Y2K - Hoping For the Worst... Who Will Benefit From

The Chaos? Y2KNewswire.com http://206.54.108.130/19990902w.htm 9-3-99

Certain members of the federal government are fond of pointing out that a few "radicals" are actually hoping for massive Y2K disruptions. They spout highly-politicized buzzwords like, "cults," "hate groups" and "zealots," hoping to sway the public into associating these negative-sounding phrases with any person who doesn't agree with the no-big-deal view of Y2K. Yet one point goes unmentioned: many government offices and officials actually stand to greatly benefit from Y2K disruptions. In fact, the worse Y2K gets, the more powerful these offices (and individuals) become. Even beyond that, many international governments and groups also stand to benefit from Y2K disruptions. In this feature article, Y2K Newswire takes a brief look at who is likely to benefit from Y2K and why. A more detailed look is offered in our members-only article. If you're a paid subscriber to Y2K Newswire, click here to log in and read the article. THE WHITE HOUSE The White House can deflect blame by pointing the finger at so-called "radicals" who actually prepared. All problems can be blamed on "radical Conservatives" thereby justifying a Presidential call to support Democrats in 2000 so that these events are never repeated. DEMOCRATS All shortages in supplies can be blamed on those who prepared. These people are, by the way, mostly "conservatives." In this way, Democrats can use Y2K disruptions to bolster their own power. In fact, this strategy is already being put into place with the "blame the people" message now repeated by Koskinen and others. REPUBLICANS Republicans can blame the White House and the Democrats for hiding from the problem, leaving the American people defenseless. The worse Y2K gets, the louder the cries from Republicans to hold Democratic leaders responsible. REFORM / LIBERTARIAN PARTY MEMBERS In a worst-case Y2K scenario, both Reform Party members and Libertarians will point out that neither Republicans nor Democrats solved the problem. They all remained silent to preserve the status quo. Therefore, the only reasonable solution is to "throw the bastards out" and replace the dominant parties with reformists who will serve the interests of the people, not the power brokers. FEMA With massive Y2K disruptions, FEMA will be handed broad powers and increased budgets. Instead of passing out checks to flood victims, they'll get to control entire cities. THE FBI Because the White House is likely to blame some Y2K disruptions on "electronic terrorism," the FBI will demand increased resources to fight the threat. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT In a medium-case or worst-case Y2K scenario, local law enforcement finds itself greatly outnumbered. In the aftermath of Y2K, police departments will demand increased funds and personnel in order to prevent the same mistakes from happening again. EMERGENCY SERVICES The same theory holds true with 911, ambulance services, fire departments, and other emergency response services. The vulnerability (and importance) of such services will only become apparent after a crisis has appeared. Only then will the public agree to increase funding. COMPUTER HARDWARE MAKERS Thanks to the fix-on-failure strategy now widely adopted for embedded systems (hardware), both mainstream hardware suppliers and custom-design shops are likely to experience record demand of a few key parts beginning January 3rd. COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS Hired to be either on standby or "on the premises" at midnight, December 31, Y2K programmers will rake in bonus pay at $500 / hour. The more problems appear, the longer they stay on the clock. This is an interesting twist: older programmers got paid to cause the problem, now younger programmers are getting paid to fix it. And when the world finds out that software fixes are never perfect, the same programmers are going to get paid to re-fix the code one more time. GUN CONTROL SUPPORTERS If guns play any role in Y2K-related violence, gun control supporters will latch onto the event to renew calls for scrapping parts of the U.S. Constitution. What will go unmentioned: episodes where private citizens use firearms to shoot criminals, defend communities, and assist law enforcement personnel in maintaining order. INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS By timing their attacks to coincide with Y2K disruptions, international terrorists can amplify the impact of terrorism on U.S. soil. CHINA Happy to hijack any issue that paints the United States as the enemy, China will paint infrastructure failures as an "act of war" by the evil, capitalist USA. How will they do this? Simple: by explaining to their population (through the controlled media) that the United States conspired to "plant" hardware and software they knew was going to fail on January 1. This, combined with the USA's recent bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, can easily be deemed an attack on China's "motherland." RUSSIA Russia, too, can blame the United States for disruptions and economic difficulties. Using this guilt trip, Russian officials can then appeal to the U.S.-dominated World Bank for additional funds to support their so-called "capitalist movement." THE MIDDLE EAST By framing the United States as the "creator and distributor of disruptive evil technologies," the Middle East can use Y2K to rile up hatred for the "Great Satan" -- America. In fact, the worse the Y2K-related disruptions get in Middle-Eastern countries that dislike the United States, the more energized these people are likely to become. OIL-PRODUCING COUNTRIES THAT CAN SHIP OIL Due to the likelihood of many oil-producing countries experiencing Y2K disruptions (and being unable to drill or ship their usual quantities of oil), any country that can actually ship oil to the United States, Japan, or other oil-consuming countries will be able to charge a premium. GOLD ENTHUSIASTS The worse Y2K becomes, the higher gold prices are likely to climb. Why? Uncertainty always leads to a flight to "safe" investments, and most people consider gold to be one of the safest. THE GOVERNMENT GAME PLAN In our members-only extension to this feature article, we offer more detailed descriptions of the Y2K "benefits" mentioned above, plus we cover five specific tactics the federal government may put in place in order to leverage Y2K events for political gain. We also describe four specific tactics that enemies of the United States will likely use to achieve their geopolitical goals during the Y2K disruptions.

-- andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 05, 1999

Answers

That's a pisser...I'll try again :)

Y2K - Hoping For the Worst... Who Will Benefit From The Chaos?

Y2KNewswire.com http://206.54.108.130/19990902w.htm 9-3-99

Certain members of the federal government are fond of pointing out that a few "radicals" are actually hoping for massive Y2K disruptions. They spout highly-politicized buzzwords like, "cults," "hate groups" and "zealots," hoping to sway the public into associating these negative-sounding phrases with any person who doesn't agree with the no-big-deal view of Y2K.

Yet one point goes unmentioned: many government offices and officials actually stand to greatly benefit from Y2K disruptions. In fact, the worse Y2K gets, the more powerful these offices (and individuals) become. Even beyond that, many international governments and groups also stand to benefit from Y2K disruptions.

In this feature article, Y2K Newswire takes a brief look at who is likely to benefit from Y2K and why. A more detailed look is offered in our members-only article. If you're a paid subscriber to Y2K Newswire, click here to log in and read the article.

THE WHITE HOUSE The White House can deflect blame by pointing the finger at so-called "radicals" who actually prepared. All problems can be blamed on "radical Conservatives" thereby justifying a Presidential call to support Democrats in 2000 so that these events are never repeated.

DEMOCRATS All shortages in supplies can be blamed on those who prepared. These people are, by the way, mostly "conservatives." In this way, Democrats can use Y2K disruptions to bolster their own power. In fact, this strategy is already being put into place with the "blame the people" message now repeated by Koskinen and others.

REPUBLICANS Republicans can blame the White House and the Democrats for hiding from the problem, leaving the American people defenseless. The worse Y2K gets, the louder the cries from Republicans to hold Democratic leaders responsible.

REFORM / LIBERTARIAN PARTY MEMBERS In a worst-case Y2K scenario, both Reform Party members and Libertarians will point out that neither Republicans nor Democrats solved the problem. They all remained silent to preserve the status quo. Therefore, the only reasonable solution is to "throw the bastards out" and replace the dominant parties with reformists who will serve the interests of the people, not the power brokers.

FEMA With massive Y2K disruptions, FEMA will be handed broad powers and increased budgets. Instead of passing out checks to flood victims, they'll get to control entire cities.

THE FBI Because the White House is likely to blame some Y2K disruptions on "electronic terrorism," the FBI will demand increased resources to fight the threat.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT In a medium-case or worst-case Y2K scenario, local law enforcement finds itself greatly outnumbered. In the aftermath of Y2K, police departments will demand increased funds and personnel in order to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.

EMERGENCY SERVICES The same theory holds true with 911, ambulance services, fire departments, and other emergency response services. The vulnerability (and importance) of such services will only become apparent after a crisis has appeared. Only then will the public agree to increase funding.

COMPUTER HARDWARE MAKERS Thanks to the fix-on-failure strategy now widely adopted for embedded systems (hardware), both mainstream hardware suppliers and custom-design shops are likely to experience record demand of a few key parts beginning January 3rd.

COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS Hired to be either on standby or "on the premises" at midnight, December 31, Y2K programmers will rake in bonus pay at $500 / hour. The more problems appear, the longer they stay on the clock. This is an interesting twist: older programmers got paid to cause the problem, now younger programmers are getting paid to fix it. And when the world finds out that software fixes are never perfect, the same programmers are going to get paid to re-fix the code one more time.

