MARK MY WORD: NATION COULD BE SMILING WITH MICKEY IN CHARGE

You have to hand it to The Mouse, he knows how to treat all those hot, sweaty vacationers looking for a good time.

In Mickey's world, you can't help but smile. Even Eeyore is happy at Disney World.

Our family just returned from a vacation to Orlando, Fla., and the Disney empire.

With four theme parks, a few water parks and tons of Disney resorts on the grounds, this place is huge.

It's certainly bigger than some Third World countries and a whole lot better run.

Besides owning ABC, ESPN, the Disney channel and a first-rate movie studio, Disney has cornered the market on people wearing rodent costumes who know how to sign children's autograph books.

Politicians could learn from these characters.

For one thing, Disney characters don't give speeches. Most don't even talk. They just hand out hugs, sign autograph books and pose for pictures.

Political campaigns wouldn't be so bad if candidates would keep their mouths shut and dress like Goofy.

With our children in tow, we dined with Disney characters on several occasions. At one breakfast, we met Mary Poppins, decked out in a hat and white dress.

She handed out hugs and signed Becca's and Bailey's autograph books.

When you've watched the movie "Mary Poppins" as much as our family has, it's no surprise that breakfast with Mary would be high on our itinerary.

Joni and I were impressed that this Mary could spell "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" without consulting a dictionary.

At another breakfast, the kids got hugs from Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other assorted characters.

Bailey's doll got hugs too from Mickey and the gang. Things don't get much better than that.

You wouldn't have known that Florida was one, big forest fire by walking around Disney World.

In the world of Disney, all the lawns are green and manicured to a fault. You don't find trash on the street, the buses run on time and there's plenty of ice cream for everybody.

In fact, Disney probably could do a great job of running our country.

With Mickey Mouse in the White House and Donald Duck in charge of Congress, we would have unparalleled political harmony, not to mention quality children's entertainment.

Americans wouldn't complain about being taxed so much if their country were a giant amusement park with clean restrooms and plenty of parking.

With Disney running the show, we would all become physically fit.

Like many Americans, Joni and I aren't exercise enthusiasts. We would rather take the elevator than go into a coma while climbing the stairs.

Yet, we didn't think anything about walking endlessly through Disney World in the scorching heat of the summer, lugging around stuffed animals and pushing our children in a stroller.

At Disney World, you can work up a good sweat without once thinking of it as exercise.

There's no doubt in my mind, Disney could take us all for a ride and we would enjoy it, even if Goofy was at the wheel.

~Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.