The world I like to live in is a democratic world with a socialistic orientation. I am aware that democracy as a form of government has its drawbacks. Sometimes a majority of 51% can tyrannize over a minority of 49%. Nonetheless it is the best system that humans have devised so far. (That is also the reason why I like to live in the USA, the oldest democracy in the world, and India, the biggest democracy in the world.) In such a democratic world everyone is wanted, and everyone's needs are taken care of by society. There is an adequate social network for the disabled or economically deprived sections of society. Everyone is everyone's brother's/sister's keeper. No one has any special privilege solely on the basis of birth, gender, color, caste, class, religion, and ethnic origin. There is no place for kings/ queens, dictators, autocrats, and oligarchs. There is no kind of discrimination. Everyone is respected. There is dignity of labor. There is a minimum as well as a maximum wage. No one is allowed to hoard unlimited wealth. Everyone's contribution is valued. Rights go with obligations. In this world a few good laws are carefully formulated for good governance. The spirit of these laws is kept. Lawyers help interpret the spirit of the laws. When they realize beyond a reasonable doubt that the persons that they defend are wrong-doers or criminals, they gracefully withdraw from the case rather than continue to search for loopholes and technicalities in the legal system to win it for their clients. They do not stir up both sides to reap financial advantage. They do not become vultures to feast on the dead bodies in a horrendous battlefield. Truth does not become a casualty of the legal system. As Martin Luther King said justice delayed is justice denied. Cases that come to a court are handled expeditiously, and do not drag on for years to reach a fair and just judgment, and then for many more years through appeals and counter appeals. I may note that the USA, the most economically prosperous country in the world, has the highest ratio of lawyers vis-à-vis its population as indicated by recent studies. Interestingly that country is plagued by many frivolous law-suits which turn it into a highly litigious society certainly contributing to its decline. I may also make a point that all the judges and many politicians come from the rank of lawyers. Lawyers, judges, politicians, and police officers need to have a good training in ethics and morality. The best government is the one that governs the least.

             The world of my choice will be free of corruption. Workers are paid a fair living wage that will take care of their basic needs and some of their wants. The government employees including the president or prime minister are paid wages according to the financial situation of the country. They do not have recourse to grafts, bribes, gifts, or favors of any kind to do the task for which they are elected or hired. Professional, ethical, efficient, and courteous conduct is expected of all at all times. Nepotism or special consideration to one's relatives or friends is not at all entertained. Due process in hiring and firing is strictly followed. Transparency, responsibility, and accountability in all transactions are absolutely necessary.

            The world I like to live in is a world where the law of love, the greatest good, is supreme. The only thing that really matters is one's capacity to love. In this connection it is good to remind ourselves what St. Augustine considered to be the pillar of western civilization said: Ama et fac quod vis (Love and do what you wish). The main characteristic that distinguishes the New from the Old Testament of the Bible is love. Jesus Christ explicitly stated that he came into this world to give a new commandment of love. While selfishness and ego-centrism drain our energy and lead us into an endless barren desert of death, love and altruism take us to the spring time of life and re-generation. The highest form of morality comes from a meticulously formed conscience guided by universal ethics and a sense of being a part of the totality of life emanating from a cosmic perspective. Here spirit rather than the letter of the law alone matters. While erring is human, forbearance, acceptance of one's mistakes, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation catapult humans into the most sublime realm of the spirit.

             The main thrust of education will be a grand preparation for life. Skills necessary for living in harmony with oneself, others, one's environment and the universe will be highly valued. Formation of conscience necessary for a citizen of the world will be stressed. Instilling of knowledge aimed at fostering necessary virtues and a rigorous search for truth make humans wise. Training will be given in human relations that require tolerance of diversity, meaningful and non-violent conflict resolution, respectful disagreements, genuine communication, and cooperation rather than competition and domination. A spirit-directed education that helps develop one's body, mind, emotions, and spirit to the fullest extent paves the way for a purpose-driven life. Nutritional eating and wholesome thinking are necessary for physical and mental health. A faith that is grounded in a passionate yet detached spending of oneself in love, giving, at the same time, meaning to one's life experiences in the context of a shared destiny with others is of paramount importance. This faith that devotes itself to overcoming division, oppression, and brutality could also be outside organized religions as it gives little importance to dogmas and rituals. The education that I envisage will take into account the needs of the community/nation one lives in. Jobs and the training for them are dictated by the needs of the community and not by their glamor or prestige or by the salary they command. It will inculcate a minimum of manual labor in terms of gardening/farming, preparation of food, and cleaning. The use of organic, safe fertilizers and pesticides in growing food as well as non-toxic preservatives to make food last longer demands our immediate attention. Scarce natural resources need to be used wisely. Disposal of waste produced in ever-increasing quantity by the consumer society concerned solely about the margin of profit needs a creative solution. Unscrupulous and unplanned exploitation of natural resources puts very brittle ecological balance and future generations in peril.