Frederick Mann
>
>
>Gary North's REALITY CHECK
>Issue No. 22
>May 14, 1998
>
>
>
>
> MOUNT ST. HELEN'S SYNDROME
>
>
>
> In the days before Mount St. Helens exploded in 1980,
>
>the civil authorities sent in teams to warn residents to
>
>get out. A lot of residents refused. "We've heard it
>
>rumble before. We know about these things." No, they
>
>didn't. They stayed. They died. The top blew off with
>
>the force of a 5-megaton nuclear bomb.
>
>
>
> There was a man names Harry Truman who lived close to
>
>the mountain. He was in his 80's. The agent went to him
>
>and warned him. He refused to leave. He'd lived there all
>
>his life, he told the agent. He wasn't about to leave now.
>
>But he did leave. So did his cabin. There was not a trace
>
>of either of them after the eruption.
>
>
>
> One scientist who came to study the volcano was too
>
>close for comfort. He last words over the rafio was,
>
>"There is goes."
>
>
>
> There it went, indeed. Some people refused to
>
>believe it. Some people thought it was a curiosity. Some
>
>people thought it was an opportunity to advance their
>
>careers. They all died.
>
>
>
> The Millennium Bug is the Mt. St. Helen's of the whole
>
>world. We can hear the rumblings. But this time, the
>
>governments have an incentive not to warn people. No one
>
>in authority has any incentive to warn people. It is left
>
>to me and to those who have begun to take me seriously to
>
>warn people. I was the first. A few more are coming on
>
>board. It took months of reading my reports to convince
>
>them.
>
>
>
> I don't know if you are convinced. But I do I know
>
>this: when it blows, it will take everything with it.
>
>
>
>
>
> Foreknowledge Will Make the Panic Worse
>
>
>
> There is no panic comparable to the panic of knowing
>
>well in advance that something really bad is coming, and
>
>then facing the preliminary phase of whatever it is. Panic
>
>disrupts our good judgment.
>
>
>
> Foreknowledge is why the early visible stages of y2k
>
>crisis will panic you far more than it will panic your
>
>neighbors. You already know the signs. You have read my
>
>analyses. You have visited my Web site. You know the
>
>basic y2k story far better than most reporters or
>
>government officials do.
>
>
>
> When I write "December 31, 1998," you know what it
>
>means, don't you?
>
>
>
> When I say "imported noncompliant data," you know what
>
>it means, don't you?
>
>
>
> You may even know why April 1, 1999 is an important
>
>date, other than April Fool's Day.
>
>
>
> Your neighbors don't. They don't care. They don't
>
>want to be told. They sit there, unconcerned. They prefer
>
>it that way. You can't be unconcerned. You know something
>
>devastating this way comes.
>
>
>
> Armenians who went through the 1895 persecution by the
>
>Turks should have known what was coming. They sat. In
>
>1915, a million of them died in the slaughter. Jews who
>
>had read MEIN KAMPF in 1933 should have known what was
>
>coming. They sat. British residents of Singapore could
>
>have gotten out in 1940. They sat. And so it goes.
>
>
>
> There will be escalating disruptions before the
>
>collapse. The media are now beginning to describe y2k's
>
>effects. For now, this is all background noise. People do
>
>not listen carefully. The information does not register.
>
>But it will. When it does, the panic will be like nothing
>
>we have ever read about. It will be total.
>
>
>
> There will come a day when you will say, "North was
>
>right. I've got to get out. My life is on the line."
>
>
>
> The question is: Will that day be the day on which the
>
>mortgage market collapses, destroying the urban housing
>
>market? Will events convince you, or early evidence?
>
>
>
> In panic, we make mistakes. The panic is now
>
>inevitable. It will hit everyone in the West, but not all
>
>at once. The question is: When? More to the point, when
>
>will it hit you? Will you be so situated when it hits that
>
>your hands will be tied, either in safety or great danger,
>
>so that you cannot make major decisions? Will your money
>
>be gone, either because you bought a safer place and
>
>equipment for cash or because the markets are closed?
