Has Senator Robert Bennet (R-Utah), scion of a prominent Mormon family, whose grandfather was a president of the Mormon Church back in the 1920s, decided that the Mormon Church is now a purveyor of scams?

This week he is being quoted from one end of the country to another by Ann Landers advising people to beware of anybody who urges them to stockpile a lot of food as a hedge against y2k disruptions. Would this include Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Mormon Church? On more than one occasion he has reminded his flock that their religious discipline calls them to store at least a year's supply of food.

At a recent meeting of the Kane County (Utah) Republican Party, in response to a question about stocking up for y2k, he answered, "I belong to a church which has always taught the value of storing food."

Thus, it is reasonable to infer that while advising others to buy "a couple of extra cans," he and his family are sitting on a stockpile of at least a year's supply of food -- Mormons are taught to do this as a matter of religious discipline.

One lesson I learned from the Clinton scandals seems to apply here: Beware of politicians with major discontinuities between their public statements and their private behavior. Invariably, they are up to no good.

printable flyers for distribution during y2k disruptions (7 now available)

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), August 13, 1999

Answers

He may have been OK but becoming a guttermint puppet ruined him. Power corrupts. Forked tongue disease.

-- don't notice (what@I'm.DOING), August 13, 1999.

Informaative posting, Robert. Bennett should renounce the church's teachings. "Do as I say not as I do" is the order of the day with Bennett. Perhaps he's been taking lessons on doublespeak from environmental wacko Al "gimme a few billion gallons for my canoe" Gore. Ironic how the northeast has struggled with drought this year, but good ole' internet creator Al gets billions of gallons for his canoe paddling.

-- cynic (cynic@skeptic.com), August 13, 1999.

After posting the above, I decided to go over to Bennett's website at the US Senate, put on my hair shirt and Ezekial hat, and call him to repentance, to wit:

Dear Senator Bennet,

Have you decided that the Mormon Church is now a purveyor of scams?

This week you are being quoted from one end of the country to another by Ann Landers advising people to beware of anybody who urges them to stockpile a lot of food as a hedge against y2k disruptions. Would this include Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Mormon Church? On more than one occasion he has reminded his flock that their religious discipline calls upon Mormons to store at least a year's supply of food.

I heard that you said, at a recent meeting of the Kane County (Utah) Republican Party, in response to a question about y2k, "I belong to a church which has always taught the value of storing food."

Isn't it true that your family practices food storage and you have a year's supply of food stockpiled? I've always heard that you were a devout Mormon, so it seems to me to be a reasonable inference.

Well, one lesson I learned from the Clinton scandals seems to apply here: Beware of politicians with major discontinuities between their public statements and their private behavior. Invariably, they are up to no good.

Or is the advice "stockpile a year's supply of food" only for Mormons, and as far as you are concerned, the rest of those heathen Gentiles outside of Zion can just starve to death?

I believe you will bitterly regret the day you trivialized the need to stockpile for trouble in the next few months and years. People may die because they heard your advice, believed it, and did not make prudent preparations. When the leaders of the LDS Church preach a "2 years supply of food", they are giving wise and prudent advice. I am sorry you have so little faith in your own religion that you are unwilling to preach that which your ancestors have handed onto you through sacrifices, trials, and tribulations.

If people like you had been in charge during World War II, we would all be speaking German and Japanese. The times call for statesmen, but we get mealy-mouthed politicians who tell lies to baffle the public, while the "ruling class" scrabbles to stockpile food and secure retreats, and corporations everywhere are stocking 60 to 90 days of supplies.

Robert Waldrop Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House Oklahoma City http://www.justpeace.org

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), August 13, 1999.

Robert oviously is a disgruntled whatever, with a chip on his shoulder! It sure is funny how for a century and a half people like Robert have been persecuting the Mormon Church without any reason.

If Bennet had been a Catholic or an Episcopalian, etc, a Church affiliation regarding Bennet would never have been mentioned. Why does Satan (Lucifer, the adversary) instigate people like Robert to attack the Mormon Church?

