Paul,
<It makes me sick to my stomach that the Clinton Administation is preaching doom and gloom about a 2010 phenomena that may never happen while continuing to ignore a year 2000 phenomena which will almost certainly happen.>
If you're referring to what was on NIGHTLINE last night - about terrorists possibly getting into our computers - I had the same reaction.
However, I stood back and looked at this in a different way. You see, I read the Commission's Report last week, before anything was on NIGHTLINE. Every aspect of our infrastructure (featured in the report) will be negatively affected by Y2K.
My take on this, is that this is a way to start making people aware of what "infrustructure" is ... and our vulnerability due to, and interdependency on, computers. The average person can understand "terrorism", but they don't understand "Y2K".
As frustrated as I was, because they were talking about terrorism instead of Y2K ... what came out of the segment was how vulnerable we are. How inter-related the system is. This is the primary message that must be gotten out FIRST, to create understanding.
Listen, I'm a cynic when it comes to government. BUT ... the public first has to be educated about vulnerability and inter-dependency. Too many people wear blinders.
Though this terrorism deal is stupid IMHO, I think we're gonna start seeing more "vulnerability of infrastructure" stories.
I think terrorism is a red-herring. It's just a way to capture attention & educate ... without creating panic. I think they're laying the groundwork to bring Y2K into the picture sometime next year.
I can't believe I'm actually defending the government, and thinking that they actually have a strategy here!
Whether they're doing this intentionally or not. It makes sense. I just hope Y2K gets tied into the picture REAL soon. Anyway you cut it ... there will be MAJOR upheaval and disruption in almost every aspect of our lives.
Cheryl
President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection
pccip.gov |