>
>
>
> You want the panic to hit when you have your
>
>environment as secure as your money today and your brief
>
>remaining time will allow you to buy.
>
>
>
> The longer you wait, the more expensive it will be to
>
>buy that safer environment. But you already know that, in
>
>an intellectual sort of way.
>
>
>
> "Shoulda, woulda, coulda." This familiar phrase has
>
>led more people into ill-timed decisions than almost any
>
>other I can think of. Men hear, but they do not act. They
>
>see others act. They still do not act. They see others
>
>get rich. Then they act. They buy. At the top. You can
>
>substitute fear for optimism. They sell at the bottom.
>
>
>
> But the bottom of y2k disaster will involve much more
>
>than selling out at the bottom.
>
>
>
>
>
> The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Warning
>
>
>
> The greatest threat to this civilization is the
>
>failure of the power grid. About 20% of the power on the
>
>grid comes from America's 108 nuclear power plants.
>
>
>
> The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is required by law
>
>to shut down any plant that does not meet reporting
>
>requirements. At present, no plant is y2k-compliant. The
>
>reports are generated by equipment that may not be able to
>
>function in 2000.
>
>
>
> On Monday, May 11, the NRC sent out a letter to the
>
>plants. They were told they have 90 days to submit a
>
>detailed outline of their plans to get compliant in 1999.
>
>I posted it on my site within hours of its release.
>
>
>
> The NRC had remained quiet since its preliminary
>
>letter of Dec. 24, 1996. Now the agency has made it clear:
>
>no more Mr. Nice Guy. They intend to enforce the law.
>
>
>
> There is no example of any power generation plant that
>
>has reached compliance.
>
>
>
> There is no example of any power plant served 100% by
>
>compliant suppliers.
>
>
>
> There is no indication that there ever will be.
>
>
>
> But the public is oblivious to all this. It just
>
>can't be. They don't want it to be, so it can't be. But
>
>it is.
>
>
>
> If the power grid goes down, you won't make it if
>
>you're in a city. Your present lifestyle will be gone with
>
>the wind. You can still do something about it. But your
>
>time is running out.
>
>
>
>
>
> A Man Who Got Out
>
>
>
> I am including in this issue of REALITY CHECK a report
>
>by a man who got out of a big city: Phoenix. He left for
>
>reasons other than y2k. I think these reasons are still
>
>valid. But they are dwarfed by y2k.
>
>
>
> As you read his report, assume that the power plants
>
>have ceased generating power. That's what it now looks
>
>like will happen.
>
>
>
> I wish I were as far along in my plans as Bob Cale is.
>
>I had him speak at the "Getting Out" conference in
>
>Arkansas. His story is motivational. I can only say, "Go,
>
>thou, and do likewise."
>
>
>
> I will be featuring his practical suggestions from now
>
>on in each issue of REALITY CHECK. People keep asking,
>
>"But what should I do?" Bob will give answers. He is
>
>advising me on my personal preparations. I decided that I
>
>would let him advise you in these reports.
>
>
>
> His advice will be very specific. Some of you will
>
>skip his section. You do not want to face the fact of your
>
>own vulnerability. His specific suggestions, beginning in
>
>the next issue, on what you MUST do before late 1999, will
>
>call attention to your vulnerability. You will block him
>
>out. But I hope most of you will take him seriously. I
>
>hope you will begin budgeting to take advantage of the
>
>opportunities he discusses.
>
>
>
> If you don't budget for y2k now, before the public
>
>catches on, you will be like all those businseses and
>
>governments that refuse to budget for it. A refusal to
>
>budget is the supreme mark of denial. It is time to get
>
>out of denial.
>
>
>
> It is also time to get out of the city.
>
>
>
> * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
>
> 12 REASONS TO LEAVE THE CITY
>
>
>
> Bob Cale
>
>
>
> The decision to pack up and move to another state was
>
>difficult for many reasons -- mainly leaving children,
>
>grandchildren, and friends of many years. On the other
>
>hand, there were 13 main reasons for leaving that I was
>
>100% sure of. Here they are, in no particular order.
