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[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1999 By Michael Hyatt Martial law 2000

I'm often asked if I think it's possible we might face martial law in 2000 as a result of Y2K. Yes, I definitely think it is a possibility. A lot of it depended on how much contingency planning was done before the end of the year.

It has been my contention from the beginning that, to best prepare, our citizens needed: full and accurate disclosure about Y2K, including the fact that we are not going to get all of our mission-critical systems fixed on time; information regarding the fact that there will be disruptions in some of our critical infrastructure; and encouragement to make reasonable contingency plans in their personal lives and communities;

If these thing had been done, the technological failures, whether they be small or great, would help prevent making the situation worse by adding to it the very real risk of public panic. In fact, this is precisely what I told Congress last fall.

Unfortunately, the Clinton administration has done the exact opposite of what I suggested.

Instead of giving us full disclosure, they have overstated progress on numerous occasions and launched an aggressive campaign of disinformation.

Instead of warning us about the inevitability of disruptions, they have assured us that Y2K will be no worse than a "bump in the road," nothing more than the equivalent of a three-day winter storm.

Instead of encouraging contingency plans, they have repeatedly characterized people like me as doomsayers and people who prepare as survivalist wackos.

Their job has been relatively easy, given the fact that most Americans are addicted to prosperity and do not want to contemplate the notion that their precious little lives might be disrupted. The media have also been a willing accomplice with their never-ending attempts to link Y2K with various conspiracy theories, end-time prophecies, and financial scams. When you brought up Y2K a few months ago, people seemed to be genuinely concerned; now they merely chuckle. It is no longer fashionable to take it seriously.

As a result, they are going to end up contributing to the very thing they have said that they are trying to prevent: panic. From my perspective, the only thing that will prevent this now is an abrupt change of policy. If this doesn't happen, then martial law might later appear to be the lesser of two evils and the only reasonable choice when panic erupts. I just hope this wasn't the strategy all along.

URL: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_hyatt/19991220_xcmhy_martial_la.shtml

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...(not hittin the)...

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 20, 1999

Answers

The conspirational tone of this piece doesn't add to Hyatt's credibility, but it does fit nicely on the WND site.

-- Buster (BustrCollins@aol.com), December 20, 1999.

"conspirational tone ", yes, but the facts are right. The Administration has overstated achievment and the press has supported those statements and not questioned them. "Call a spade a spade and let the chips fall where they may", my Grandfather always said.

-- chicken farmer (chicken-farmer@ y2k.farm), December 20, 1999.

Micheal Hyatt is conservative and makes every effort ,IMHO,to back things up with facts. I'm a member at his site and visit daily. Flakes are banned in a hurry and scare tactics based on hearsay are stopped quickly. So if he thinks ML is a possibility, I wouldn't dismiss it. Just hide and watch. I will be surprised if it is called Martial Law. something more politically correct like a national emergency probably...

-- morgan (bitbybit@eoni.com), December 20, 1999.

You don't have to hit the snooze button, Our society has already unplugged the clock.

-- Squid (ItsDark@down.here), December 20, 1999.

When it comes to Y2k, there are no relavent facts, only viewpoints. Now some viewpoints are more "educated" than others, but there's not one person on this green earth that has a handle on the situation.

-- Buster (BustrCollins@aol.com), December 20, 1999.

Buster.......

That is exactly why I prepare. And that is the only CAMP I belong to.

Prepare, Prepared, still preparing........

-- Tommy Rogers (Been there@Just a Thought.com), December 20, 1999.

I knew I smelled a conspiracy brewing!

Frank

-- Frank McGraw (communic@excite.com), December 21, 1999.