It is because the Mormon Church was created through Divine revelation. Jesus Christ himself started the Mormon Church in up State New York and that is why people like Robert and others continue to attack the only true Church on Earth.

Satan is the biggest deceiver of mankind and he creates deception throughout the world.

Robert, what really is your problem with the Mormon Church?

Is the chip on your shoulders, really old Satan whispering in your ear? Must be, what else could it be? To attack any Church is one of the lowest things anybody can do!

In fact if you read the newspapers, you will find out that the Mormon Church does more good around the world than any other Church!

Robert, what worthwhile thing have you done lately to be of service to mankind like the Mormon Church has done for many, many years?

Robert, get off your high horse and crawl in a hole!

-- smitty (smitty@sandiego.com), August 13, 1999.

Most likely old Robert is a disgruntled excommunicated Mormon! In fact it is very obvious!

-- Y2K ready. (Y2K@ready.com), August 13, 1999.

Excellent letter, Robert! You pointed out the bizarre disconnect which has occurred to many people. Hope it stimulates his conscience and prods him to act more in alignment with his religion and the truth. Thanks for writing it.

Kudos to the Mormon church for giving practical advice to prepare and have a well-stocked pantry.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), August 13, 1999.

If Senator Bennett had been a prominent Catholic politician, and had announced his support for abortion on demand, I guarantee I would have mentioned his religion in editorializing about it.

In this case, the point of mentioning Senator Bennett's religion is to note the discontinuity between his public statements and his private behavior.

The intent of my post was not to gratuitously attack the Mormon Church, but to point out the hypocrisy of the Senator sitting on a year's supply of food while recommending that the general public pick up a couple of extra cans.

As to what I might be up to to help humanity, that is available for anybody to see at Access to Catholic Social Justice Teachings .

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), August 13, 1999.

Bennet was the "Paul Revere of Y2K a year ago. He was the one who alerted the nation! Then last Fall he made a complete about face, a 180 degree turn around. Why? Isn't it obvious?

Somebody more powerful than a Senator told the Senator to shut up, or else. Maybe it was Clinton, or the chairman of the Federal Reserve or.......? It could be that the man has no choice but to obey orders from above. They do not go by the golden rule in the Senate. They go by "those who got the gold make the rules!"

-- Old fart (Oldfart@aol.com), August 13, 1999.

PLEASE DELETE THIS POST!!!! Attacking a church by a Catholic should not be allowed on this website!

PLEASE DELETE!!!

-- Joe Blow (Joeblow@webnet.com), August 13, 1999.

Joe, the polite waqy to phrase this is GO BACK AND RTEAD THE EFFING POST!!!!!

The LESS polite way is to ask if functional illiteracy runs in your family.

Pick your poison

Disgusted SYSOP

RTFM!!! er P!!!

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), August 13, 1999.

The doctrine of the LDS church, and the imposing of those teachings on non members is neither a common practice nor encouraged.

Sen. Bennett, while acting in the capacity of his political position, would be imposing church doctrine on non members, unless he truely felt all citizens should store a 2 year supply (one year minimum, two years suggested) of food, water and fuel. He has stated that his family is preparing with water and food storage. And Robert, I must agree "an extra can or two" is, well, pathetic. However, that has nothing to do with the LDS church nor its doctrine. That is Sen. Bennett speaking. He has no more authority than I to speak for the church.

Robert has posted here often and offered free material for the benefit of any and all. I do not believe he ment any offense to the church or its general members. (Darn if Y2K doesn't rile us all up!)

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), August 13, 1999.

1) Having spent time in Utah, I have met many Mormons. Food storage is part of their doctrine. If you research food storage, there are many food storage companies in Salt Lake and surrounding areas. Mormons believe in preparing for religious reasons.

2) Bennett knows that if he says "Prepare for many months to a year" that 100,000,000 households would swamp the food market (as it WILL towards the end of this year). Political pressure, business pressure, social and career pressure could be the factors on why he's being "conservative" in his statements.

