100 Game Changers, Millions of Votes, Here Are Your Ultimate 12

Last month we announced HuffPost's 2010 Game Changers -- 100 innovators, visionaries, and leaders who are changing the way we look at the world and the way we live in it. And we asked you to weigh in on who the Ultimate Game Changer is in each of our 12 categories: Politics, Entertainment, Style, Tech, Business, Travel, Green, Sports, Food, Education, Media, and Impact (where we salute those changing the game when it comes to philanthropy and service).

The response was tremendous. You cast over 3 million votes. Thank you!

Now it's time to reveal your picks for the Ultimate 12.

They are an eclectic mix of those accustomed to the spotlight and those who have been working under the radar. And there were more than a few surprises. For instance, despite the presence of a number of superstar athletes in Sports, you voted in Amy Palmiero-Winters & Catherine Hughes, two below-the-knee amputees who show that disabilities need not be an end to dreams of athletic triumph.

And while our Style Game Changers included style and fashion icons such as Tom Ford and Paulina Porizkova, and red carpet regulars Ashley and Mary Kate Olson, you selected Joe Bozich, who runs a garment factory in the Dominican Republic that pays its workers a living wage.

So check out the slideshow below to see who the HuffPost community selected as the Ultimate Game Changers.

And it won't be long before we start putting together next year's list of Game Changers, so be on the lookout for those people who are pushing the envelope in their fields -- who are willing to look at things and take the risk of saying, "I think I have a better way."

Congratulations again to our 100 HuffPost Game Changers, who we will be celebrating at a party next Thursday (watch for pictures and coverage of the event). And a special round of virtual applause for the Ultimate 12.

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Paul Volcker: Business

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Changed the game by ... sticking to his guns and insisting on real financial reform. The former chairman of the Federal Reserve has long warned that the new breed of bankers took things too far. But, even as chairman of the President's Economic Advisory Board, it took a political scare (in the form of Scott Brown) for the White House to stop ignoring him. President Obama eventually proposed what became known as the "Volcker Rule": if banks want customers' money, they can't use it to gamble on risky trades. Republicans and bankers protested and had some success punching loopholes in the rule, but, in the end, Volcker's gravitas carried the day. Financial reform ended up a stronger bill than many expected (Volcker graded it a B), and one of the most respected men in finance demonstrated that he won't stop fighting for the little guy. He said it: "I’ve been there — as regulator, as central banker, as commercial bank official and director — for almost 60 years. I have observed how memories dim. Individuals change. Institutional and political pressures to “lay off” tough regulation will remain — most notably in the fair weather that inevitably precedes the storm. ... We need to face up to needed structural changes, and place them into law. To do less will simply mean ultimate failure." Must-click link: Paul Volcker's Big News Page

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Changed the game by ... sticking to his guns and insisting on real financial reform. The former chairman of the Federal Reserve has long warned that the new breed of bankers took things too far. But, even as chairman of the President's Economic Advisory Board, it took a political scare (in the form of Scott Brown) for the White House to stop ignoring him. President Obama eventually proposed what became known as the "Volcker Rule": if banks want customers' money, they can't use it to gamble on risky trades. Republicans and bankers protested and had some success punching loopholes in the rule, but, in the end, Volcker's gravitas carried the day. Financial reform ended up a stronger bill than many expected (Volcker graded it a B), and one of the most respected men in finance demonstrated that he won't stop fighting for the little guy.

He said it: "I’ve been there — as regulator, as central banker, as commercial bank official and director — for almost 60 years. I have observed how memories dim. Individuals change. Institutional and political pressures to “lay off” tough regulation will remain — most notably in the fair weather that inevitably precedes the storm. ... We need to face up to needed structural changes, and place them into law. To do less will simply mean ultimate failure."

Must-click link: Paul Volcker's Big News Page

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Comments

[TruelyFedUp]

10:49 AM on 10/24/2010

From the Declaration of Independence
"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world."

[GHENT007]

04:47 AM on 10/24/2010

Don't complain about the situation if you don't vote, if you want extremists like these "TEA PARTY" NUT CASES running the country and having control of your economic future, then sit @ home and do nothing, but if you want the "REAL CHANGE" The president has been fighting for, THEN GET UP AND VOTE!!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO VOTE, THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF AMERICA HANGS IN THE BALANCE!!!! REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE MEANS ECONOMIC DISASTER FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS!!!

