How Do We Create A "5" In This Country

How can we each help make the worst case "10" TEOTWAWKI scenario, described by many posters here, no more that a "5" in this country? In your state? In your community?

At this moment, I'm starting by e-mailing my local newspaper columnists at the San Jose Mercury News in Silicon Valley, California. I'm referring them to Arnie Rimmer's Canadian Troop movement article, see Uncategorized threads Canadian Article: Huge troop deployment planned...at, for starters. (That kind of shock value may at least get their attention).

I did receive one message back from the paper's Technology Section columnist, Dan Gillmor ... "We've done several major pieces on Y2K so far [back in August] on our business staff. I know we're planning more."

Yes Robert, it's broken and won't get fixed in time. So, how do we all reduce the Y2K repercussions? How do we mobilize a country, not only ourselves?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 05, 1998

Answers

You mobilize the country BY mobilizing yourself. If you have more than enough food, water, fuel, and other supplies for yourself, that means you will be able to think about helping others. In my experience, no one wants to know about Y2k. I mention it, and if they look at me funny, I don't pursue it. If they ask me about it, I help them prepare. At the my company I've helped one person prepare, and gotten about 50 sideways looks.

Look at what you know from reading North, DeJager, this forum, etc.. Ask yourself: is the mainstream news media doing ANY responsible investigative reporting on Y2k? Why the camaign of ridicule? we aren't supposed to "mobilize"; if we "mobilized," we would quickly develop DECENTRALIZED LOCAL ECONOMIES, which is a the globalist financial establishment's worst nightmare. I'm tired of warning people, arguing about the inevitable. You will see wage and price controls, laws -enforced- against "hoarding," suspension of constitutional freedoms of speech and assembly, etc... Martial law is not just to "prevent looting," it's to artificially force together the bones of the economy (preserve factories and resources, and keep labor reserve fed) so that the CENTRALIZED ECONOMY can be rebuilt for them to fleece again. What our economy really needs is contraction and localization. But that would threaten the global mafia. So good luck "mobilizing the nation." We're meant to be utterly dependent upon the military "contingency plans" - the less prepared we are, the better. Disagree? Then EXPLAIN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA BLACKOUT.

E.

-- E. Coli (nunayo@beeswax.com), November 05, 1998.

So E. how about we all start pestering our local media, not the top guys, but the ones who do all the researching and actually write the great articles?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 05, 1998.

Diane,

Check out www.mille.org and hit their link to "Y2K Report Prepared for Al Gore and Staff." They have some good ideas.

-- Buddy Y. (DC) (buddy@bellatlantic.net), November 05, 1998.

There is NO mainstream media blackout. There may HAVE been one to some degree in the past. The articles may not suit your points of view. However, I have come across many newspaper, magazine and television programs about Y2K in the last few months. The way E Coli writes it, you'd think there was a conspiracy to ensure that no one in the general public finds out anything.

Look at the links on the internet to articles about Y2K which also appear in the print editions.

Again, we have an extremely serious problem being blown into a conspiracy theory story by making statements that are exaggerated.

E., I'm completely in agreement with you as far as believing in the need to make provisions and plan ahead for disruptions and hard times. However, in my opinion, it appears you won't be happy with anything less than a 10+.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), November 05, 1998.

Craig,

Please tell your parents that I recommend they revoke your e-mail privleges until you learn some manners.

To supplement your homework, try reading Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent." Then try reading "Necessary Illusions," by the same author. Do media corporations put their own interests before those of the social good? Is that a far-out conspiracy theory? Not to us grown-ups who have spent some time in the real world, and read our history (from both sides).

"But-but-but there isn't a TOTAL blackout!" No, you want to marginalize, not supress - total suppression of opinion would only lend legitimacy to the view you're trying to discredit. You also want to mix news ("y2k is a problem") with lies ("only neurotics and religious fanatics think it's a really big problem - we'll muddle through"). You can't disinform if you don't have a little truth to cut your lies with and thereby control perception. If you shut off perception, you have nothing to control. We are exposed to calculated disinformation every time we open a newspaper or turn on the t.v..

The fact that you equate my pessimism re Y2k with an antisocial *desire to see destruction occur* tells me that you are towing the line that the media is handing you: "Y2k alarmists are antisocial!" "People sitting on big piles of food and gold coins and GUNS are secretly praying to their 'god' for the end of the world!" "The Banks are your friend, they're watching your money for you. But alarmists want to cause a bank run - they want to wreck your future!" This tripe is the subtext for damn near every Y2k print article I've seen. You're neck-deep in horsesh*t and you think you're taking a bubblebath.

E.

