Following Alan Whirlwind's lead, I tuned into one Gary North,
a presumed expert on the year 2000 bug, on Monday last. Mr.
North was a guest on the Art Bell late night radio show. Suf-
fice it to say, Gary North is seemingly convinced that 31 De-
cember 1999 will prove to be the last day of Western civil-
ization as we know it. Mr. North expects the North American
electric power grid, the US Post Office, the railroads, the
banking system, the US government, et cetera to collapse under
the weight of the year 2000 bug. To protect himself, Mr. North
has sold and otherwise liquidated his estate, moved onto "60
acres in a safe area," installed a well, sunk two huge natural
gas tanks into the ground, installed a self-contained electric
generating system on the property, and laid up two years' supply
of food. He recommends that all his subscribers take similar
precautions. When asked by Art Bell what he(North) would do
were he appointed the Y2K czar with omnipotent powers, North
responded unhesitatingly, "Resign the next day, and head for
the hills." Needless to relate, Mr. North does not think any
measures can now be taken to prevent total calamity other than
to prepare oneself as he has done. Indeed, North asserts that
the US government is now assembling contingency plans for
bank holidays, rationing of currency and myriad "stuff," im-
position of martial law, and widespread detention of obdurate
citizens pursuant to a possible Y2K triggered breakdown of
order.
I do not know whether Gary North is a prophet or a madman.
It is an understatement to say that only time will tell. However,
Aesop's fable regarding the grasshopper and the ant may be in-
structive here, in any case. Suffice it to say, North's web page
is not recommended as soothing bedtime reading.
See: garynorth.com |
