Google's Eric Schmidt talks about how to run the world (not that he wants to)

Google's Eric Schmidt talks about how to run the world (not that he wants to)

June 9, 2008 |  3:48 pm

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/06/googles-eric-sc.html

Despite its famous motto of "Don't be evil," there are some in the dark corners of the Web who speculate that Google's real plan is to take over the world. Google Watch features headlines such as "Google Must be Stopped," and "Is Google God?" The site Google World Domination even has a countdown clock, which indicates that the Skynet-type moment when we will all be slaves to the mighty Google algorithms will take place in roughly 6 years and 192 days. (Interestingly, the site, which includes a creepy video, features ads by Google, demonstrating how insidious that plot actually might be).

With that type of speculation out there, it's news any time a Google executive talks about running the world.

And that's exactly what Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt did today, sort of.

He didn't say that Google wanted to run the world. But he did offer an interesting suggestion to a crowd of power players in Washington about the best way to do it: Just like Google.

"It is possible to build a culture around innovation. It is possible to build a culture around leadership. And it is possible to build a culture around optimism. Google is an example, but by no means the only example, of a culture that can be built based on relatively scalable principles. We could run our country this way. We could run the world this way."

It was meant to be an inspiring moment ...

...as Schmidt wrapped up a speech to the Economic Club of Washington during a luncheon in a packed ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Click here for an audio clip of Schmidt's comments.

The appearance was a homecoming of sorts for Schmidt. Vernon E. Jordan Jr., the club's president and a former President Clinton advisor, noted that Schmidt was born a few blocks away from the hotel at George Washington University Hospital, and grew up in the Northern Virginia suburbs. His mother, Ellie Schmidt, was in the audience.

Eric E. Schmidt

Eric E. Schmidt is the chairman for Google Inc., married to Wendy Schmidt, the chairman of the New America Foundation, was a funder for New America Foundation, and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Note: Wendy Schmidt is married to Eric E. Schmidt, and a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Jonathan Soros is a director at the New America Foundation, and George Soros’s son.

George Soros is Jonathan Soros’s father, and the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the New America Foundation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Sheryl K. Sandberg was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and was a VP for Google Inc.,

David M. Rubenstein is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and the president of the Economic Club of Washington.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. was the president of the Economic Club of Washington, is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was the lobby firm for Google Inc.

Valerie B. Jarrett is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.  

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP, and is the president for the Barack Obama administration.