This poll from AOL. Reproduced for educational purposes only.

You seem to have already voted. Thanks. There has been much news coverage about the Y2K bug and the havoc it may or may not wreak. You think the coverage it has received is: Malarky. If this hype continues it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 3660 50.0% Right on target. People must be made aware of the potential problems, so they may prepare for them. 3458 47.3% Too mild. It will be the end of the world as we know it! 197 2.7%

Total votes: 7315

You think it is prudent to have the following sum of money on hand to weather any Y2K "storms": $200 3037 41.4% $2,000 3508 47.8% $20,000 626 8.5% $200,000 161 2.2%

Total votes: 7332

Overall, where do you think the market will head in December 1999? Much higher (+10%) 416 5.6% Higher (+5% - 10%) 1027 13.9% About the same (+/- 5%) 2498 33.8% Lower (-5% - 10%) 2126 28.8% Much lower (-10%) 1326 17.9%

Total votes: 7393

Overall, where do you think the market will head in January 2000? Much higher (+10%) 1643 22.2% Higher (+5% - 10%) 2303 31.1% About the same (+/- 5%) 1823 24.7% Lower (-5% - 10%) 902 12.2% Much lower (-10%) 723 9.8%

Total votes: 7394

Over half 58% plan to take out $2,000 or more, but 50% think Y2K is hype and 48% buy into the three day storm. About half think the market will be higher or same in December, while three fourths think the market will be the same or higher in January.

It has been said that the little guy is always wrong about the market. If so, hang on.

The sheeple speak, don't worry, but withdraw cash. It will be interesting to see what a stock market below 10,000 will do for this kind of poll. I think we will get to see this soon.

I think there will be bank withdraw limits in place by Thanksgiving. It's the only hope the Feds can do to stop the house of cards from coming down.

-- Bill (bill@tinfoil.com), October 13, 1999

Answers

Yesterdays Arizona Republic, in the business section, mentioned a poll done by T Rowe Price with over 400 of their mutual fund holders. The big question was Y2k and its effect on their holdings. 90% said they did not plan to make any changes. 10% said they would make minor changes.

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), October 13, 1999.