http://www.jsonline.com/polls/y2k/

Register your vote at the above site. Compare the results to the larger survey. Think the paper will print the online results? Don't hold your breath.

For the story the local rag ran, see http://www.jsonline.com/bym/tech/0126survey.asp

Many aren't too worried about Y2K, survey says Although 1 in 5 who knows about glitch plans to buy a generator or set aside cash By Dave Umhoefer of the Journal Sentinel staff

January 26, 1999

One in five metro Milwaukee residents aware of the year 2000 computer glitch plans to buy a generator, and one in four will stockpile food and water in anticipation of problems, according to the "Metro Pulse" poll conducted by the Journal Sentinel and the Public Policy Forum.

One in five plans to set aside a large amount of cash, according to the survey of residents of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties.

The poll found that a healthy minority -- 43% -- described themselves as somewhat or very concerned about the Y2K computer bug. A clear majority -- 57% -- said they were not too concerned or totally unconcerned.

"It's hard to know what to think," one respondent, Phyllis Fisher, told a reporter. "I'd like to be halfway ready for something."

For Fisher, a West Allis resident, the approach of the millennium brings worries that the government disability checks she relies on might be delayed or lost. She'd like to buy a generator just to be safe but can't afford one, she says.

Others seemed confident that the end of the world as we know it -- or even significant disruptions -- are not around the corner.

"I think it's being blown out of proportion," said Ann Donald, a Milwaukee respondent. "We've come this far, so it's hard to believe things are going to come to a halt because of a computer problem."

Donald, like others surveyed, thinks that whatever challenges pop up can be tackled.

Thomas Radomski, a federal employee in Milwaukee, said his two sons in the computer business don't seem very troubled by the snag.

As his sons no doubt well know, many computers might misread the year 2000 as 1900, causing program failures unless the problem is fixed before the date change. Experts disagree over the potential for disruption of power grids, water supplies and other critical services.

"It's more hype than actuality," Radomski said. "I just can't believe the whole United States has to shut down over this."

The uncertainty over the science-fiction-sounding plot has people hedging their bets. It was not hard in the survey to find people who said they are unconcerned but still expect to stock up on food, guns or cash.

It was also not difficult to find people who seemed concerned but not enough to motivate them to take any action except setting aside cash.

Even some skeptics were keenly aware that some of their friends take an opposite view.

Donald, for example, was planning an overseas trip to celebrate the millennium, but a friend begged off over fears that airline travel will be unsafe if air traffic control is damaged.

In the survey, more than three-fourths said they were aware of the problem, but just 12% of those people described themselves as "very concerned" about it. On the other end of the scale, 23% saw no problems.

The Journal Sentinel poll was based on a random sampling of 600 people, 461 of whom had heard about the 2000 computer issue.

The telephone poll, which had a margin of error of 4 percentage points, was conducted Jan. 11 to 18. During the interviewing period, the Journal Sentinel reported on the front page that a national survey shows Wisconsin as lagging most state governments in putting into place required Y2K fixes.

Top state officials blasted that survey as inaccurate and misleading and said Wisconsin was on track to readiness.

To obtain a copy of the results, call the Public Policy Forum at (414) 276-8240.

[End of story.] For my response, see http://www.jsonline.com/bin/ubb/Forum124/HTML/000056.html

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), January 26, 1999

Answers

It's all about spin control.

see:

http://www.wired.com/news/print version/politics/story/17527.html?wnpeg=all

Feds don't want to panic the sheeple.

-- Deborah (lwhitlat@ix.netcom.com), January 26, 1999.

Steve, I took the on-line poll - twice. Just wanted to see if there was a mechanism in place to catch me. The percentages on the results page of the on-line poll changed to reflect new data. I don't know how polls work, but the fact that you can do it many times seems like the data could end up being very inaccurate.

-- shivermetimbers (zerodegrees@brrrr.com), January 26, 1999.

I think my favorite quote was the woman who said she'd "like to be halfway ready for something".

ack! just ack!

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), January 26, 1999.