Welcome to the Humpty Dumpty Y2K project. For me details, see the description on my web site at http://www.yourdon.com/books/HumptyDumptyY2K/HumptyDumptyY2Khome.html

-- Ed Yourdon (HumptyDumptyY2K@yourdon.com), August 05, 1999

Answers

Ed Thanks for working in this area. It is a topic of increased interest to our local county y2k committee. It is also an individual interest.

Bill Georgi aka...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), August 06, 1999.

In your Introduction you say "...it's quite possible that Y2K will bring about a profound change in our culture, our values, and our priorities."

I agree and, therefore, think that considerable thought should be given to how our values/priorities might change because they will, in large part, probably determine the directions we take and the changes we end up making.

It seems to me that post Y2K values might be a result of (1) what actually happens because of Y2K and (2) which pre-existing, value-based social change movements emerge most strongly.

My guess is that there may well be a struggle between those wanting more central control (to get things back to "normal" as quickly as possible) and those wanting more decentralization (perhaps with an emphasis on local control, worker ownership, sustainability, direct democracy, etc.).

Needless to say, there will probably be differences of opinion as to how to proceed. It would be interesting to speculate on what public forums would be used to hash out the differences.

There is already a small but growing segment of the population who are decrying what they see as rampant materialism, social inequality and environment destruction.

If the whole military/industrial/media/banking/political machine grinds to a halt or even falters, would this group be able to recruit enough adherents to a more "spiritual" approach to make a difference in society?

Or would they be seen as irrelevant when the most pressing need for the majority of people will be in putting food on the table and rebuilding shattered lives?

In any case, I hope you give considerable thought to the values that will underly any material changes that are made.

Thanks for embarking on such an interesting and provocative project.

dhg

-- David Goldberg (dhgold@pacbell.net), August 07, 1999.

Ed,

Welcome back !

Thanks for creating the Humpty Dumpty environment and inviting us to contribute to your next venture. I intend to be an active participant. Sure brings me back to the original TimeBomb 2000 days. I was blown away on how useful a discussion forum could be in a publishing environment.

I am hoping this environment will be less polly/doomer than the Y2K discussion forum. Perhaps the theme of "high percentage of significant events to come," but lets get past the whys and wherefors of the Y2K details and focus on "how to make thing better" will provide a narrower topic area and generally more constructive comments.

FYI - my main interests (where I will likely contribute the most) are Chaper 6 on Banking and Finance and Chapter 8 on industry/economy/jobs.

Glad to participate !!!

Jim jstanden@ucalgary.ca (as always, the real e-mail address)

-- Jim Standen (jstanden@ucalgary.ca), August 11, 1999.

Ed, Glad to see more of you again.

I tend to try to see both extremes of the matrix in the same ways as you describe in your text. I think some of the areas will be extreme, while others will be mild with no real linearity or "clean cut" senarios.

I've been studying the Y2k problem trying to look at both ends of the spectrum for some 3+ years and have had the opportunity or dis-opportunity, depending on how one looks at it, to experience both the lack of awareness and lack of appropriate resources being given to this problem in the health care industry. Some of these apparent blinders are just due to the bizzare nature of the industry attitudes in general, the greed and abuse of power of certain factions of the buisiness, and just plain not having enough interest from the leadership to appropriately address a problem which is now grown to a monumental one in an extremely important portion of the local, regional, and national infastructure.

I would love to contribute as you see fit in my area of expertise.

Sincerely, Jim

-- Jim Deinlein (jim3030@home.com), August 12, 1999.