My feeling about the fed gov being concerned about my topping off my gas tank is fear. Hey, I thought that when a 3 day storm is imminent that it is prudent to fill ones tank with gas and foolish to neglect to do so. Now we have the fed gov saying don't do the prudent thing. What the hell? I don't care about doomers or pollies. I have been following this Y2K question for 2 years and I refuse to label myself as either. Once I accept one of these labels I will have given up my indepence of thought concerning Y2K. It is obvious that the fed gov is either running scared or it is engaged in a program of manipulation. We all know that when the voice say please walk to the exits, that is when the stampede begins. It just seems to me that they are either looking for reasons for MARSHALL LAW or it is completely hapless, confused and scared. I am leaning toward - the gov is manipulating the public to cause the people to react with fear thereby naking it easier to explain an official state of emergency. What ever happend to the "3 day storm" scenario? Look, any one with any reasoning ability can only feel anxiety at the Gov saying don't top up your gas tank. This is an admission that fuel will be a PROBLEM after the CDC. Please, have and keep an open mind, no matter what label you wear. Fill 'er up!

-- My (mind@is.open), December 23, 1999

Answers

I think you'd be very surprised if you knew just how many people never pay attention to what the fed gov says.

-- (no@big.deal), December 23, 1999.

Looks like I'm gonna start keeping it topped off every other day or so, even if it takes only a gallon or two. So much for government "suggestions". :-)

-- A (A@AisA.com), December 23, 1999.

I got a chance to see Richardson's performance on CSPAN this morning as it aired. The guy really is THAT dumb. He's dumber than mud. He made some trite comment about being able to get gas "and maybe even some Pokemon cards". Unfortunately for you and I this is a harbinger of doom. This dork and all his friends have been spinning the "it's no problem strategy" that they neglected to take human nature into account. They also convinced everyone in the industry that it really wasn't a problem to start with. Besides, as SOON as you tell someone not to think of a pink elephant, it's the first thing on their mind. Richardson pointed out the elephant today. Unfortunately, he may be to late. Supply is already being affected by consumer behavior. What's more, my guess is that most of the country is in piss poor shape "regardless of terrorism" "regardless of panic" and "regardless of the record setting nasdaq". We're in TARFU right now, we passed SNAFU a month back and we're careening toward FUBAR very, very quickly.

I was reminded of Kevin Bacon in Animal House in the final parade scene where he's yelling "All is well,,,,remain calm,,,,alllll iiisss weelllll!!!!"

For educational and research purposes only: Thursday December 23 1:13 PM ET Energy Secretary Sees Adequate Y2K Fuel Supply

Reuters Photo By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said on Thursday there would be plenty of gasoline supplies for the New Year's weekend, but urged drivers not to hoard motor fuel.

Advising motorists to treat New Year's like other major travel holidays such as the Fourth of July, Richardson said, ''It's important that we not hoard this gasoline.''

``There's no need for drivers to rush out and top off their tanks right before the year ends,'' he said.

Many Americans are planning to buy a full tank of gasoline, along with extra food, water and batteries as a precaution against any Y2K computer problems.

Although U.S. gasoline stocks are down 9.2 percent from a year ago, Richardson said oil companies had prepared for the extra gasoline demand expected around Jan. 1 and that drivers only needed half a tank of gasoline.

``Halfway is OK for Y2K,'' he said during a news briefing at a BP Amoco gas station near the Capitol.

The American Automobile Association also said that gasoline supplies should be adequate and cautioned drivers not to top off their gas tanks unless they were planning a long trip.

``We're urging motorists not to create an artificial problem by 'topping off' unnecessarily,'' said AAA spokesman Stephen Hayes.

There is normally a 30-day supply of gasoline available, but oil firms are planning extra shipments to handle higher demand, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

As long as there is electricity, consumers should not have trouble pumping gasoline because pumps do not depend on a computer chip to operate, said John Distad, whose family has run the Capitol Hill BP Amoco station for 40 years.

But he said some gasoline stations across the country may experience Y2K computer problems that could make it difficult for drivers to pay for their fuel purchases at pumps with credit cards.

Distad said his pumps had been upgraded, so his station should not have a problem with card purchases. But he said that as a precaution, BP Amoco mailed all its dealers paper forms for the old hand-held sliding machines that imprint credit cards.

``If that happens, we can switch our pumps to manual mode and stand there and collect (payments) like we used to,'' he said.

-- Gordon (g_gecko_69@hotmail.com), December 23, 1999.

Richardson looked very nervous on CSPAN today. It looks like he would be a lot happier if Billy Boy said he could go the West Virginia bunker instead of acting as front-person for a doomed administration.

-- cgbg jr (cgbgjr@webtv.net), December 23, 1999.

my take:

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,33270,00.html

                     DOE Steps On the Gas 
                     by Declan McCullagh (declan@wired.com)

                     12:20 p.m. 23.Dec.1999 PST 
                     WASHINGTON -- Bill Richardson may have
                     a Secret Service driver and go
                     everywhere with a police escort, but he
                     sure knows how to use a gas pump -- as
                     a convenient photo op, that is. 

                     The Secretary of Energy posed Thursday
                     in front of a self-service island at an
                     Amoco station on Capitol Hill to assure
                     Americans that they should have few Y2K
                     worries. 