[TruelyFedUp]

10:50 AM on 10/24/2010

Vote for whom? Let's have a national strike instead of voting. No votes = no Corporate Government of either party.

Truly

[jimtpat]

09:10 AM on 10/25/2010

No votes = Absolute Corporatism c/o the Republicans.

Vote and get everyone you know to vote!

[dorysomega]

01:11 AM on 10/31/2010

I don't quite follow your logic. I believe that we all need to vote according to our conscience. Personally, I am sick to death of "Big Brother" intruding my work place. In my opinion, politics should be left to politicians who get paid for their headaches. I say vote for the person who stands for the basic rights of all Americans - especially the right to freedom of speech and the right to work without Big Brother breathing down our necks (I know this last is not a right but it should be) - especially when doing what Big Brother says is hypocritical. I, for one, do not appreciate being forced to follow policy that's touted as being what the customer wants or what's in the best interests of the customer when it is merely another deceitful way to line the pockets of our Corporation. Even worse, when someone is courageous enough to stand up for the customers' true needs and wants, that person becomes anathema to the Corporation which does not care about 20 or more years of dedicated, honorable and outstanding service that individual has given them. Which brings me to the thing that I am "TruelyFedUp" with, which is the ever-increasing tendency to "get rid of" loyal, outstanding employees that customers have come to know, like & respect -- to do what's best for those same customers. Hypocrisy reigns supreme.

[samtee]

12:57 PM on 10/24/2010

http://www.westernjournalism.com/exclusive-investigative-reports/obama-surrounds-himself-with-the-most-extreme-appointees-in-american-history/

Here are the real ones

[allis1]

10:47 PM on 10/24/2010

another off the wall website masquerading as "journalism", "Western Journalism" no less,
nice try, afraid you won't find too many takers here samtee, we're into "sanity" .

[professor]

01:12 AM on 10/24/2010

Yikes.

[RussT]

01:04 PM on 10/23/2010

I would say that the Tea Party movement has been a HUGE game changer...are they ever mentioned in these series of articles?

[brooklyncitizen]

01:09 PM on 10/23/2010

How are they a game-changer?

[Spin Sniper]

05:05 PM on 10/24/2010

Watch TV on the night of November 2nd to find out the answer to your question.

[allis1]

10:49 PM on 10/24/2010

just because they've gotten alot of press (too much) doesn't mean anything, Lindsay Lohan gets
alot of press too

[HowardScottPearlman]

10:14 AM on 10/23/2010

Obama releasing the 83 unseen Pentagon 911 video tapes that show something other than an American Airlines 747 caused the Pentagon 911 damage.

Will be released before the November 2nd 2010 elections.

Irate Voters will vote out all Republicans that gave America Bush !

The Democrats win elections by landslides all over the United States.

[RussT]

01:05 PM on 10/23/2010

Keep clinging to those baseless conspiracy rumors lib...Your force is growing! Ahmedinijad now agrees with you and is on your team. Go 9/11 truthers!

LOL!

[Spin Sniper]

05:12 PM on 10/24/2010

Yes. And he will be holding a press conference announcing a new trade agreement with Venus and Mars on that same day, to be held on a beach somewhere as the ocean levels recede.

By the way, the Republicans that gave America Bush were the citizens who voted for him. They aren't candidates for office. How are you going to vote them out? Duh!

And finally, if the Democrats do win, it will be by mud slides, not landslides.

[janmB]

07:40 AM on 10/23/2010

Our gov't is FOR THE PEOPLE and was created to protect us....it is not supposed to be thought of as our enemy. Our Govt has to be BIG because we are a BIG country with BIG needs...it cannot be more clear than that. . .
It's no coincidence that, after the events of the last decade, very few now see what was once glowingly called the "Great Moderation" now see it as a permanent shift.
As far as price signals go, it is more like the "Great Muffling".

[Davey Johnson]

11:03 PM on 10/22/2010

Too bad Jobs couldn't make his iPads in America, but he's more interested in milking every goddamn fraction of a cent of profit out of his products.... American workers be damned. When is enough enough, Steve?

[rlugbill]

01:21 PM on 10/22/2010

I suggest Jimmy McMillan as game changer.

The Rent is too Damn High!

[flurryup]

02:50 AM on 10/23/2010

Ahaaaa. Good one.