GUN CONTROL SUPPORTERS If guns play any role in Y2K-related violence, gun control supporters will latch onto the event to renew calls for scrapping parts of the U.S. Constitution. What will go unmentioned: episodes where private citizens use firearms to shoot criminals, defend communities, and assist law enforcement personnel in maintaining order.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS By timing their attacks to coincide with Y2K disruptions, international terrorists can amplify the impact of terrorism on U.S. soil.

CHINA Happy to hijack any issue that paints the United States as the enemy, China will paint infrastructure failures as an "act of war" by the evil, capitalist USA. How will they do this? Simple: by explaining to their population (through the controlled media) that the United States conspired to "plant" hardware and software they knew was going to fail on January 1. This, combined with the USA's recent bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, can easily be deemed an attack on China's "motherland."

RUSSIA Russia, too, can blame the United States for disruptions and economic difficulties. Using this guilt trip, Russian officials can then appeal to the U.S.-dominated World Bank for additional funds to support their so-called "capitalist movement."

THE MIDDLE EAST By framing the United States as the "creator and distributor of disruptive evil technologies," the Middle East can use Y2K to rile up hatred for the "Great Satan" -- America. In fact, the worse the Y2K-related disruptions get in Middle-Eastern countries that dislike the United States, the more energized these people are likely to become.

OIL-PRODUCING COUNTRIES THAT CAN SHIP OIL Due to the likelihood of many oil-producing countries experiencing Y2K disruptions (and being unable to drill or ship their usual quantities of oil), any country that can actually ship oil to the United States, Japan, or other oil- consuming countries will be able to charge a premium.

GOLD ENTHUSIASTS The worse Y2K becomes, the higher gold prices are likely to climb. Why? Uncertainty always leads to a flight to "safe" investments, and most people consider gold to be one of the safest.

THE GOVERNMENT GAME PLAN In our members-only extension to this feature article, we offer more detailed descriptions of the Y2K "benefits" mentioned above, plus we cover five specific tactics the federal government may put in place in order to leverage Y2K events for political gain. We also describe four specific tactics that enemies of the United States will likely use to achieve their geopolitical goals during the Y2K disruptions.

-- andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 05, 1999.

REFORM / LIBERTARIAN PARTY MEMBERS In a worst-case Y2K scenario, both Reform Party members and Libertarians will point out that neither Republicans nor Democrats solved the problem. They all remained silent to preserve the status quo.

This pretty much says it all. No leadership between any of these parties and less then 120 day to go. But this article fails to point out the other major player in all this: CORPORATIONS. Is it not the CORPORATIONS that will cause the most problems by not being ready?

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), September 05, 1999.

Andy, I read this one on the Y2K Newswire a day or so ago and immediately changed my perception as to what the Y2K Newswire folks were all about. Here I'd been thinking that they were unbiased in their reporting and after this one, I can only state that now I am not so sure.

Why didn't this story go the distance? Why simply jump on government-types? There has been a lot of money made already by those with agendas to push: authors, experts, public speakers, manufacturers of outdoorsman types of materials and the like, 'outposts' where these things can be purchased, financial types pushing people toward the purchases of gold and T-bills.

How about telling the whole story?

When doom and gloom types actually come out and say they are rooting for a disaster to usher in a 'new era' and in some cases, a return to moral forthrighteousness, well, the truth to the matter is that there are a lot of people with a lot to gain by disaster...and a lot of people out there fooling the public.

This article didn't go far enough and failed to tell the whole story....and you know it.

-- Bad Company (johnny@shootingstar.com), September 05, 1999.

"This article didn't go far enough and failed to tell the whole story....and you know it."

Just playing Devil's advocate BC...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 05, 1999.

I understand that, Andy, and your comments are appreciated. As usual, I have the impression that the average Joe is the one who is going to be taken for a ride here, whether y2k spells cataclysm or non-event.

Point is, I believe the average Joe who posts here in reflecting his/her feelings. And Andy....that's about all I believe anymore.

Regards

-- Bad Company (johnny@shootingstar.com), September 05, 1999.

Most people living nowadays have never experienced martial law in America. It will be a drastic change of events I feel. The last really free country, and rancid to the core, will be taken down.

That is my realistic opinion.

The last super power will be given kryptonite handcuffs and be told to step aside, rather violently, IMHO. The NWO will no longer require its errant knight war machine's services any longer.

But then what do I know, I am only a dog...

slobberin' on the master...

The Dog

-- The Dog (Desert Dog@-sand.com), September 05, 1999.

So....uh....what did you expect from politicians? I don't listen to any of them.

-- Army Girl (aGirl@ag.com), September 06, 1999.