So the WTO protests seem to indicate a lot of frustration with globalization. Hard to tell how much is real, and how much is just interest groups making their points on the streets.

But suppose this feeling is widespread. Suppose Y2K is more than a BITR. Will the Feds follow the lead they've already laid down, and blame it mostly on non-compliant (foreign) suppliers, especially oil suppliers? Not to mention foreign terrorists/hackers.

Combine this with a drop in the dollar due to a rapid correction of our trade imbalance (another thing to blame on foreigners). Do we end up with a wildly protectionist/isolationist U.S. ?

And before you NWO types gleefully shout "yes!", do we also end up with a New Deal-style managed economy in an attempt to bail out banks, jump start the economy, ration vital commodities, etc., etc., etc....

If 2000 starts a 30's style depression, do we get a replay of 30's history?

-- You Know... (notme@nothere.junk), December 01, 1999

Answers

If I had a store in downtown Seattle, it would be time to break out the AR-15 and 12 gauge. Post a big sign "Looters will be SHOT!" Stand guard 24/7.

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), December 01, 1999.

1789 -- 1917 -- 2000?

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), December 01, 1999.

The WTO protests are nothing more than a bunch of special-interest groups parading their opinions. It is absurd to see every single one of them trying to blame the WTO for something different.

-- Jared Smith (smithjrd@aol.com), December 01, 1999.

Big words, Bill, and easy to say as you won't have to make good on them. Sure, looters are opportunists, but they don't exactly have a "no guns" policy, aren't going to believe the sign, and won't take kindly to being shot at.

Let's move this On Topic, e.g. to New York, 31-Dec-1999 and have an opinion poll, shall we:

Question: Death before bankruptcy?

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), December 01, 1999.

Colin the lesson to be learned from the LA riots is: guard your store with a weapon, looters (like all theives) go for the easy targets. Breaking a window of a store with someone pointing an AR-15 at you takes balls, and most looters don't have what it takes to risk getting shot for a cell phone or color tv. Would I defend my store, home or family with a gun? All I can say is, "try me".

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), December 01, 1999.