OOPS!! hit the wrong key - sorry here's the rest:

Example: Citigroup - cost of fixing Y2K = nearing $1 billion Their strategy - $1 billion "restructuring" plan which by the way just happens to include 8,000 layoffs. Why is it that WE have to pay for the irresponsibility of these corporations to take care of their own computers?

http://cnnfn.com/hotstories/companies/9812/14/citigroup/

-- (infoman@web.com), December 14, 1998

Answers

Companies are "survivalists" too.

All the recently announced and ever increasing numbers of Fortune 500 layoffs look like management triage attempts. "They" try to keep a lid on the true Y2K situation so that people, and investors, won't panic or run on the banks. Aren't they just participating in a layoff run?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 15, 1998.

Keep your eye on the stock market and Clinton's impeachment. Stock market was down 100+ points yesterday. Company earnings are projected to be dismal and Clinton needs another wag-the-dog crisis. If things start to go south fast, that means Clinton is closer to getting his just reward. The roller coaster ride is beginning.

-- Bardou (Bardou@baloney.com), December 15, 1998.

I think it's interesting that so many of the Y2K "elite" that post here seem to feel that impeaching the President will solve all of their problems.

Go ahead and remove Clinton from office. Let's have a long, long hearing, eat up a lot of taxpayers' dollars, and hopefully, distract everyone, including government bodies that may be able to HELP, from doing anything at all for the better part of a year. I'm sure that will be really effective. Plus, didn't someone post on another thread that Bill Clinton seemed to understand the scope of the problems with Y2K quickly, whereas Al Gore needed to be spoonfed? For those who aren't Clinton fans but don't like Gore, either, you're making an interesting choice by backing impeachment. Whether or not remediation will work, wouldn't you agree that you would rather have your friends and neighbors able to focus on the increasing news coverage re: Y2K and get their canned food and water ready, than watching certain junior members of the GOP make fools of themselves during Judiciary Committee hearings? Think about it.

The reason why the stock market is dropping is because of the specter of impeachment, and it will continue to drop because whether you want to believe it or not, what goes on with the economy has a lot to do with what is going on right now in DC. It doesn't have anything to do with Y2K.

JMHO, of course.

Julie

-- Julie (julierb@mindspring.com), December 15, 1998.

Julie -

Most market analysts are saying that the DJIA is reacting to Japan, Brazil, and weak corporate profits, not impeachment. Domestic brokerages have reportedly already factored in some disruptions from the doings in DC, and they're much, much more concerned about the grim realities of some of the larger economies internationally.

The sad fact is that Mr. Clinton cannot lead anymore, since he has consistently demonstrated that he cannot be trusted to tell us the truth when it matters. Echoes of the DoD lying TWICE on their Y2K test reports, etc. I have never served, but have many friends in the military and they are completely disillusioned with the CINC (Commander-In-Chief) and the negative effect he has had for almost his entire seven-plus years on morale and readiness. The ever-popular polls indicate that only about 3 in 10 respondents would be upset if Clinton left office. He should go for the good of the country.

And frankly, I don't much care. The White House hasn't done jack about Y2K, especially compared to people like Yourdon and Yardeni. The occupant in the White House is not part of my Y2K checklist.

Just my $.02...

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), December 15, 1998.

Julie,

First, I think the term, Y2K "elite", must surely be an oxymoron. How could it be otherwise?

Second, it's been my take that the prevailing opinion (as expressed on this forum) is that Clinton should be removed simply because he is not fit.

I don't know how many others feel the same, but I believe that the federal government is irrelevant to Y2K. I cannot conceive of any circumstance to come which will allow the federal government and probably not any of the state governments to survive as a functioning entity. If in fact that is correct, what does it matter who is in the White House?

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), December 15, 1998.

Yes, the Y2K elite is definately an oxy moron. Clinton, well, he's just a moron.

Okay, I jest. He is definatley a very smart and cunning individual. However, he has misled the people and has been charged with "high crimes and misdimeanors." Please do not forget that this nation was originally founded on a concept of "of the people, for the people, by the people. The impeachment process is a way of keeping this intact. We are simply holding our leader accountable to the document he promised to uphold. May I remind you that censure is not a part of the consitution? Impeachment is the means provided in the Consitution for the people to hold the president accountable.

It is silly to imply that this investigation, hearing, etc. is a waste of the taxpayer's money. If reasonable evidence of these crimes had not existed, an investigation would not have been initiated.

Finally, to the issue of Mr. Clinton and Y2K. I am not aware that he is as Y2K savy as you presume. When reading his Y2K speech from July (I believe that is when he spoke on the issue), he did not appear to be rallying a nation to preparation. And I have to ask why he waited until July of 1998 to address the issue? And I have to wonder why, if he is so Y2K savy, the rest of his departments lag so far behind the curve? Rather, given his previous 'track record,' I would be more inclined to believe that if the President is aware of the full severity of the situation he is also searching for ways to put himself at a personal advantage because of it. I am not talking of merely storing foods for himself and family. I am talking of his love of power.

-- Christine A. Newbie (vaganti01@aol.com), December 15, 1998.

And the stock market was back up several hundred yesterday and today.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 15, 1998.

I second the notion Hardliner: "I don't know how many others feel the same, but I believe that the federal government is irrelevant to Y2K."

Y2K will be like nothing the inhabitants of the world has ever faced...or, perhaps,... it will be a bit like the Black Death in the Middle Ages...No cure, and all the governments in the world could not stop it,...and the churches invited folks in to pray and spread the microbes easier...

That the 'people' need only Bread and Circuses is a concept that dates back to the Roman Empire...We need only to prepare ourselves and stop looking for the great white fathers in the so-called seats of power to save us. Leadership? Baloney! Even without Y2K the world would be better off without so-called Leaders.

Just my anarchical two cents worth.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), December 15, 1998.

I agree with Dianes' assesment. By the way Julie, Alan Greenspan and his puppeteers are responsible for the financial boom and soon to be bust of the 1990's, not Clinton. Their tactics (dropping interest rates) to prop up the world economy did not work in 1929 nor will it work in 1999. The american consumer savings rate is in negative territory for the first time since 1929. The stock market has not had a bull market like the one (especially last two years) since the great bull market of 1929 right before the crash. etc. etc. Japan, the second largest economy in the world is in DEPRESSION as is Russia and Brazil. Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and the rest of Asia is in deep deep recession. (-2 to -4% GNP) The ships going down. You can go down with it or jump in the life boat being offered by those elitists on this forum. And then to you Robert. The stock market was down a few hundred points last week. We have not saw a 200 point climb in one day since October and the market has been up 1 day this week ~125 points, but lost on Monday and today and is still in negative territory for the week. I beleive this will continue down until the big one hits. The media will blame this on everything but what it really is. That being Y2K.

Mike

-- flierdude (mkessler0101@sprynet.com), December 16, 1998.