.

History hasn't shown that clash happening in any way to recognize, so I figure we still have the factions vying for power far above the levels we normally think to look at.

[Sinny]

The Ultra-terrestrials who are the hidden hand guiding the factions previously mentioned by pimander...

As a side note, I believe the Bible did state that at this time, the globe would be in the clutches of Satan...

[VillageIdiot]

The Ultra-terrestrials who are the hidden hand guiding the factions previously mentioned by pimander...

As a side note, I believe the Bible did state that at this time, the globe would be in the clutches of Satan...

It IS in the "clutches of Satan", or something akin to it. I would love to elaborate but, having been banned elsewhere for my candid opinions, I decline to provide examples. I don't know exactly how far I can go here and still remain a member.

I like this place.

[ArMaP]

I don't know exactly how far I can go here and still remain a member.

As long as it follows the Posting Rules/Terms of Service, I think you can post any thing.

[Wrabbit2000]

The Ultra-terrestrials who are the hidden hand guiding the factions previously mentioned by pimander...

As a side note, I believe the Bible did state that at this time, the globe would be in the clutches of Satan...

I'm not sure what you mean? The time leading up to the 1,000yr reign of peace or the 7 years before the 2nd coming? I think (Oh, I hope) we still have a couple sign posts to pass on the road to the start of tribulation.

The world out there isn't pious or noble though, that's for sure. If we're looking at 'who runs things' on that much higher level? I suppose the reality we see answers that then, and you're right. It isn't a Godly reality we see, no doubt.

[VillageIdiot]

As long as it follows the Posting Rules/Terms of Service, I think you can post any thing.

Well, one of my examples is offensive to a special interest group, so I'll just keep it to myself.

Thanks, ArMaP.

[08rubicon]

 If someone should take offence at something you say
it is their problem, not yours. As for who runs this
world,check out the bible..One instance..job 1:6 ..
" now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them..job 1:7 "And the Lord said
unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it"..This means
to me that Satan was representing the earth at the
meeting in heaven .Satan has control over the earth then as well as now, as far as God will let him.
  Rubicon

[zorgon]

Rome: The Catholic Church is a continuation of The Roman Empire effectively.  How much power do they wield through their many branches including the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)?

While their reach is far, it is not as powerful as it once was. They have no power in China nor the Islamic world that we are in constant 'war' with

The Rothschilds:  Allegedly the Rothschilds and their allies control international finance via the World Bank and other bodies.  Is this true?

If you look at Forbes list of the richest men in the world (very few women on that list BTW) do you see any Rothschild in the list?  I would say they no longer control as much money as people think

         #1   Bill Gates   $80.9 B    $1 K   58   Microsoft   United States
   #2   Carlos Slim Helu & family   $78.7 B    $861.3 M | -1.1%   74   telecom   Mexico
   #3   Warren Buffett   $68.4 B    $6 K   84   Berkshire Hathaway   United States
   #4   Amancio Ortega   $58.1 B    $0   78   retail   Spain
   #5   Larry Ellison   $48.8 B    $3.7 M   70   Oracle   United States
   #6   Charles Koch   $41.9 B    $0   78   diversified   United States
   #6   David Koch   $41.9 B    $0   74   diversified   United States
   #8   Christy Walton & family   $37.9 B    $1 K   59   Wal-Mart   United States
   #9   Jim Walton   $36.6 B    $0   66   Wal-Mart   United States
   #10   Mark Zuckerberg   $35.5 B    $0   30   Facebook   United States
   #11   Alice Walton   $35.1 B    $0   65   Wal-Mart   United States
   #12   S. Robson Walton   $35.1 B    $0   70   Wal-Mart   United States
   #13   Michael Bloomberg   $34.5 B    $0   72   Bloomberg LP   United States
   #14   Liliane Bettencourt & family   $34 B    $0   92   L'Oreal   France
   #15   Sheldon Adelson   $32.1 B    $0   81   casinos   United States
   #16   Li Ka-shing   $31.3 B    $86.8 M | 0.3%   86   diversified   Hong Kong
   #17   Stefan Persson   $30.4 B    $93.6 M | -0.3%   67   H&M   Sweden
   #18   Bernard Arnault & family   $30.3 B    $1 K   65   LVMH   France
   #19   Larry Page   $29.9 B    $0   41   Google   United States
   #20   Sergey Brin   $29.5 B    $1 K   41   Google   United States
   #21   Jeff Bezos   $26.9 B    $0   50   Amazon.com   United States

The Military Industrial Complex?  The British Establishment including the Royal Family and Secret Service?

The US and the space program is run by the NAVY  most likely in Britain too. I do have names for that and the proof.   

So I am going with ArMaP   there is no one group that runs the planet. If there was such an all powerful cabal  we would not be talking freely about them

[VillageIdiot]

If someone should take offence at something you say
it is their problem, not yours. As for who runs this world,check out the bible..One instance..job 1:6 .. "now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them..job 1:7 "And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it"..This means to me that Satan was representing the earth at the
meeting in heaven .Satan has control over the earth then as well as now, as far as God will let him.

Rubicon

I can say that our current government certainly seems to bear out the notion that Satan rules. It walks to and fro and up and down on this Earth and all the while corrupts everything it touches.

We are referred to as the Great Satan for a reason. We are blazing a trail of aberrant behavior and legalizing it as we go. I will mention no specifics.

I want desperately to love my country, but it keeps slapping me in the face with immoral decisions and practices. I feel the need for a shower after reading about and watching some of the things that take place here and elsewhere.

[Sinny]

VI, You can love your country and hate your Government, they aren't exclusive.

As a lass with a Northen Irish heritage, living England, I can vouch for that.

Z, I think your Forbes list tells a lot in all that it does NOT tell...

[ArMaP]

"And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it"..This means to me that Satan was representing the earth at the
meeting in heaven .Satan has control over the earth then as well as now, as far as God will let him.

To me it means that Satan could walk the earth as he wanted, not that he was in control. It also means that God gave him limited power over Job, so Satan was not in control.