[pinkladee]

06:44 PM on 10/23/2010

Ditto!....and The rent is too DAMNED HIGH everywhere, not just New York! #58/fanned

[Mark Knudsen]

12:22 PM on 10/22/2010

Why do we have to rely on those so called gifted or insightful ones to be such stand outs.... oh I know it is they who have the courage of their convictions...unlike many on this web sight who do have the insight to see the problems of the world...but don't have the courage to stop complaining about them and spend the same amount of time to come up with solutions...not one liners..but real solutions... and then share them here on this site. next have others join in and work together for a common good...forget the infighting of minor differences ...you can work those out of ter the major problems are brought under control.... Or don't you have the courage of your conviction...if not how about looking here for support... I know why... you an't goin to get no support here no courage among them ... and they well let the "evil ones" take them over , and will go down the tubes still whining it's their fault and Im not going to do it your way. so nothing gets done while the ones you don't like just sit back and watch you destroy yourselves..... best thing you could do is PROVE ME WRONG

[John Schmid]

08:46 PM on 10/23/2010

What???????

[Helen Olson]

11:04 AM on 10/22/2010

Thirteen people who make our lives better that is so inspiring to see thank you Arianna for bringing that into my life

[RageCage]

07:31 AM on 10/22/2010

Elizabeth Warren: "There should never be a doubt about the point of any government action: it should always be to help families directly"

Let's do a quick multiple choice answer, shall we? Is this a constitutional statement or unconstitutional statement? I'll let you think about it and then let Alexander Hamilton reveal the correct answer.

[jimtpat]

09:24 AM on 10/25/2010

Very Constitutional according to my current copy c/o The Heritage Foundation: "to...insure domestic Tranquility...promote the general Welfare". Nothing in there about helping businesses or providing jobs overseas.

BTW, a Jackson is twice as loud as a Hamilton!

[zeeshan809]

06:59 AM on 10/22/2010

I must say all those who won are true revolutionaries. However we must not forget those who may not have won but are equally deserving due to the quality of their work and struggle.

http://www.celebritydialogue.com/

[edwardmuzika]

02:06 AM on 10/22/2010

Where is the spiritual pick? The one who best portrayed seeing differently?

[williamg]

10:14 PM on 10/21/2010

"Taibbi is a gifted narrative journalist, whose verbal talents I greatly admire. But financial meltdowns don't offer villains, for the simple reason that no one person or even one group is powerful enough to take down a whole system. Confronted with this, Taibbi doesn't back away from the narrative form, or apply it to smaller questions where it is more appropriate, as William Cohan did in House of Cards. Instead, he grabs whoever's nearest to hand and builds them up into a gigantic straw villian, which he proceeds to bash with a handful of recently acquired technical terms that he clearly doesn't quite understand. It's not that everything he says is wrong, but the bits that are true aren't interesting, and the bits that are interesting aren't true."

--Megan McArdle, business and economics editor for The Atlantic.


http://www­.theatlant­ic.com/bus­iness/arch­ive/2009/0­7/matt-tai­bbi-gets-h­is-sarah-p­alin-on/21­084/

[RTIII]

05:46 PM on 10/22/2010

I've never heard of the guy until I read this article, however, the quote they cite in the caption left me more than flat and I can see that the comments of Ms. McArdle might well be correct.

[Christine Gallo]

02:22 AM on 10/24/2010

You might want to read Taibbi before you accept the words of a conservative business writer, who has his own axe to grind, one who is not necessarily better informed, but simply has a different perspective

[Anym]

11:46 PM on 10/26/2010

Actually I beg to differ Financial Meltdowns offer a plethora of villains.

From the CNBC & Washington Post who endless cheer leading of financial giants, pillow soft journalism, and propagation of the myth that homes never loose value.

The big banks (especially GoldmanSachs) who's executives infiltrated the GOP in 80's (Reagan) and the Democratic party in 90's (Clinton) aided in massive deregulation that has lead to this crisis. (Rubin,Paulson, Kashkeri, so on etc.)

I could go on, and on about the other villains but Megan is wrong and saying there are no villains in a financial meltdown is a lot like saying there is no bad guys in war just opposing views.

[SCStoday]

10:09 PM on 10/21/2010

Thank you Arianna for bring these wonderful people to the public eye. Now if there were many many more like them, this world would be a much better place. A good heart is hard to find in todays climate.

[seabelleemmanuelle]

02:57 AM on 10/22/2010

This is so true !
-Seabelle Emmanuelle