This feels more like the Time Magazine "Man of the Year" than it does a serious attempt to highlight those who have provided the "greatest benefit on mankind".

This feels more like the Time Magazine "Man of the Year" than it does a serious attempt to highlight those who have provided the "greatest benefit on mankind". The Nobel Peace Prize can serve a very real purpose; it can highlight someone working peacefully to overthrow an authoritarian regime. It can give those advocating for an improvement of the human condition a voice, international standing, a modicum of protection from government violence, and resources. Using the Peace Prize (and the Economics Prize, for that matter) as a way to deliver short-sited political digs or kudos to one group or another is farcical. It should go to people who are on the ground, working right now, to make the world a better place.