The 5th Empire - Be the Change

There are two things to note about transition periods:

1. They can go on for a very long time
2. They are dangerous

Waiting around for things to unfold by themselves can be frustrating, while taking an overly active part in the transition may prove deadly. There's no telling how things will turn out, so it's important to play things safe. I've told my children to stay away from the armed forces, and to keep politics to themselves. In their private affairs, I've urged them to stay away from gambling. Overt risk taking in finance can get us slaughtered just as much as overly heroic action can get us killed in war.

One further thing to note about transition periods is that their outcomes are entirely a function of action. If we fail to act ourselves, somebody else will take charge and define the outcome.

Changes are made by people acting out plans and visions. Powerful people can do this from a resort club house, while ordinary people do this by being the change they want to see. To have control of our destiny we must have a plan of our own and act accordingly. Otherwise, we're likely to end up as pawns in somebody else's plan. Either willingly in their trenches, or unwillingly as collateral damage on the battle field.

Luckily for us, we don't need anyone's permission to make a plan and act it out. All it takes is a vision of a better future and the will to act it out in the present. Our personal transition into a better future can thus be done long before everybody else.

My personal vision is embodied in the myth of the 5th empire (aka God's kingdom on earth.) It's a place governed entirely by the golden rule. There is no central government. Law and order is carried out through voluntary arrangements. All of this is explained in my book on the subject.

Our first step towards a better future is therefore to declare ourselves part of that future. We must then act rationally and consistently in accordance to our vision, otherwise our declaration is meaningless.

In the case of my particular vision of the future, I make a point of being civil. I also make a point of being prudent and conservative in my lifestyle and investment strategy. The aim is to do well for myself while being of help and inspiration to others, because this sort of success is not only good for me, it inspires others to follow suite as well.

When we are successful in this way, we get followers. The network effect kicks in, and pretty soon there are others acting and living in ways similar to our own. A community emerges, all living in tune with our vision of the future. If this persists and spreads, the result will be that of a complete transition from the current era to a new one, largely or wholly in tune with our vision.

Important in this is a general avoidance of the system we want to get away from. If we fall for the temptation to try our luck in their rigged casino, we'll fail even if we manage to make a quick buck. There's no winning on the battle field of our opponents. We're either slaughtered, or we're merely an example of the old. Only by doing things according to our own vision will we inspire change around us.

My vision is that of a world based on sound money and the rule of natural law, derived directly from the golden rule. That means that I will keep away from banks and bank credit as much as possible. I'll save in gold and silver, and encourage others to do the same. To avoid premiums on gold and silver, I will encourage circulation of this within my circle of influence.

Furthermore, disputes should be settled outside of the current legal system. To avoid conflicts, deals should be settled immediately, or be backed by gold or silver as security. Heads of families or trusted friends should act as arbitrators. There should be a general return to simplicity in all our dealings.

With money matters and legal matters both under control by family and friends, secession is achieved. We become sovereign individuals with no rulers except for God (aka nature) and his golden rule.

Sovereign

By Heritage Auctions for image, Mary Gillick for coin - Newman Numismatic Portal, Public Domain, Link