It just occurred to me that the same dichotomy exists in both the stock market and the Y2K awareness process. The stock market currently has a bubble of optimism pulling the Dow towards an imaginary forward-momentum future that is increasingly disconnected from both earnings to value AND the fact that most stocks are actually declining - not to mention the worsening world economy.

This strikes me as very similar to the Y2K situation, where the public pronouncements are so optimistic that we are offered another imaginary forward-momentum future that is increasingly disconnected from both actual compliance reports and increasing evidence that many key economic players are falling further and further behind.

Surging optimism, coupled with increasingly dismal official audits and reports..... I don't know exactly what this parallel implies, except that the stock market has always been the emotional body of the economy - but it seems to be a giant disconnect that will soon be strained to the breaking point for both. And not just a breaking point, but an implosion, like a puffy cake collapsing in on itself at the center. The resulting deflation, economic and psychological, is pretty scary to contemplate - and is being exacerbated with every day that passes. For personal reasons, I need the bubble to last thru the summer, but I'm not at all confident that it will.

-- (factsleuth@gotcha.com), March 13, 1999

Answers

The bubble is getting bigger and bigger everyday, it will burst all over their faces ): I think April fools day will be an understatement!! Hold on you won't enjoy the ride ): Got out a long time ago, waiting for the storm now ):

-- Gotit@WW2.ohmy (Readyto@burst.net), March 13, 1999.

Got it,

The concerns about this bubble economy are well-founded. But, don't expect big problems on or near April 1. See this thread...

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000add

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 13, 1999.

factsleuth:

The state of the economy and stock market also provides a feedback loop onto Y2K awareness, I think. People say, "If Y2K were really a problem, the market wouldn't be booming." So while the same dichotomy exists in both, the one reinforces the other.

-- (argh@12milesaway.com), March 13, 1999.

This may be an abstract, but, how many of you are sick and tired of this constant attack on your pocket book? Why are we always concerned about money and the tyranny of the bankers and tax collectors?

Things can go on so long and then the law of diminishing returns has got to kick in. We can only give so much and one thing we all want is Freedom. They have taken it from us. We will have it back.

-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), March 13, 1999.