Message-ID: <19981215184234.AAA24643@LOCALNAME> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 14:40:39 -0400 From: Kerry Miller <mailto:kerryo@NS.SYMPATICO.CA> Subject: Re: Y2K endangers the global food supply To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Jay Hanson wrote:{ Simply put, what we do—as nations, states, businesses, { families and individuals—in the next twelve months, may well determine { what, when, and if we will eat in the year 2000 and beyond.
Since the bug is almost entirely in *accounting* systems, perhaps the rationalists among us can give us an estimate of the cost of simply giving away the goods and groceries to anyone whose credit card, SSN, etc is demonstrably screwy *as long as it takes to fix their particular record*. My guess is the 'developed' world could declare a moratorium on all such expenses for a week or two and still not exceed the $4b the pundits think the 'seamless' a priori conversion will cost.
In case this strategy needs further explanation, let me insert it here before someone assiduously pooints out that nuclear warheads and such are not '"accounting" and that therefore my "proposal" fails:
A. It is consistent with the growing momentum for international debt forgiveness;
B. It addresses the problem on a case by case basis rather which is in every other human situation is infinitely simpler in the long run than the full slather strategy with all its exceptions and grandfathering and barrel-rolling.
C. It provides an incentive not only for each 'injured party' to check in early but for each affected supplier to discover what its real costs are.
Think about it; all constructive emendments and considerations are welcome.
kerry