Do you see the travesty of what's happening here? People in this country who control critical amounts of assets are not interested in some banking shill or government hack screaming "READY" out of all orifices. There's no proof. Where's the exhaustive, definitive, conclusive "white paper" on Exxon's readiness?

What do we have instead? STATUTORY LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY! Cripes! Don't show your hand or anything Slim! If you're going to bluff, at least cover-up that pair of twos! They're running for cover before our very eyes!

If Bennett is still standing in the street yelling "Stockpile information!" in December he's going to get stampeded by everyone who can still sell a share of stock and cash the settlement check. It's no secret that those bizarre fractional reserve figures we all learned about in frosh. econ. don't even figure wealth in stocks which can become a demand on cash reserves with about three days lead time.

Unless something changes in the way govt/industry is handling their information, there's going to be some big time blinking in this poker game.

If govt/banking doesn't want this thing to collapse, they better give the people some reasons other than the unadulterated BS we've heard so far.

The time for confident speech and silly braggadociao is quickly drawing to a close. Sen. Bennett, if you've got something more than that pair of twos, you better get ready to show'em. I'd rather not have to ask, but we're going to have to see 'em. The game is built that way.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), August 26, 1999

Answers

Puddintame,

That is a very good question and commentary. You are right. And let's not forget that the "media" loved those long stories about oral sex as well. The talk shows on radio and TV were digging into it every day and night. Not much interest in this Y2k business though, is there?

-- Gordon (gpconnolly@aol.com), August 26, 1999.

Don't worry Puddintame,

The demand for cash from stocks will be reduced substantially once the stock prices begin to fall.

Be patient. It will start soon enough unfortunately.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), August 26, 1999.