I'd like to bring up what Stephen Hawking said (not exact quote I'm afraid):
We should be afraid of an alien encounter for it would most likely turn out the same way as when Christopher Columbus landed on America
We all know how that went, but that was at a time when we weren't as civilized as we are now, and if you think about it, these aliens (if they do visit us) will most likely be far more intelligent and civilized then us, i mean they did learn to travel from their solar system to ours, or even from the andromeda galaxy.
So, the most important thing we must focus on is communication, and I dont think anyone in the government, or with a lot of money should talk, more likely then not they will put their own needs in front of ours, who we need is a psychologist, or someone who truly understands ALL of human life (not just Americans, or Europeans, or Russians, or whoever else). If we are visited, we can no longer be separated by borders and continents, because once this happens we are all humans of earth and must act like it, you know how Mass Effect had the Galactic Government (forgot actual name) well that might not be too far fetched from how it actually might be. We will join it as the human race and elect only the most trusted people, not politicians of today, scientist who have worked their whole lives learning about the world and it's life because they will be able to give to best discussions for earth and it's people.
I think we can all agree that the politicians of today are mostly a bunch of elderly living too far in the past for us too make any progress. (if everyone in the senate, state legislature, and in the government in general had a much more modern occupancy we could make more informed decisions that would affect our future for the better.) I understand respect the elders and all, but i dont think they should be deciding OUR future when they really don't have much time left, we are essentially letting them control our future based upon the life they grew up in. that's why gays and lesbians still aren't allowed to marry in most states (although religion contributes to that too, but religion should NOT interfere with public decisions that could affect people who may not believe in the religion trying to control their lives).
Also, most people may not agree with this, but religion will have to go too, seeing as how proof of other intelligent life other then ours is more then enough proof too discredit religion, and since we will be new to the "galactic government" we will have too learn how things are done by other worlds, learn how they interact, spend a decade or 2 learning about each other world, planning out who we want to align ourselves with, but we must try to be on good terms with everyone, because even after 20 years and learning new technology from other worlds we still won't have the efficient technology to protect ourselves from whatever far superior weapons they have. we have too play the good guys for as long as possible. and once we are capable, we should try to live on other planets with other species (this would help with our aligning ourselves with worlds we find suitable as allies.)
So that's pretty much what we would have to do, only very simplified and only from our point of view, we don't know what's out their yet and we don't know how life between galaxies may work yet, which is why when we are contacted, we CAN NOT expect them to listen to how we do things, we must learn too change ourselves to join with them because joining with them will be the most important thing that we must focus on after first contact.
That's all i got to say, i hope it's all easy to understand and have a good day.
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