Esprit used to have an ad campaign about how some cool person would change the world. I always wished I could come up with something cool like the people in the ads.
But I’ve been thinking about it this week. And this is what I got:
1) Work weeks would be 35 hours for full time, instead of 40.
2) Everyone would get 6 weeks of vacation a year—not just teachers (who really deserve about 12).
3) Splenda would be outlawed. That stuff tastes horrible, and it has to be cancer causing or something.
4) Reality T.V. shows could only last for one season. They’re kind of like Rocky movies. The first few are really good, and then they start getting a little weird. Where will Survivor Twenty be? Probably in eastern Kentucky.
5) Companies would stop providing health insurance, and people would buy it on their own. The costs would be comparable to car insurance and kind of function like car insurance companies. The competition between companies would create lower costs. And then, independent workers could afford it. Right now, the cost is so high if your job doesn’t pay for it; I think a lot of people who would start their own businesses are discouraged, because health insurance cost is too high. The American dream is dying.
6) Starbucks would have a tasty competitor.
7) Older people in our society would be more respected instead of our culture being so youth-centered. I don’t know how to change that. Maybe with reality shows about senior citizens instead of twenty-somethings? The Real World Miami filmed in a nursing home?
Okay, maybe not all good ideas.
3 comments:
Mookee said...
#s 1 and 2 ... move to France, I believe they already do this. As for teachers, it's not really the amount of time, but the inability to use it when they want. Teachers have to go on vacation when it's ... vacation. So, every time they go on vacation, there's a huge crowd of people also on vacation. How about giving them the normal summer, etc., but allowing them to use their sick days as "vacation" days. Non-teachers rarely understand that teaching requires dealing with more than the client (student), but also the client's parents. It is impossible to tell a parent that their kid simply can't do something ... or that their kid is the one who caused the problem (not the case all the time, but could be). I know plenty of teachers, they complain about this on a regular basis. The ability to say, "Take your business elsewhere" really doesn't exist.
Reality shows are the devil. Why? Because I can avoid the temptation if I'm not watching, or flip through in the middle of the season, but like the soap opera of old, all you have to do is have someone there telling you the background and you're hooked. Yes, they're stupid...horribly stupid, which makes me ashamed to say I have been wrapped up in one or two...I was also wrapped up in the Young and the Restless back in college because a friend told me I wouldn't be able to resist if he gave me background on the characters. He won. The good news? Once the habit is broken you will likely have a new tool to avoid them. You KNOW they are evil, and knowing is half the battle.
Peet's Coffee competes with Starbucks. Basically the same thing, though I believe they're only on the West Coast.
Old people are awesome, what a great way to learn about history ... just talk to someone who lived it.
Ulovebeth said...
I read an article in Outside magazine last night that said Americans get about 12 vacation days a year, but only take 9. Who hasn't been fired or seen someone fired after a vacation? Japan seems to be doing fine economically, and they get way more vaca days than we do. But I really don't want to move to Japan. Even though they do have cooler cell phones and accessories there.
erin vanv said...
You should live in Canada.
A number of my friends only worked 7 1/2 hour days. They start out with 3 weeks of vacation. Everyone gets health care. And Tim Horton's is competition to Starbucks and though the coffee may not be tasty, the breakfast sandwiches and donuts are make up for it.