3) More than a year ago is when the long-term prepare warning should have gone into effect.

4) At this time: the public weasels and wise have to keep a conservative stand. It's too late.

I am NOT justifying or agreeing that that is what should be done, but do to the lack of leadership ACROSS the USA and AROUND the world - keeping people quiet and asleep is the only option left (postponing the panic until the last possible moment).

-- dw (y2k@outhere.com), August 13, 1999.

I would like to reiterate that I did not mean to pick a fight with Mormons. In fact, I learned about food storage from Mormons, long time ago, back in the 1970s. In the event of problems next year, Utah will be one of the safest places to be. (No, I don't live there, I used to live there.)

Is it "too late"? No, I don't think so. Maybe it's "too late" for the conventional industrial agro-processing industry but it's not too late for creative and radical approaches like direct buying relationships between farmers and urban consumers. E.g., now, while there is food, is the time for farmers to bring their huge stocks of wheat, soybeans and etc to the cities, and set up in parking lots selling 50 pound bags to all who want to buy. Livestock can be brought to market and canned or dehydrated.

When Senator Bennett, and others, succumb to the siren call of "delay the panic to the last minute," they are adding to the problems we will face next year. The Naval War College study, for example, says that the longer that the "mania" phase is delayed, the worse it will be.

To quote another person who posts in these parts. . .

Got dehydrated fried hamburger?

(the recipe is on the printable flyer about community food security)

printable flyers for distribution during y2k disruptions

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), August 13, 1999.

I think RW's concern is the contradiction between Bennet's committee's recommendations and the actions/associations of Bennet in his personal life.

First, there is no reason to believe that Bennet has control over the public commentary issued in the committee's name. Politics is a matter of a bunch of folks coming to a compromise solution which addresses SOME of the concerns of each group they represent without giving too much advantage to any of one group of them over the others.

I'm not sure that Bennet is the villian here. Oh, he's completely compromised in terms of what you or I would consider that to mean. But to a politian he's probably a real straight shooter within the context of that type of people.

His committee is made up of a hodge podge of interest and is a mouthpiece of those interests. Many, IMHO, the interests of government to govern. So, anything they say will of necessity be geared toward that end.

In terms of Bennet's Mormon affiliation he probably has learned long ago to 'compartmentalize' his personal beliefs from his public work. That happens all the time regardless of the venue. People who wish to work publicly or in an administrative capacity typically represent the organization first and foremost. They feel that they are hired or elected to represent the organization not themselves.

Is this right? Probably not. Is it productive? Probably. Do these people sell their souls to the devil to do what they do? Some. Does Bennet recognize the implications of the committee's pronouncements vs the doctrines of his church? Absolutely. Does it bother him one bit? I doubt it much.

-- ..- (dit@dot.dash), August 13, 1999.

There was a story in a Seattle paper (see year2000.com for link) calling Bennets advice "priceless"!

Buy "a couple extra cans of food..". What morons, even if I thought Y2K was a 1 --- why buy a 'couple cans"?

At first its funny, then it makes me think how REALLY bad off we are, if its not a 1 -3.

But I agree, there is something seriuosly wrong with Bennets contacdictory and hypocrital advice.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 13, 1999.

Robert,

The "printable flyers for distribution during y2k disruptions" is WONDERFUL!! Thank you so much. Some of the best, conscise information I've seen. I've downloaded all for distribution to family, friends and community preparation group.

-- Cheryl (Transplant@Oregon.com), August 13, 1999.

Paul Milne has been trying to tell you that Bennett is a two-faced ass for a year now. Wake up.

-- a (a@a.a), August 13, 1999.

Uh Smitty and Y2K Ready:

Where in Robert's post do you find him taking issue with the LDS church? Robert is criticizing Senator Bennett, not the LDS church. Please point out where Robert attacks the LDS church in his post.

-- cynic (cynic@skeptic.com), August 13, 1999.

