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Only the dead fish go with the flow!

By Stuart Ballantyne - posted Wednesday, 1 April 2020


4 years ago on a business trip I was in Venezuela, witnessing first hand Maduro's socialism tanking a whole nation. Maduro, a Daniel Andrews on steroids, hero of the Left, had decimated the nation and once again, millions unemployed, empty supermarkets, a currency worth nothing, robberies, home invasions and daylight kidnappings of any person old or young that looked "worthwhile".

After decades of useful experience, including recognising threats, what would I do as Captain of the good ship "Australia" with 67% of people on board as crew and 33% as passengers (retirees, etc).

Would I employ the likes of Palaszczuk or Andrews to add wisdom in steering this ship ?. Their ability to run a coffee shop, would, I suspect, be underwhelming low.

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Anyway, back to the hypothetical:-

"Captain", the chief officer informs me, "we appear to have imported a virus from some new crew and passengers at the last port"

"The ship's doctor, our chief medical officer, informs us that the virus is highly infectious, and is likely to be terminal to older people, yes that's including you Captain, and any sick people"

Watching the pensive frown on my face he continues:-

"I also remind you Captain that the fuel reserves are getting low and the green gestapo are still preventing us from starting up the SMR (small modular nuclear reactor), which can power us totally for the next 7 years without refueling.

The UN Polit Bureau, the owner's representative on board, wants you to close down the ship and drift for a while, after all we should follow the lead of other ships out here, NZ, UK, Italy, France etc., they have all closed down."

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The officers stand around me waiting for me to accede to the instructions of the higher authorities, and issue instructions to lock down the whole ship and drift.

Drift aimlessly, deplete our reserves and be unprepared for any other storm that can come along and overwhelm us? - I think not !.

"Luckily for you guys" I declare in a loud voice" I am a Scotsman with a bit of related experience and a lot of vision, and we have a saying in Scotland that 'only the dead fish go with the flow' !.

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About the Author

Stuart Ballantyne is just a sailor who runs Seat Transport Solutions who are naval architects, consultants, surveyors and project managers.

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