Time Magazine Persons of the Year 2005

The Good Samaritans
For being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow, Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono are TIME's Persons of the Year.

I think Bono is an excellent choice. I'll tell you why Monday morning. Also some interesting observations about Bill Gates & the Mrs.

Bono charmed and bullied and morally blackmailed the leaders of the world's richest countries into forgiving $40 billion in debt owed by the poorest; now those countries can spend the money on health and schools rather than interest payments—and have no more excuses for not doing so.

Bill Gates was considered evil when he was actually creating something, but only earns Time magazine's highest praise when he's giving his money away. Melinda Gates? She gives away someone else's money? If that's the criteria Congress should be Time's Person of the Year.