If I Were a Ruler: Rules for a Thriving and Progressive Society.

I’ve honestly never thought about becoming a ruler - not even for a community, more unless an entire country.

But if I did have to lead my own country, there are definitely a few rules I’d want my citizens to follow.

Living in Nigeria, I’ve noticed that while there are rules in place, people often find ways to get around them. In many cases, those who break the rules don’t even face the consequences, especially if they have money or influence. That’s one of the first things I’d change as a leader. I’d make sure everyone had equal rights and that both the rich and the poor were judged the same way, without partiality. It wouldn’t matter how wealthy or connected you are—no one would be above the law.

One of the main rules I would implement is controlled birth. Too often, people have more children than they can take care of, which leads to hardship for the entire family. It’s actually very painful to see children on the streets, hawking goods instead of attending school, simply because their families can’t afford to provide for them. Beyond individual hardship, uncontrolled births can lead to overpopulation. When everyone can give birth to as many children as they want, it puts a strain on resources like schools, healthcare, and housing. My rule would be simple: every parent should only have a maximum of four or five children they can adequately provide for. That means not just meeting basic needs but also being able to fund their education and other essential aspects of their upbringing. For those who disregard this rule, there would be serious consequences, especially if neglect results in children being forced into unsafe or exploitative situations.

Another rule would involve technology education for children from an early age. I believe technology is the future, and if we want our country to be globally competitive, we need to start preparing our children early. Learning about technology can open up so many opportunities for kids, helping them succeed and contribute meaningfully to society as adults. In Nigeria, our technology sector is still developing, and we often rely on other countries for advanced tech. By exposing children to the world of technology early, we could eventually grow a generation of skilled technologists, inventors, and innovators. This wouldn’t just benefit these individuals but would also help our country become more self-sufficient and advanced.

The final rule would be about proper recycling of waste. With a growing population, managing waste responsibly would be crucial for a healthy and sustainable environment. I’d establish a comprehensive recycling system to ensure that waste materials—especially plastics, metals, electronics and paper—are sorted and processed correctly. Every community would have accessible recycling centers, and citizens would be educated on the importance of waste separation. By implementing this rule, we’d reduce pollution, conserve resources, and even create job opportunities in the recycling industry, all of which would benefit our country as a whole.

Recycling would be enforced through incentives and penalties, encouraging citizens to actively participate in keeping their surroundings clean and reducing waste. In this way, our country would become more environmentally responsible and set a positive example for future generations.

If I were a ruler, these are the kinds of rules I’d put in place. They’d be designed to create a fairer, safer, and more progressive society where everyone has the chance to thrive and survive.

Thanks to @galenkp for this wonderful topic.