If we could magically get everyone to become GIs, what could we still do? Would there be some serious downsides? Would everyone be able to prepare for more than 3 extra days? Some thoughts:

(1) Maximize energy production.

(2) Maximize food production.

(3) Maximize remediation of critical petroleum, food, and shipping industries.

(4) Some might think that it would be easier to arm than to prepare...

(5) We should still be able to get everyone prepared for at least an additional week. But every week that we wait reduces the level of overall preparation that can be achieved.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 15, 1999

Answers

I don't think (2) is possible. Food grows as fast as it grows, except in places like here in Hawai'i where much more could be planted if people just got off their butts instead of relying on supermarkets.

Even if you are just talking about the U.S. population, much (most?) of the food is imported. World food supplies are already severely stretched - a 60 day buffer I believe. I have my doubts as to whether it would have been possible for everyone to prepare. Never mind in 106 days.

Instead of maximizing production, minimizing consumption would be a far better idea. America is the most wasteful place on earth (Americans throw away more food than Canada eats) and even consuming half of what they do now they would still be living in luxury.

Consider the problem of nuclear power plants. Those 103 plants provide 19% of America's electricity. Shutting them down rather than risking the possible alternatives would have been the best policy, and I think most Americans could think of ways to reduce electricity consumption by 19%. However, self-control is sadly lacking in most people nowadays and whether they would be able to implement a cut- back is doubtful.

Americans (and for that matter most developed countries) don't know how good they've got it. Maybe in 107 days' time they'll find out...

-- Y2KGardener (gardens@bigisland.net), September 15, 1999.

Mad Monk,

(3) Maximize remediation of critical petroleum, food, and shipping industries.

If it breaks, but its closer to getting fixed than if we hadn't maxed, then, that may make a world of difference.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

P.S. What would I have to do to get you to airmail me four 5 pound bags of green kona beans?

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 16, 1999.

Food is sitting around in silos on farms all over the place. It isn't being packaged (the limiting step from what I can tell), because demand isn't higher. This would be fixed if demand rose, I bet. How much effort does it take to bag grain or beans? And how hard is it to find a substitute container if bags run out? How about BYOC--bring your own container? Etc. The food has already been grown, and in excess.

How do so many people get the idea that our country has almost no food (grain) reserves?

In another example of plenty: a couple hog farmers I know earlier this year let friends come and shoot a hog, and take the meat to the butcher, for free. I surmise that the farmer couldn't afford to feed the hogs anymore & didn't want them to starve. Nor did they want the meat to go to waste. Were low hog prices caused by a packing plant monopoly/price-fixing, or low demand by consumers? I'm not sure...

In the fields, I hear that yields are pretty high this year, maybe because we're in the eleventh year of an eleven year warming cycle of the sun (longer season, warmer temperatures). Good rainfall, too.

I think that people could work more hours to package or process food (mom's do it with their newborns all the time). Shifts could be added. Production could be ramped up for basic food items (if it were paid for). That would happen if most people thought it needed to happen. It's like a road construction project--sure it takes months normally, but what if you had more than six people working on it? Maybe traffic would flow better too...

But it sounds like everything's going to be fine, so why do all that? One thing I think is wonderful about this issue, unlike others people take positions on--the moment of truth (or year of truth, if it's spread out) will come within only a few months or so. Then we'll know. And like death, the approach of the moment of truth is inexorable.

This issue should have served, at the least, to alert people to the fragility of JIT and our high-tech infrastructure. What would a single EMP over the midwest do? Now THAT would be a problem...every system destroyed but the protected military ones...

Nevertheless, given the actions of those in high places to protect their interests from disruption, I have also taken some action to protect my interests, even though I don't know what they know that I don't. And I'm ready to help 25 other people beyond my own household, with some strain.

-- S. Kohl (kohl@hcpd.com), September 16, 1999.

In the fields, I hear that yields are pretty high this year, maybe because we're in the eleventh year of an eleven year warming cycle of the sun (longer season, warmer temperatures). Good rainfall, too.

Hmmm... did I hear something about farmers suffering from drought? Something about $1.2 billion in lost crops?

Engage brain before opening mouth.

-- I (hate@dip.shits), September 16, 1999.

Find farmers in your area who will sell retail. Bulk beans, you name it. Put their names, addresses, phone and a little map on a sheet of paper. When the panic hits, hand this to the brand-new GIs and let 'em go get it. The stores can't move as much food as a thousand people with pickups can. The whole point (jeez this is getting old) is to pull the food through the pipeline however you can.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 16, 1999.

Find farmers in your area who will sell retail. Bulk beans, you name it. Put their names, addresses, phone and a little map on a sheet of paper. When the panic hits, hand this to the brand-new GIs and let 'em go get it.

Great. Then you'll have lots of dead farmers and food riots. Not that it isn't a good idea to get food in the hands of the people, it just seems unfair to the farmers and their families who will be killed as a result. If I were a farmer, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near your little "list."

-- (its@coming.soon), September 16, 1999.

First, you get the farmers' permission (as I have). Second, these are some megaton operations a LONG way out in the sticks. Shortage of gas will automatically filter out the crowds. And these people will be delighted to move a few thousand tons of stuff. Shucks, they *advertise*! I don't have handouts ready yet, but nobody's asking for them yet, either.

Still, your point is well taken, we don't want to inflict a crowd on an unsuspecting farm family. Don't "out" a farmer, thinking that will solve all your problems.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 16, 1999.

(1) Pork prices remain steady at the retail level...but have dropped sharply at the farm.

(2) I give my real e-mail address; if someone needs something from Hawaii, I can try to get it for them. (But I live on Kaua'i, not the Big Island, so wouldn't have the best access to Kona coffee...but have GREAT access to Kaua'i coffees!)

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 16, 1999.

To Whom It May Concern:

"Hmmm... did I hear something about farmers suffering from drought? Something about $1.2 billion in lost crops?"

:-) Big country, don't you know!

Our area had a disaster earlier because production was too high and prices fell below cost for too many...great production this year, according to lots of relatives farming in three states, as well as friends who farm and their relatives. Sorry your friends/relatives didn't do so well...happens here too at times.

If you want to know where things are so good, email me, and I'll tell you. I promise I won't share your real email with anyone.

For the record:

I don't think people here would hesitate to share. Unfortunately, the weather isn't too hospitable for invaders in January. That's why invasions traditionally start in spring, if ground troops are to be used...ha ha. Peaceful comers would be helped. Others would have to hijack a farm before they froze to death, and the weather and neighbors would get to them shortly before or after, I think. Farmers here seem to know their neighbors, and keep a bit of an eye on each other, especially in the winter.

-- S. Kohl (kohl@hcpd.com), September 17, 1999.

bw, I think that is a good idea.

Most people, especially those who have reached adulthood and established some sort of living, can help someone, even if not everyone. That's how people should look at any disaster, anyway. The Golden Rule: Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.

-- S. Kohl (kohl@hcpd.com), September 17, 1999.