WHAT IF...
WHAT IF…
Instead of spending to $2.63 trillion USD on the military, the world decided to divert that money to cultural exchange and understanding, on building up the supports of poorer nations, and investing in diplomatic efforts.
We could start by expanding the portals between countries, like this one between Dublin and New York:
What if, we supported families of young children with a liveable income so their parents could spend time hanging out with them, teaching them, loving them without the stress of the daily grind. What if all parents had the support they needed to grow healthy, self-regulating children into adults. What if every suburb was given early childhood resources - people - who were available to assist in the complex business of parenting.
What if…education and health care were free.
What if…every suburb had allocated land for a communal vegetable garden. Plus the equipment to preserve, and the place to share produce.
What if…elderly people and preschoolers were given a chance to enrich each other’s lives. What if intergenerational care was the norm.
What if…trees and rivers had rights, and indigenous connection to environment was respected and honoured.
What if…artists and musians were supported. Properly. And not just in Ireland.
What if…we had an Environmental Response Service for young people to join in their local town or city. It might be responding to disasters. It might be planting trees, and clearing up litter.
What if…every product had a closed life cycle. Manufacturers could only create products if they managed every part of the product’s life.
What if…every shopping centre had 3d printers with designers and design advice so we could print our clothing and can end the catastrophic waste in the fashion industry.
What if…every suburb had its own biofuel conversion system and cooperatively owned batteries.
What if…excess and greed and power over others were maligned instead of celebrated.
What if…decisions were made by a selection of community members: elders, youth, parents, all genders, and middle aged citizens. What if…all decisions had a 200 year perspective to encourage us all to be good ancestors.
What if…we outlawed being a billionaire.
With the combined current wealth of our billionaires - $14.2 trillion USD - it’s entirely doable.
Estimates suggest that just 4% of the world’s total billionaire wealth could resolve many of the world's most urgent existential crises.
What if…we taxed the bastards?
Just sayin’.
Not only are you are a brilliant writer but also a visionary! Wow!
What if….your ‘what ifs’ were embraced, changing the world for ever?
What if….where there is a will there is a way? (BTW there’s no will!).
What if….WTF was converted to WI or WCDI (we can do it)
That too would create a different world.
Bravo Ruth🙌💖
🩷 You are channelling Rob Hopkins - if you have not read his “what if the future is beautiful?” And how to fall in love with the future, I can highly recommend:)