>
>
>
> CRIME: I have a long-time friend who has been a 911
>
>operator in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area for many years, and
>
>who says that most people have a false sense of security
>
>concerning 911. The police, and fire and rescue
>
>departments in most major cities are verging on overload
>
>most of the time. The local nightly news is mostly a crime
>
>report.
>
>
>
> WATER: Turn on your tap and you get chlorine,
>
>fluoride, and other assorted poisons in the mix. Not to
>
>mention the old pipes that it flows through. Most of it is
>
>not fit for human consumption, and some isn't safe for
>
>bathing, as your pores are taking in whatever is dissolved
>
>in it. (We used to get notices with our water bills that
>
>said not to drink the water if you are pregnant.) AND,
>
>they charge big money for the privilege of ingesting this
>
>mess. Friends in Concord, No. Carolina pay over $200.00
>
>per month for residential water, and they live on a city
>
>lot. Plus, in many cities, the sewer charge is related to
>
>the water usage. The clincher is that if the electric goes
>
>down the pressurized storage tanks in most cities will only
>
>last 24 to 48 hours. Call your local water department and
>
>ask how long they can supply water after the power goes
>
>down, if you can find anyone who knows.
>
>
>
> ELECTRIC: If you are living in a total electric home
>
>and the power goes down for any length of time you have big
>
>problems. No cooking, lights, hot water, TV, VCR, stereo
>
>(to keep the kids entertained), or even a garage door
>
>opener. The refrigerator and freezer are defrosting at an
>
>alarming rate. There is no security system or computer
>
>which means no e-mail or internet service. How many
>
>flashlights and candles in safe containers do you have?
>
>Even if you have a well, you have an electric pump to move
>
>the water from the well to the house. Now, you need gas in
>
>your car, but if the power is down all over town, the
>
>stations can't pump it, and the grocery store has food
>
>spoiling, and their computer registers are not working.
>
>After a few days, there is not even non-perishable food on
>
>the shelves of the stores and people may be crazy, running
>
>around looting.
>
>
>
>So you decide to stay at home and be safe if you are smart.
>
>Sound like fun yet? Ask the people in Montreal and Maine
>
>who went through 2 to 4 weeks without electric power this
>
>past winter, when people were freezing to death in their
>
>homes, fighting for food, gas cans, firewood, etc...
>
>
>
> HEAT: Unless you are in Hawaii or the deep south, a
>
>disruption in power in winter will shut down your heating
>
>system. You need a passive, non-electric system that needs
>
>no electricity to operate, wood burning stoves and/or
>
>propane wall heaters could keep your family from freezing.
>
>When your neighbors find out you have heat they will move
>
>in with you and help you eat what food you have left.
>
>
>
> AIR CONDITIONING: Hot or hot and humid weather with
>
>no AC, or even fans to move the air around will test even
>
>the most sane among us. If you are in a high tech, high
>
>rise apartment building, you may not even be able to open
>
>the windows, and you certainly won't be able to use the
>
>elevators. You will be in the same boat as the rest of the
>
>tenants as you stand around in the lobby asking what do we
>
>do now?
>
>
>
> TOILETS: Now that the water system is out of water,
>
>how do you flush the toilets? The bathroom begins to take
>
>on the air of a porta-john at a ballpark in the middle of
>
>the summer. Can you go out in the back yard and moon the
>
>neighbors? How many rolls of toilet paper do you have and
>
>can you dig a hole.
>
>
>
> BATHS: Let's all pray for rain so we can catch some
>
>water off the roof or gutter down spout in a bucket and
>
>take a cold sponge bath, and then put on the same clothes
>
>because the washer and dryer aren't working so we can't do
>
>laundry.
>
>
>
> LOCATION: No electricity, no TV or radio. No news
>
>and the phone lines are jammed with everyone trying to
>
>complain to someone and find out when "it" might be fixed.
>
>If you have a battery-operated radio, you may hear the
>
>emergency station telling everyone to stay at home and
>
>inside until power is restored. That is if the emergency
>
>station has enough power in its storage batteries to stay
>
>on the air.
