Actually you don't have to be root to run anything...

vi /etc/group

add your account to the root group...reboot...

You can also modify your account in /etc/passwd to be a member by default of the group root. Right now it is probably 1000 (users group).

Just go a google search for "man passwd" or "man group" to find a site that gives you the nitty gritty.

Just to poke you in the ribs...sure you don't need permission to do things? Married?

=8-)