CBN article a coupla weeks ago where Bennett says he'll try to have "a little more than two weeks", whatever that means

-- lisa (lisa@friday.yes), August 13, 1999.

Robert, if Sen. Bennett does reply to your letter, will you please post it here. I am eager to see what he says.

Personaaly, I think the man is doing the best that he can to inform the public without creating panic. There is no easy way to tell millions of people what the future may hold.

Add that to the fact that a whole lot of people simply can not afford to stock pile for a long period. Thses are the "three day" preparers. Hope they will get enough in to maintain them until emergency centers can be set up.

It seems to me he is using a lot of different avenues to try and get the message across to the people, including writing to Ann Landers.

-- L. Arnold (adahi@muhlonl.com), August 13, 1999.

There seems to be a continuing myth that there is not enough food for us all to stockpile for a year. I would contend that there is not only enough surplus for those individuals who want to stockpile for Y2K or whatever, but also enough surplus to feed all the hungry in the world. In fact, huge surpluses of several commodities are so large now that producers around the world are planning to cut back the planting next year... while others are dumping it into the sea as they toast to higher prices. In terms of manufacturers, transportation, and distribution points, if they can't keep up with demand, someone who can do a better job will replace them in the market. Isn't that what Mr. Decker is always saying? The threat of GIs stockpiling is no threat at all to the market. The greed and inefficiences of countries, companies, and organizations, however is a problem and will continue to be a problem.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), August 13, 1999.

I want to share the wry joke I made at my church's Vestry meeting when the DWGI who headed the Y2K non-convened committee told them that Senator Bennett had advised "just a couple of weeks." I replied, "I have Mormon friends and had a Mormon boss who explained preparedness (and incidentally, taught me to shoot and sold me my first gun, believing in protecting the womenfolk). I am buying from some Mormon firms in Utah for my Y2K preps. I have been learning survival from them. In order to be elected to represent Utah, one must be a sincerely practicing Mormon. That means being prepared with all sorts of supplies for a year. So if he said he is adding two weeks, you'd all better prepare for 54 weeks!"

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), August 13, 1999.

Stan, your idea of farmers bringing food to sell in the cities is outstanding! I've seen a heartbreaking segment on "60 Minutes" on their plight. Seems they are getting very little return, and the middle man is getting the money. The farmer interviewed was trying to sell 250 acres that'd been his family's for 35 years, because he was actually LOSING money per acre...but naturally, he had no buyers. This would be a great help to both farmers and citizens alike. Is there some way a grassroots movement of this sort could be started by some of you so-bright and caring people out there? What do you think, Stan? (I still have to call you really soon.)

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), August 13, 1999.

I am working on a printable flyer to distribute to farmers, exhibitors, 4-H and FFA folks and etc. at state and county fairs this fall.

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), August 13, 1999.

Farmer's Markets. Shop them.

-- h (h@h.h), August 13, 1999.

If I do get a response from the Senator, I will be sure to post it here. I think some feel I'e been a bit harsh on the Senator, but I continue to think that the discontinuity between his public comments/private actions is large enough to warrant a public statement from the senator.

The senator's email is senator@bennett.senate.gov , I and would encourage people to send him email directly, and to ask him to comment on this.

Got printable flyers for distribution during y2k disruptions?

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), August 14, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

Elaine: exactly! I was just about to say, Bennett obviously meant a few cans per meal per person, times however many days one needs to add to their normal emergency stash. The senator probably stores the recommended two years, and reportedly his daughter was using his garage to store a few more months, for how many people they didn't say.

Or go by the admittedly optimistic Y2K Czar Koskinen's round about advice, and prepare for a storm. Only be sure to think things through and prepare for one that happens everywhere at once and knocks out the electricity for an unknown length of time. He says he wouldn't discourage organizations from recommending longer periods of preparedness. He also expects problems to drag out into the year.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage.neener.autospammers--regrets.greenspun), August 14, 1999.