                     "Fuel pumps will be working," Richardson
                     said. "There will be some glitches, but in
                     the end we'll be ready." 

                     An Energy Department-provided sign in
                     front of him depicted a gas gauge --
                     "1/2: OK for Y2K" -- and Richardson
                     stressed that there's no need to fill your
                     car's gas tank: "The message we want to
                     convey to the public is that half a tank is
                     sufficient." 

                     The reason for his caution, of course, is
                     simple supply-and-demand: Gas stations
                     and oil companies generally have enough
                     fuel on hand for everyday circumstances.
                     But sharply increased demand for gas
                     could result in higher prices, rationing,
                     lines, or shortages. 

                     [...]

-- Declan (declan@y2kculture.com), December 23, 1999.

Martial law, funny you should bring that up. I went to Bass Pro Shops/Outdoor World yesterday. Being the nosy type, I asked a person behind the gun counter why they no longer sold Glock pistols, since they had always had a very large selection. He said we sell them, but we can't buy them. Now I usually require a somewhat logical answer to simple questions, plus of course being nosy, I pushed on ahead. What do you mean I ask? He said that the Government was buying all the Glock pistols being made and that they were not able to get any in stock. Hmmm I wonder why they're doing that? I can just see a Government agent pointing a Glock at some poor old lady at the gas pump. Mam I would'nt top off that tank If I were you.

-- ~***~ (~***~@earth.ebe), December 23, 1999.

Keeping gas in your tanks is the only prudent thing to do. As a matter of fact, everytime the government says not to do something that's not illegal, I go ahead and do it. I have always been the type to question authority especially those that say "don't do as I do but do as I say." And those "don't touch, wet paint" signs--the paint is never wet.

-- definat one (defiantone@defiantonee.xcom), December 23, 1999.

Does anyone else see a patteren?

Prepare for a 2 week storm! (wait a minute, there isn't two weeks worth in the system for everyone....)

Ok, Prepare for a 3 day storm! (but wait again, there isn't enough for that even?)

Y2k disruptions will be minimal to non-existant! (repeat, repeat again) (but wait, there will be disruptions, it's inevidible)

Ok, few if any disruptions, Here's how to prepare for the three day storm, but don't worry, everything will be fine. You may want to top off your gas tank... (wait, there isn't enough gas.... oh bother...)

Ok, don't top off your gas tank, not nessacary!

The reality is there are few resources to prepare adequately.

-- Pondering Quietly (Think@breathe.free), December 23, 1999.

Put off buying gas till the last thing because of any storage danger and even though I got lots of Sta-Bil, was worried about the gas getting old. Anyway I'm at the local Exxon with five 6 gal containers filling them up. One of several trips. Each time drew a small crowd around me. People kept asking questions like how much water for how long, what kind of food to get, I got kids and I'm scared what should I do? etc. Other than that nobody noticed or cared. This is real sad. Those folks who came up with the idea of let's not tell anybody for their own good, should be dragged into the center of town and stoned. After the gas went to the bank to get the last of the cash, no problem. Only question was "Did I want all hundreds or what?". Took it all in twentys.

-- John Malone (paranoid@mybunker.com), December 23, 1999.

The Gov can kiss my gas cap!

-- Bubba Smith (duck&cover@tshtf.com), December 23, 1999.

Leaving soon, and driving a tank and a 1/4 distance from the nation's Capitol. today I went to the local hardware store, was picking up some more supplies. As I wandered around, I figured I would ask about gas cans. The salesclerk looked at me and asked, "What size?" and I said, "Well, what do they come in? 2, 5, 10?"

He said, "Well, I normally carry the 5's, but I'm cleaned out. (Pause, both of us looking up at the top shelf. He gets on the ladder and looks and spots one left in the way back.) Continuing. "I thought the Marines had cleaned me out! But here is one if you want it."

Remaining calm, and with my best DGI smile,"Yeah, I'll take it, I guess." Then I asked, "Marines?"

And before I could say anything else he said "Y2K don't ya know! The Mayor tells us nothing's going to happen and then the Marines have a warehouse full of stuff in Northeast."

-- rw (ridleywalker@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

I think you'd be very surprised if you knew just how many people never pay attention to what the fed gov says.

It's best to listen, figure out why they said something that doesn't make sense then take the correct course.

-- Slobby Don (slobbydon@hotmail.com), December 23, 1999.

After Clinton gave that talk about how him and Hillary weren't buying extra milk or bread, me and the wife beat a path to Sam's.

-- Bubba Smith (duck&cover@tshtf.com), December 23, 1999.

Why the confusion? It's very straightforward: No matter WHAT happens, they can say, see, this is just as we told you.

-- Scarecrow (Somewhere@over.rainbow), December 23, 1999.

The obvious thing to do is to fill your spare tanks NOW...and fill up your tank about wednesday or thursday of next week...and don't drive a lot after that.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), December 23, 1999.

Agreed - fill up now - and Stabil is cheap insurance to add. I had 6 5 gallon containers a week ago...until the gubmint's announcements that (1) return your generator and (2) gas is fine - don't fill up. Now have 15 containers, all filled, in the storage shed (plus filled the generator tank.) Car tanks are topped off, and will stay that way.

-- Ford Prefect (bring@your.towel), December 23, 1999.

Atta-way! Keep 'em filled.

-- John Malone (paranoid@mybunker.com), December 24, 1999.