After months of lurking here I had begun to think that I would never have anything to add. However, this evening on the local news it was reported that two Maine legislators are proposing a bill which would enable the state to purchase $50 million worth of rice, beans, and other (relatively) non-perishable staples - enough to feed the entire population of the state for three months. This is in anticipation of disruption in the food supply chain. Although a)the state doesn't have that kind of money and b) the bill will never pass,it is interesting that two legislators are taking the possibilities of Y2K seriously. Governor King was on the air, saying that some concern was reasonable, but panic should be avoided. Comments?

-- Cameron Gales (Cameron59@Yahoo.com), March 16, 1999

Answers

Comments:

1. I wish we had legislators that smart in North Carolina, but we worship at the high tech alter, so the subject is taboo.

2. If it passes, don't keep much of it in one spot or Koskinenbones will be up there pronto with precisely on January 20 with enough drab green semi's to haul $50 million worth of staples to DeeCee.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), March 16, 1999.

What happens after 3 months and the rice and beans are gone and the little mice come back for more? Are they going to hand out a gallon of water to cook it with? Fuel to cook it with? What about toilet paper? Are you picturing yourself standing in line with the rest of the herd? Wonder if you have to give an ID in order to get the goods? Maybe the gov has a plan to tatoo you in order to get your rice and beans........lots to think about.

-- onestepbeyond (onestepbeyond@step.com), March 16, 1999.

This is IT. Finally our chance to cash in on Y2K.

If the regulars around here could just cut out 10% of our hoarded beans and rice we could fill that $50 mil order.

Then we could kick in the money toward that search engine.

--Greybear, who hopes more public officials will see the light

- Got Extra Beans?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), March 16, 1999.

Why kick in money for something that isn't going to be around for us to use? And I'm not giving up any of my rice and beans.

-- onestepbeyond (onestepbeyond@step.com), March 16, 1999.

I haven't been able to verify this. Not saying your report is untrue, just that it's unverified. Can you give me more info? A quick search turned up nothing. don't think the governor's office is open at this time of the night.

Which legislators? What's the bill number? When has it been introduced? What newspaper articles have reported on it?

-- Declan McCullagh (declan@y2kculture.com), March 16, 1999.

Does the State of Maine have an abundance of empty warehouses?

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 16, 1999.

anyone here from Maine?

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 16, 1999.

Yes we are being looked after,but Gov. King also knows that we take care of our own.When the ice storm hit us people opened up home to others,gave water,food,hay,wood and generators away for free.We just tend to be that way.

King would never ask for ID,if he did not one person here would think ill of it.

As for info on this,I've been looking and have not come up with anything.My days are short of free time,I get an hour on the computer in the morning 4to 5 am the get my kids up and when I get home it's late between 6 and 8pm,so what small time I do have is spent on this site reading as much as I can.

As for water,this is the state of 10,000 lakes,we don't need to stand inline for that.

We work hard and live hard here. I wonder how much I can read in ahalf hour. :)

Darlene

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), March 17, 1999.

The $50 mill for rice and beans was all over the talk radio stations yesterday here in Maine -- WGAN-AM, the big Portland station, spent most of the morning making fun of it. (Most common phrase from hosts Dave & Willy: "Get a grip.") I haven't seen anything URL-able, but the report is for real.

-- Searcher (Searcher@mainer.com), March 17, 1999.

Sounds like an attempt to push preparedness into the 'public discussion' so to speak. It is obviously not going to happen (given politics, etc). A splash story. But the effect seems to be what was sought: to jar people into discussing the issue of State wide preparations. And it worked, didn't it?

As Darlene has indicated there are a few towns in Maine which ARE preparing in a big way for a significant event. Other towns are as lueless as a cue ball. People in Maine generally are inclined towards self reliance. The weather, geography and economy pretty much force out those who would find easier lives. The State is half the area of New England and has about 1.1 million people in residence. Most people like in rural areas. There is alot of open land and wilderness.

So, all you Mainers, best plant your 'taters and grow your garden big this year. Get your wood in early. Raise a flock of hens. Set out your beans more than you'll need. Polish up that old hunting rifle.

It'll be like old times once again.

-- David (ConnectingDots@Information.Net), March 17, 1999.

I've started a thread for any Mainers to discuss State related issues or possibly do networking.

State o' Maine - We really love ya!

-- David (ConnectingDots@Information.Net), March 17, 1999.

Been interesting to read all the threads that remotely relate to Maine here. We live in Oxford County, ME. This is a very rural and very poor part of the Western Mt. section of ME. We're surronded by ex NY and MA who are NIMBY's, NO

-- Ed (ed_carl7@hotmail.com), March 17, 1999.

Been interesting to read all the threads that remotely relate to Maine here. We live in Oxford County, ME. This is a very rural and very poor part of the Western Mt. section of ME. We're surronded by ex NY and MA who are NIMBY's, NOT IN MY BACKYARD types who would like nothing more than to avoid contact with the "locals" at all cost. Guess what gang? Us "locals" have the knowledge and where-with-all to both prepare and defend ourselves to a much higher "calibre" than you would ever suspect. Beware the "neighbor" who you are insulating yourselves from. We ARE the neighborhood. HELLO.

-- Ed (ed_carl7@hotmail.com), March 17, 1999.

Hi Ed

Whats up?You ok.

Darlene

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), March 17, 1999.