A few days ago, I found myself in line behind a mom and her two boys at the grocery store. The kids appeared to be around 9 or 10 and they were playing this game they’d apparently made up, called “If I Were King of the World.” The way it worked was that they would take turns talking about what they would do and how things would be if they ruled the Earth. What they didn’t realize was that they were actually doing an exercise that personal development coaches call “Blue Sky Thinking.” The idea behind the exercise is that you imagine that you have all of the money, resources and contacts to make anything happen that you want to happen and you use it to define your goals.
The boys in line came up with boyhood plans. There would be no homework. Candy instead of vegetables. They would be allowed to play video games all night if they felt like it and they’d have no chores. Things like that. I started to think of how things would be if I were in in charge.
If I Were King of the World…
Teaching would be America’s highest paid profession.
Healthcare would be available to every man woman and child on earth regardless of financial or social status.
Legacy programs at elite universities would be illegal. You don’t get admission just because mommy and daddy went there.
All schools would receive the same, more than adequate, funding and resources.
Voting would be easier and more accessible to everyone.
Corporate and special interest donations to political candidates and referendums would be illegal.
United States Supreme Court Justices would have term limits of 10 years. No exceptions.
Congressional House and Senate seats would have term limits.
Housing would be affordable for everyone, and it would be illegal to offer over asking price or write the seller an obsequious letter begging to be chosen as the homebuyer.
Fair Housing laws would be strictly enforced and the penalties for violation severe.
Toll lanes that allow those who can afford to avoid traffic, while those who can’t have to sit in gridlock, would be abolished.
It wouldn’t cost hundreds of dollars for a family of four to go to a professional baseball, football or basketball game and have a couple of hot dogs.
Oil companies would pay a surcharge on excessive profits made through gouging consumers.
Congressional representatives who vote to overturn a fair and legal election would be barred from holding public office for life.
Elected representatives, Federal, State or Local, who aid and abet an insurrection would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and barred from holding public office for life.
Elected officials who won their elections through defrauding voters regarding their education, employment and life histories would be expelled from office and barred from running again for life.
College, like elementary and high school, would be state sponsored and available free of charge.
Right wingers would not be allowed to use MLK’s “the color of their skin/content of their character” quote unless they are also willing to quote and live by his other teachings regarding inclusion, equality, and access for all. No cherry picking.
Electricity companies whose faulty maintenance causes multi-billion dollar wildfires would not be allowed to pass on the costs of their financial penalties and expenses to their customers.
A full, complete, and accurate representation of American history would be taught in all schools.
The government would have zero say or jurisdiction over any medical decision knowledgeably made by a patient and her physician.
Cities and municipalities would pay a hefty fine for each and every homeless person on their streets.
And lastly, hot dogs wouldn’t come in packages of ten while buns come in packages of eight.
Dare to dream.