i gave the meme i wrote more thought last night, in particular, the "if i were a billionaire" bit. somehow, the vision felt a tad too small. but i think the question's limiting too! =)

i suppose, just supposing, if i had unlimited resources and a good amount of power (money isn't everything), i'd like to:
1) change the way government is run and how countries are managed. most governments either view themselves as i-know-better-than-you and treat their citizens like complete dummies, or give their citizens too much power and themselves too little credit to the point of chaos or inefficiency. if i had money, the resources and power and influence, i'd like to explore how the fine balance could be found. Government was formed to represent their people and work for their best interest, not work against them.
2) overhaul public school systems. i think most public school systems under-estimate the potential of each child, and/or fail to nurture them in the talents they each have. "follow this set syllabus and get past the exams", the schools would say. "when you've completed your formal education, you can do whatever you want". what a load of rubbish. how many dreams have been squelched, potentials forgotten, curiosity and creativity just dummed down for mere mediocrity. when i think about it for my own children (if i have any), i would want the best for them - to learn the ability of inquiry and thoughtful assessment through home-schooling, to be inspired through story-telling as they do in jewish schools, to be fully self-expressed as we see in some of the private schools in Singapore. if every child was raised to be at their fullest, we won't be facing the problems we face today - few young artists, fewer singaporean entrepreneurs, and a general sense of apathy about the society around them.