‘Don’t count on the cavalry – you have to save yourself’

The founder of the Individualist Movement in South Africa, Trevor Watkins, has some pretty – well – "individualistic" views. He believes to survive in South Africa, you should own a gun, join a gang and buy gold. He also believes that our children are our purpose, and caring for them to maturity is the ultimate responsibility. South Africa's greatest sin is that it puts the future of its children at risk, he writes, and says to survive as a species, we cannot rely on anyone but ourselves, but must adopt strategies that ensure the survival of our children. Read his article published in the Free Market Foundation and make of it what you will. – Sandra Laurence.Guns, gold, and gangs: How to survive in the sad South Africa.By Trevor Watkins* .Trying to think about the future and not be sad – Elon MuskThe future belongs to those who survive long enough to breed. If you don't reproduce you are merely a momentary organic smear on the arc of history. Children are our purpose.In the current sad South Africa, how do you survive long enough to see your children prosper?Here are some of the things you can do:Breed early and breed oftenDefend yourself and your offspringProvide for their needs, by securing your wealthMake strategic alliances (ie join a gang)Educate yourself and your childrenBreed early and breed oftenA large part of our South African population has instinctively adopted this strategy, with stunning success. However, they often fail miserably at providing for their offsprings' needs, thus defeating their strategy and increasing the stock of human suffering.Jews, Arabs, Chinese people have also adopted this strategy.Defend yourself and your offspringA key survival characteristic of mammals is that they protect their offspring. This is a deeply ingrained Instinct, particularly in the female of the species.In the deeply dangerous South African environment, how do you best defend yourself against the many threats? You cannot rely on the state or the police. In our current situation each individual and family is responsible for its own protection.There are several strategies you can adopt:Physical security: walls, gates, barbed wire, locked doors, barred windows, electric fencingElectronic security: movement detectors, alarm systems, cameras, lasersActive security: guard dogs, human guardsPersonal security: guns, knives, sjamboks, pangas In my opinion the ownership of a personal firearm is an absolutely critical component of any reliable security system. It helps to level the playing field, encourages criminals to flee, and vastly increases your options despite the many risks. It is no coincidence that employees of your security company or the police invariably show up to a crime scene with guns drawn.A Smith and Wesson always beats five aces.Secure your wealthIt is a cold and brutal fact that if you are poor your chances of securing the future of your children are much reduced. All the love and attention in the world does not compensate for poor nutrition, untreated ill-health, awful education, inadequate housing, and a dangerous environment.As we have seen in South Africa, state subsidies for children are grossly inadequate. If you do not have sufficient funds to guarantee the welfare and safety of your children, you have pretty much failed them.But how do you secure and preserve your wealth? Taxation to pay for other people's children will take half of your assets. Inflation will take another third. Your only option is to invest in physical and scarce assets such as gold and possibly crypto-currencies. Gold has been a reliable store of value for thousands of years. It is easily hidden and transported. It is always welcome as a bribe. It can be worn as jewellery and redeemed almost anywhere in the world. With suitable precautions it is immune to both taxation and inflation.For your children to enjoy a golden future, you had better have some gold.Join a gangA gang can be defined as a group of people coming together to protect their own interests.When you find yourself in a dangerous or threatening situation it is always reassuring to know that someone has your back. Whether you are in prison, or on a school playground, or just trying to negotiate a dodgy suburb, it helps to be a member of a local group (gang) who will reliably come to your assistance.Most respectable people would never consider joining a gang. But they are almost certainly a member of many gangs.Here is a list of the gangs that many "respectable" people belong to:Professional societiesDoctors, lawyers, engineers, quantity surveyors, and so onHigh class mafiaStrict entry criteria, expensive feesRestrict non-members from employment by force of lawHighly restrictive trade practicesAct mostly in the interests of membersRequire loyalty to a codeMafiasTaxi Associations, construction mafias, Zama zamas (mining mafia), transport mafiasLower class professional societiesFrequently use deadly force against competitors Political partiesExpect loyalty above principleExpect free labourOften corrupt UnionsWorking class professional societiesExclude non-members by force of lawHighly restrictive trade practicesAct contrary to rule of law ReligionsExpect loyalty above principleAct mostly in the interests of membersRequire loyalty to a code Sports clubs, social groups, motorcycle gangs, block watches, school boardsAct mostly in the interests of membersCharge a membership feeOften act against competition Service companiesAutomobile Association, Medical Aids, security companies, insurance companiesAct mostly in the interests of membersCharge a service feeSometimes use force to protect membersIgnore non-members Government gangsPolice, army, inspectors, traffic cops, municipal officialsGenerally ignore the rule of lawLevy fines and punishments on the public without consentPick your gangs carefully. Use them to protect your interests. But don't think you are not a gang-member.Educate yourself and your childrenThe cost of ignorance is so high I am amazed so many can afford it.To survive in a harsh landscape like the current South Africa, you must educate yourself and your offspring to a few realities:You alone are responsible for your survival and prosperityThere is no cavalry, and they are not comingOutside your family, most people care about you as much as you care about themEducation does not erode, knowledge does not devalue, skills are foreverThe truth is personal. Do not borrow it from othersNobody is too poor or too stupid to learn from lifeDon't be stupidSummaryOur children are our purpose. Creating them and caring for them to maturity is the ultimate responsibility, the reason for your existence. Wealth, power, influence are all meaningless if there is no one to watch, no one who cares. South Africa's greatest sin is that it puts the future of its children at risk. To survive as a species we must adopt strategies that ensure the survival of our children.Amongst other strategies, I recommend that you own a gun, join a gang and buy gold.Trevor Watkins is the founder of the Individualist Movement, the author of two books, and a contributing author for the Free Market Foundation. He publishes on a blog at libertarian.org.za. Read also:Sabotage and spying bring Eskom to its knees and leaves South Africa in darknessHope…South Africa's fading currency"South Africa is at a turning point" – RW Johnson

‘Don’t count on the cavalry – you have to save yourself’

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