On This Day Pre-Y2K
Confused by any of the jargon you see below? Check the Y2K Glossary!
May 16, 1999 Permalink
I believe there are only two rational strategies for dealing with Y2K:
1. Panic Avoidance Strategy. This is the strategy of the Clinton administration and the official establishment. They reason that either: A. We could alert the populace today and induce a panic today OR B. We could down play the significance of Y2K and try to maintain the status quo for awhile longer. This strategy will attempt to “buy time” for more fixes in a near business as usual atmosphere. It reasons that what ever Y2K brings will be made worse if there is a panic in 1999 so by avoiding a panic in 1999 more time is bought to repair more systems so the real Y2K impacts are reduced. This strategy is only rational if enough fixes are complete and tested prior to rollover. This, Panic Avoidance Strategy, will in my opinion fail when initial Y2K failures mount to the point that they cannot be hidden or when GM (and other corporations) announces “Fortressing” in July; or NRC orders risky nuke plants to shut down (August, 1999?); or SEC bars non-compliant firms from trading (October,1999); or WallStreet money center banks are forced to cover gold short position; or domestic bank run/stock market crash or foreign panics/failures increase (China currency devaluation?).
2. Preparedness Avoids Panic. This strategy posits that once one is adequately prepared there is no need to panic because the preparations are in place. However, to make an adequate preparation requires specific details on the severity and duration of expected disruptions.
Since Panic Avoidance is doomed to fail upon encountering reality and Preparedness could fail due to lack of information (insufficient preparations), it seems to me WE ARE PURSUING A STRATEGY OF GUARRANTEED FAILURE.
We should insist that all Y2K rankings, surveys, reports etc made to regulators, trade agencies, FEMA etc be made public now. Names should be named. All cards should be put face up on the table. If I were to testify to Congress, this is what I would tell the Senators.
—Bill P, Time Bomb 2000 Forums (LUSENET), 05/16/99
I’m in the ‘burbs with an acre of land (mostly ‘forest’). About the only thing I’ve even considered burying is a shotgun and some ammo (in case some ‘unexpected national emergency’ leads to confiscation). My big problem with burying stuff would be getting it out of the frozen ground in the dead of winter.
As far as food goes, it’s cached all over the house. Not exactly hidden, but I’m using storage space where I find it. Anyone walking into my home ‘knows’ I’m preparing. If things go bad, I won’t be leaving to go anywhere, much less hunting (though we DO have an occasional deer or two wandering around in the backyard).
We’ll have at least enough guns to arm every adult in the house so if anyone uninvited does show up, I’m hoping that a show of force and a warning shot or two will convice them to move on. I _really_ don’t like the idea of having to shoot someone who’s just looking for a meal, but if it comes down to it, I will do what I must to protect my family. I’m not fearless or couragous. I’m just being pragmatic (like a programmer could do anything but!).
—TECH32, Time Bomb 2000 Forums (LUSENET), 05/16/99
