By: Edwin Wallace
Ever wonder why the North American economy has continued to 'boom' at a steady rate, or, why there hasn't been a major conflict/attack by the US with/on some unfortunate country - another Vietnam, another "Line in the Sand", or even a Nicaragua or Grenada? I'm talking about the last year or two.
Y2K!
Yes!
The idea I and many others hold that a boost in the economy would be the benefit of making a billion dollars available for cash strapped farmers begins to look like throwing around chump change by comparison.
Never before has a peace-time expenditure of such magnitude been concentrated on a non-human 'enemy' as has been the case with the madness to "Kill the Bug!"
By various estimates that expenditure for North America is considered to have been in the $750 Billion to 1 Trillion dollar range! That is a lot of money!
As a matter of fact, that kind of expenditure rivals any mass expenditures on most if not all "social ills", even most wars; considered by some as the means to the ultimate "social" correction. It is certainly sufficient to buoy the economy.
So, the question arises, what will the next bug-to-be-obliterated? What will keep thousands and thousands of people employed, require the replacement of perfectly good equipment and catch the imagination of the media to keep the whole thing going?
It is hard to imagine. But it seems there are people working on that problem even as I write this. This morning's early CBC news, featured an item out of Toronto. It said the elevators in old hi-rise apartment buildings are too small for stretchers! - even if stood on end! This is a major threat to afflicted people who must be moved out in a prone position!
I buy it. Can you imagine the renovations that will have to be made to thousands of buildings. Special private and government agencies will have to be set up to survey the magnitude of the problem. Government departments will have to arrange for a structure of interest free loans to land lords. Municipal governments and NGOs will be required to estimate the need for public owned property rejuvenation - more paid committee members. A grant structure will have to be created. The strategy development is endless.
And this is only one crisis that we can develop into a full blown economic prop up! With a little imagination we could have many "bugs" eliminated from our midst.
And, PEACE SHALL REIGN!
I'm Edwin