>
>
>
> COST OF LIVING: Big City: High taxes, insurance and
>
>utilities; bureaucratic control over you and your property;
>
>permit for everything you want to do on "your" property.
>
>
>
> TRAFFIC AND LONG LINES: We are hearing about "road
>
>rage" more and more lately. This is just a euphemism for
>
>people out of control. In a big city with traffic jams and
>
>crowded roads everywhere, people get crazy. "Nuts" in
>
>control of lethal weapons with wheels and with high stress
>
>and frustration fueling them cause an increase in
>
>accidents. While you are sitting in the traffic jams, you
>
>are breathing in all that carbon monoxide and when you
>
>finally get where you are going you have to hunt for a
>
>place to park that's as close to the store as you can get,
>
>and a "safe" spot, if there is such a thing. Now get to
>
>the store from your car and find a cart to put your stuff
>
>in. Stand in line and wait while the person in front of
>
>you, forgets something, has merchandise with no bar code
>
>and insists that it is on sale to boot, a price the
>
>computer doesn't have. Finally, mission accomplished, we
>
>are headed home. Maybe next time you'll shop at a later
>
>time at the 24-hour store and risk getting mugged. (One of
>
>the highest risk jobs in the U.S. is late-night clerk in a
>
>convenience store.) Fun and games in the big city.
>
>
>
> PEACE AND QUIET: The noise level in most large cities
>
>is unbelievable and most noticed by those who have been out
>
>of it for a while. Most people manage to tune it out if
>
>they are surrounded by it day in and day out.
>
>
>
> THE BIBLE: "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth."
>
>This is the book that has always been telling us that when
>
>these things come upon us we should flee to the mountains.
>
>Personally, I don't believe that God is going to rapture us
>
>out of here before it gets bad. IT'S ALREADY BAD! The way
>
>to alleviate the stress and concern for the future is to
>
>make a plan and begin to implement it, NOW!
>
>
>
> The benefits of "getting out": I can get up in the
>
>morning, go outside and feed the cows, sheep, goats and
>
>chickens. Give the dogs a pet and breathe the clean, fresh
>
>air. No obnoxious noise, not much traffic going by, the
>
>world could be coming apart and I wouldn't know the
>
>difference.
>
>
>
> What questions do you need to have answered so you can
>
>make your decision? The evidence is before you if you can
>
>see it and know that it is time to do something.
>
>
>
> Whether you are in a safe location and need to modify
>
>it, or you must move to be more secure, there will be some
>
>work and expense, how much, depends on what stage of the
>
>change you are in. If you've been talking about "doing
>
>something" but haven't made any concrete plans, you are
>
>LATE. Some of you may not be able to implement self-
>
>sufficient strategy where you are and must move or be
>
>prepared for some serious disruptions of your comfort zone.
>
>
>
> If you start now implementing a plan you can
>
>accomplish it within 12 months or less. What will it take
>
>to get you moving? Don't wait until the Titanic hits the
>
>iceberg before you get going. You either blow this all off
>
>and hope for the best, or else do something about it. It's
>
>your choice, and only you can make that choice. What's it
>
>going to be? Are you going to have to be spooked really
>
>bad to get going on this? It's your choice because it's
>
>your life. Do something now or be trapped where you are.
>
>
>
> * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
>
> For personal consultations at $100 an hour, Bob Cale
>
>can be contacted at mailto:y2kbobcale@bigfoot.com Anyone
>
>who thinks he can get all of the information he needs to
>
>save his life in the year 2000 in a single one-hour session
>
>in 1998 should not contact Mr. Cale -- Gary North.
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The [one] who knows what freedom is will find a way to be free."
-- Robert LeFevre
"We are free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it."
-- William Faulkner
"Language creates spooks that get into our heads and hypnotize us."
-- Robert Anton Wilson
"It is hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your head."
-- Sally Kempton
"The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."
-- Steve Biko
"The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly self-administered by its
victims. The most perfect slaves are, therefore, those which blissfully
and unawaredly enslave themselves." -- Dresden James
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