-- E. Coli (nunayo@beeswax.com), November 05, 1998.

Now Rambo, I mean E COLI, I know he drew first blood.

E COLI, try to see Craig's personal attacks for what they are; a reaction to the stress of having his perception of reality challenged. I expect this to intensify on a national/global level over the next year or so. Hopefully, it won't turn into a nuclear war.

As for Craig. I commend you for the ability to face up to a situation that you feel threatened by. I am sure you knew what the reaction would be from Rambo. This shows that you are a brave man. At least you didn't choose the other reaction and flee from the board.

I, for one, am glad that we have 2 very brave warriors in our midst. It makes for interesting reading.

OK, boys. Let's shake hands and come out fighting. Just keep it clean and keep it on the net ;)

Best regards,

Anna

-- Anna McKay Ginn (annaginn@aol.com), November 05, 1998.

There's gonna be a blurb on Y2K on local LA tv tonight...I'm expecting the same old thing...they will show the truth...THEN they will discount and call the preparers "nuts" and "panic-mongers".

Diane...as others are saying...the way we effect the impact of Y2K is to educate everyone we come in contact with to at least minimally prepare for disruptions in power, water, food, medical....even someone preparing for a month of power outtage will be less likely to contribute to "civil unrest"....begin in your community...while doing that start talking in town and city government...about "awareness and preparation town meetings....

I think it's the only answer...the code is broken, it cannot be fixed in time...We will have broken eggs...can we get close to omelets?

Course we can't know for sure - outcome...but there is nothing to lose...and we could all learn to live more sanely in small communities even if nothing goes to hell in a very hi-tech handbag.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), November 05, 1998.

Donna,

I swear you must be psychic "the code is broken, it cannot be fixed in time...We will have broken eggs...can we get close to omelets?

Yesterday I was just writing about that and planned to post when the time was right.

I completely agree about preparing. I'm also interested in nudging the local media so more people can get prepared. Unless people like my older parent see it in the paper, they don't believe it!

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 05, 1998.

The only way to lessen the societal impact of y2k-disruptions is to get as many people prepared as possible. I remain convinced that by banding together with y2k-aware folks locally, we can do a lot to shape our neighborhood and community response. I've been hearing from more and more people who are working to do just that--to find and join with local people to meet the y2k challenge. See Ed Meagher's colun at http://www.y2ktoday.com/modules/home/default.asp?id=491

Register on Y2K People Finding People, and you'll receive the email addresses of others in your region - http://www.webpal.org/Registry.htm

Read one of the finest collections of articles on working towards y2k solutions as a community here - http://www.co-intelligence.org/Y2K.html

The FIRST step in making an omelet is deciding to make one. It's a choice. And in this case, a great one. Go for it!

-- Faith Weaver (faith-weaver@usa.net), November 05, 1998.

Quoting E Coli:

****"But-but-but there isn't a TOTAL blackout!" No, you want to marginalize, not supress - total suppression of opinion would only lend legitimacy to the view you're trying to discredit. You also want to mix news ("y2k is a problem") with lies ("only neurotics and religious fanatics think it's a really big problem - we'll muddle through"). You can't disinform if you don't have a little truth to cut your lies with and thereby control perception. If you shut off perception, you have nothing to control. We are exposed to calculated disinformation every time we open a newspaper or turn on the t.v..****

E,...this is excellent (!!!) and something many folks need to understand about propaganda techniques. A little truth, a litle discounting...it is everywhere in the media on a multitude of subjects......It is not accidental. and I would suspect that many journalists justify what they are doing by saying "this is balanced reporting"....(She makes Horse Noises!!!!!)

I would add to the bibliography anything by Marshall McLuhan...

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), November 05, 1998.

We can't. We are riding a roller coaster with no lap bar and no speed control. Try to protect the person next to you. Don't turn around or you will fall out. Watch out! Here comes the first inverted 99 loop.

-- R. D..Herring (drherr@erols.com), November 05, 1998.

I don't do roller coasters!...except the ones inside me...LOL....get a hemlet and strap in, Lovelies....Educate, rant, educate Educate!

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), November 06, 1998.

Crud,...I hate typos...that would be: "Helmet"

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), November 06, 1998.

Get coding Diane, get all IT people on Y2k till its fixed, whatever it takes.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), November 06, 1998.

Richard,

Don't try to Fix all of it, just what works. (Sides, some of us don't like coding, and the learning curve is too long. Let everyone do what they do best).

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 06, 1998.

a fine example of domestic terrorism, ms Squire.

"create" a 5? careful, one might think youwanted y2k to be bad...

-- (you@lost.your.dream), November 20, 2001.