Governments must respond to Y2K now

[Bob Olsen <bobolsen@tao.ca>]

        Governments must respond to Y2K now.
        Governments must respond to Y2K now.
        Governments must respond to Y2K now.


"Michael C. Richardson" <mcr@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca> writes:
>  My opinion is that most of the social problems will be caused by
>people stocking up on food and water supplies, and putting their
>personal welfare ahead societies' welfare.
>
>  The Emergency Measures Act will be used in a manner similar to
>pepper spray was used at APEC.


 My guess is that there is a spectrum of possible Y2K technical
 problems ranging from minimal to catastrophic.  There is a
 similar spectrum of potential social problems.

 Stocking up on food and water would just be a symptom of a wider
 and more dangerous problem.  It would be a symptom of widespread
 fear, which would be a far greater social problem than the
 inconvenience of food and water shortages.

 Even if such shortages were minimal, the fear and apprehension 
 that they might create could threaten some degree of social
 disorder, from theft or robbery of households to food riots.

 Profiteers might increase food prices tenfold or more.  The top
 20% of Canadian and American society have incomes about twenty
 times greater than the bottom 20%.  The top twenty percent of
 society could afford a twenty-fold price increase for food and
 water.

 Such profiteering, by itself, can lead to social disorder,
 as we have recently witnessed in other countries.

 In the face of such threat, or perceived threat, the authorities
 might find excuse to suspend civil rights.

 Thus even minimal technical disruption of our system might lead
 to significant social disorder, either in the form of profiteering
 or theft and rioting or in the suspension of the rule of law and
 democratic processes by authorities intent on preserving order.

 Social order depends on perception.  If some people hope that they
 can make a lot of money by witholding a warehouse full of beans
 from the market and wait for prices to increase, or if others fear
 that their family may be threatened with hunger or if government
 authorities fear any of the above, then we have a significant
 social problem.

 One significant danger is government acting, as is their wont,
 without consulting the public.  Governments were prepared to
 secretly impose the MAI upon us.  Long after the MAI became public
 knowledge, Canadian cabinet ministers continued to deny that it
 even existed.

 The solution (for government authorities monitoring this list)
 is to engage the public in a broad discussion, now.  

 Governments should tell the people now what the Y2K system failure
 possibilities are, tell us what contingency plans governments are
 preparing to deal with those possible system failures.

 IF the people are soon informed by their governments as to the
 extent of the possible system failures from Y2K and the details of
 the governments' contigency plans, there will be greater public
 confidence in the system and less opportunity for political or
 commercial opportunism and less need for, or acceptance of, drastic
 authoritarian measures, such as the suspension of the rule of law.
 
 Aside from what happens as a direct result of Y2K, who will come
 out on top after it is all over?  As we have seen in Russia these
 past few years, those who are at the top of the heap gain even more
 and those at the bottom suffer even more.  Thus, I expect, that 
 whatever else happens, the rich and the powerful will become even
 richer and more powerful as a result of Y2K and that the rest of us
 will be worse off, both economically and politically.

 Unless we take control of the agenda, now, by demanding that our
 governments tell us immediately, what system failures are possible
 as a result of Y2K and what contingency plans they are preparing.

 I am sure that our governments (the bureaucracy) are preparing plans.
 But, they are not telling us about them.  They are not telling us
 about the possible problems that they are identifying or the plans
 that they are preparing for their political masters.  Such secrecy
 is a threat to social order.

 Thus, the biggest problem that I see, is not Y2K, but government
 incompetence and secrecy.

 If you feel moved to respond, I urge you to respond to your elected
 representatives, whether they be state, provincial or federal.  They
 have the authority and responsibility to act and to respond. I don't.

 Further, I would urge you to email your concerns to your friends.

 Bob Olsen        21 December 1998 


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   Bob Olsen, Toronto            bobolsen@tao.ca
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