Tag: Trevor Watkins

“Don't harm your neighbour” is much better advice. This is a passive rule. It does not require you to do anything, just to refrain from doing some things. I believe the gap between these two rules summarises the gap in Western society between left and right, between Democrats and Republicans, between the kindly, caring, sharing, socialists and the individualistic, thinking, independent, self-reliant capitalists. Both sides passionately believe that their rule is the better one.

Our reality is that our realities are unfixable in the short term as ideologies only change when supporters die of old age or in a revolution.

If South Africa was a horse, we would probably shoot it. But it is instead a one-horse country, and we have to find a way to save it. Imminent national collapse looms. We know we cannot continue with the African National Congress (ANC). They actually deserve to be shot.

The ANC government continues to ride roughshod over the interests of the country without consequence. All their opponents in politics, in business, in churches, and in civil society, wail and weep without noticeable effect. Ramaphosa and his minions are masters of realpolitik - how to prevail over all opposition, how to pull the levers of influence, how to whisper veiled threats in the right ears.

Yachting has been one of the great pleasures of my life. It is mostly a contest between yourself and the elements. Yacht racing pits you against these same elements, and against often unseen and distant competitors.

Ten children are invited to a birthday party. As they arrive, they are each given three golden tokens. The host explains that they will play various games with great prizes using these tokens. In the first game the prize is a brand-new bicycle, which the host says he will give to whichever child offers him the most tokens. This is the supply of desirable goods.