Let me state at the outset that I am preparing and my preparations will not be affected by the answer to this question. But I do want to know.

All of the food grade 5 gallon pails I have seen are stamped with the words "Bennett Industries." There is no address or phone number stamped on the pails. I don't have a Thomas Register or anything like that handy, but I'm curious. Certainly Sen. Bennett is not connected with that company? Anyone?

Bennett represents Utah. Do any of his consituents stand to profit from Y2K preparation expenditures. Is Bennett a member of LDS? Is the church going to reap a financial windfall from preparation expenditures?

I know very little about Sen. Bennett. I have a great deal of respect for the fact that he's one of the few elected leaders out front on the preparedness issues. I have no reason to suspect any financial motive on his part, these are just questions which come to my skeptical mind.

Bennett must avoid even the appearance of impropriety if he is going to be the standard-bearer for this issue during the next 11 months.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), January 26, 1999

Answers

Where did you see the pails?

-- Reporter (foo@foo.bar), January 26, 1999.

Reporter, I have a number of the pails that I purchased used from a bakery in Raleigh where they contained donut filling. The others I saw at a farm supply store in Garner, NC, named Agri-Supply. I have no reason to believe that the names have any connection, but, then again, I don't know.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), January 26, 1999.

It's my understanding that Sen. Bennett has been on the Y2k bandwagon for many years now, appealing mostly to president Clinton himself. I don't know one way or another for sure of his motives, but he has been fighting for Y2k "awareness" for a long time. Not much PR stuff like Gary North. If he is trying to make a buck off Y2k prep companies then he is taking the subtle route to fortune and glory.

-- (anon@abc.com), January 26, 1999.

Hmm, I have a room full of 5 and 6 gallon pails. None of them have anything to do with 'Bennett.' All made by other companies.

Yes, some of the Utah preparedness companies will profit from the sale of food. Walton's, for instance has quadrupled their normal business, and could have expanded by another 10 to 1 -- except that they realize that the demand for preparedness food won't be so great after 2000-01-01, so didn't do more than they could economically justify.

BTW, preparedness companies all over the country also will benefit. So will Lehman's -- who have sold to the Amish for years -- simply because they have a product that has a spike demand.

The good Senator started like a house afire, but lately he's scaled back on his remarks, sort of adopting the government's pollyanna propaganda. However, he does sneak in a zinger now and then.....like the time he mentioned stockpiling and noted that his daughter now pays more attention to him than she did when she was younger, and her garage is filled with food in case there's a prolonged trucker's strike (paraphrase). Guess he also gave another calming talk and noted that his son has recently instlled a large propane tank.

I think he's done what he could, and won't be heard from much from now on.

-- De (dealton@concentric.net), January 26, 1999.

Have no idea about the food pails, but Senator Bennet is still Y2k concerned (see transcript below). -- Diane

Title: SENATOR BENNETT WAGES WAR ON THE "MILLENNIUM BUG" (Senator Bennett discusses Y2K problems)

Author: Judy Aita USIA United Nations Correspondent
Date: 19981216

http://pdq2.usia.gov/scripts/cqcgi.exe/ @pdqtest1.env?CQ_SESSION_KEY=ZKQGOQHLPNYM&CQ_QUERY_HANDLE=124071& CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=21&CQ_PDQ_DOCUMENT_VIEW=1&CQSUBMIT=View&CQRETURN=& CQPAGE=3

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 26, 1999.

I don't know about buckets, but I haven't heard squat from Bennett since the Congressional elections. Guess he was just trying to look like a hero to get re-elected and then he dropped the whole Y2K deal like a hot-potato, and will now blame Clinton if there are any problems. Typical Republican. He said he was going after the SEC to find out why they are only concerned about the Y2K disclosures from brokerage houses, and ignoring the rest of corporate America. Sounded like a good idea, but I haven't seen squat done about it so it appears it was nothing more than a pretty political front. Sorry bastard.

-- (@@@.@), January 26, 1999.

The company that makes some of these plastic pails, Bennett Industries, is located in Illinois. I could be mistaken, but I think it is in Peotone, Illinois. I don't think there is any connection at all between Senator Bennett from Utah and Bennett Industries here in Illinois. Besides, Bennett is a fairly common name. My phone book, which covers several suburbs in a metro area, has well over 100 listings for Bennett.

As to Senator Bennett saying squat about Y2K lately, it may only appear that way because he may not be getting any news coverage. He complained about this very thing, no news coverage, way back in late 1997 and early 1998 when he was trying to get the word out about Y2K.

Joyce

-- Joyce (meremere@aol.com), January 26, 1999.

Of course he was trying to get as much coverage as possible to look like he was actually helping. Now that the election is over he could care less. Sorry Bastard.

-- (@@@.@), January 26, 1999.

@@@@ seems to have a grudge against Sen. Bennett. What might it be? @@@@ doesn't say.

I figure the Senator has a mountain of information that I don't have, and on reflection has decided not to rock the boat any harder than he has done already. The longer this country can go without going ballistic about Y2K, the longer trade & industry will keep on running, and the more time and supplies will be available for reasonable people to do what they can to get themselves ready.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), January 26, 1999.

I do not know whether or not he is.. However, I have benefited from his work. I thank God for it.

-- Sue (conibear@gateway.net), January 27, 1999.

I agree with Tom's speculation about Bennett but I consider this morally dishonest and intellectually stupid on the part of our masters. Panic now or panic later?

A panic now would also panic IT. IT MUST panic if Y2K damage is to be reduced, by forcing IT to freeze bogus remediation, perform acceptance tests while there is still time and frame real, not fake contingency plans.

IT is just "people", most idiots (I can say that, it's my profession, we're mostly idiots), but well-meaning idiots with spouses and children whom they love. So long as the masters tell THEM everything is going to be OK, they believe it just like the rest of the DGIs.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), January 27, 1999.

Tom,

Damn right I have a grudge. I've got a grudge against any sorry ass goddam government bastard who takes the taxpayers money and doesn't do the job he was appointed to do. Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem is a pretty goddam serious position, considering his efforts can determine the fate of every living creature on the planet. I've learned to blow off my frustration with a great deal of pathetic ineffective government officials, but this situation is not something that can be ignored. Look at his websites:

http://www.senate.gov/~y2k/index.html

http://www.senate.gov/~bennett/y2k.html

His actions toward the SEC were initiated almost 3 months ago. Where's the results? The most recent announcement is dated July 31, 1999! Where's the press releases? If this guy wants news coverage all he has to do is pick up the phone, but instead he's been sitting on his ass!! If he can't do the job, he should resign and give it to someone who can.

-- (@@@.@), January 27, 1999.

Correction. His most recent statement to the public was July 31, 1998 ... Almost 6 months ago!

-- (@@@.@), January 27, 1999.

(@@@.@),

Just because his web-site hasn't been updated doesn't mean he's not speaking out. Dig elsewhere. The government folks do have some lousy webmasters. Also, e-mail Bennet.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 27, 1999.