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The Millennium Bug : Gateway to the Cashless Society?
204 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1998
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September 15, 2023
A CONSERVATIVE AUTHOR MADE DIRE PREDICTIONS FOR THE YEAR 2000
Author Mark Ludwig wrote in the Preface to the 3rd (1998) edition of this 1997 book, “Since the time when I wrote the first edition of this book nine short months ago, the whole scene has changed significantly. We may not have nearly as much time as I first thought to get ready. Coverage of the problem by the press has grown exponentially… the stories making their way into print are getting more and more alarming. The possibility of bank runs is being openly discussed… It won’t be long before we start seeing stories on the national news, and maybe demands for a national emergency… Because of the rapid pace of events, I’ve updated this book to try to keep you up to date on what is happening. I’ve also expanded the section on personal preparedness. Preparing for this one event may be the most important thing you do for the next 15 months, and maybe for the rest of your life. It may be the determining factor in whether you, your children… live free and prosperous lives, or whether you get chained to a system that will increasingly milk you for all you’re worth and leave you poor and dependent. Finally, I’ve abandoned my hopes for a political solution. I’m afraid the politicians are just too stupid to figure this one out. The ones who have figured it out are the ones who want it to happen. Still, there may be a silver lining to this dark cloud looming on the horizon.”
He outlines, “There is some value in looking at a few typical doomsday scenarios… Some computers ARE going to break in 2000. That much is a foregone conclusion, and the extent of the problem this breakdown will create is largely unpredictable… Doomsday Scenario #1: A Failing Business… Even if we assume that 90% of all businesses will be year 2000 compliant … then 10% WON’T BE… That is still a HUGE number… there are many, many different ways things could go wrong to damage a business. The business could fail because it can no longer manufacture and deliver its product due to internal millennium bugs… Doomsday Scenario #2: Revolution… one can ponder what might happen if one of any of a myriad of government payments don’t come through,.. At one level, we can expect total gridlock… Given a lockout, many people simply would not be able to make ends meet… Isolated incidents could turn into riots in areas with a high concentration of people dependent on government payouts… Doomsday Scenario #3: Foreign Invasion… an enemy could interpret even the possibility of computer failure as an invitation to attack at the moment the clock turns over…” (Pg. 29-36)
He states, “The real danger of the millennium bug to the banking system is not the technical problem, but the banking system itself. Fractional reserve banking cold turn a small but reasonable risk which could be compensated for into an out-and-out panic.” (Pg. 75)
He suggests, “the millennium bug could prove to be the ultimate opportunity for those who already wish to create an all-electronic monetary system. Handled shrewdly, the transition to such a system could be made almost overnight, with very little opposition.” (Pg. 111)
He asserts, “An electronic money system not only permits government to exert total control in ‘crisis’ situation. It also permits government to milk the people day-in and day-out, and silence any dissent with a strong hand.” (Pg. 162)
He summarizes, “A panic resulting from the millennium bug will be the chance of a lifetime for those who wish to introduce the cashless society. They know they need a crisis situation to do it, and the millennium bug presents the ideal possibility. Never will they be able to insure greater cooperation from the general public. Never will the public be more ready to lay aside its objections and play along. Never will there be a better time to demonize those who will not go along and silence them. Those who do resist will be forced either to become outlaws and live a tenuous existence underground, or to flee from the country.” (Pg. 203-204)
He concludes, “Those who define the future will not be the slaves of man and money. They will be men and women who have higher ideals, the men and women who cannot, will not and do not live by bread alone. Such will be the builders of the world to come, and they will build that world on the ashes of a fallen civilization… This is our door of hope in a world gone crazy. Let us only be well prepared for the opportunity, lest we miss it, and lest we be counted unworthy to see that day.” (Pg. 205-206)
Of course, nothing ‘big’ happened on Y2K…. and a ‘cashless society’ has not come about, despite the Great Recession of 2007-2009, and the COVID shutdown.
Author Mark Ludwig wrote in the Preface to the 3rd (1998) edition of this 1997 book, “Since the time when I wrote the first edition of this book nine short months ago, the whole scene has changed significantly. We may not have nearly as much time as I first thought to get ready. Coverage of the problem by the press has grown exponentially… the stories making their way into print are getting more and more alarming. The possibility of bank runs is being openly discussed… It won’t be long before we start seeing stories on the national news, and maybe demands for a national emergency… Because of the rapid pace of events, I’ve updated this book to try to keep you up to date on what is happening. I’ve also expanded the section on personal preparedness. Preparing for this one event may be the most important thing you do for the next 15 months, and maybe for the rest of your life. It may be the determining factor in whether you, your children… live free and prosperous lives, or whether you get chained to a system that will increasingly milk you for all you’re worth and leave you poor and dependent. Finally, I’ve abandoned my hopes for a political solution. I’m afraid the politicians are just too stupid to figure this one out. The ones who have figured it out are the ones who want it to happen. Still, there may be a silver lining to this dark cloud looming on the horizon.”
He outlines, “There is some value in looking at a few typical doomsday scenarios… Some computers ARE going to break in 2000. That much is a foregone conclusion, and the extent of the problem this breakdown will create is largely unpredictable… Doomsday Scenario #1: A Failing Business… Even if we assume that 90% of all businesses will be year 2000 compliant … then 10% WON’T BE… That is still a HUGE number… there are many, many different ways things could go wrong to damage a business. The business could fail because it can no longer manufacture and deliver its product due to internal millennium bugs… Doomsday Scenario #2: Revolution… one can ponder what might happen if one of any of a myriad of government payments don’t come through,.. At one level, we can expect total gridlock… Given a lockout, many people simply would not be able to make ends meet… Isolated incidents could turn into riots in areas with a high concentration of people dependent on government payouts… Doomsday Scenario #3: Foreign Invasion… an enemy could interpret even the possibility of computer failure as an invitation to attack at the moment the clock turns over…” (Pg. 29-36)
He states, “The real danger of the millennium bug to the banking system is not the technical problem, but the banking system itself. Fractional reserve banking cold turn a small but reasonable risk which could be compensated for into an out-and-out panic.” (Pg. 75)
He suggests, “the millennium bug could prove to be the ultimate opportunity for those who already wish to create an all-electronic monetary system. Handled shrewdly, the transition to such a system could be made almost overnight, with very little opposition.” (Pg. 111)
He asserts, “An electronic money system not only permits government to exert total control in ‘crisis’ situation. It also permits government to milk the people day-in and day-out, and silence any dissent with a strong hand.” (Pg. 162)
He summarizes, “A panic resulting from the millennium bug will be the chance of a lifetime for those who wish to introduce the cashless society. They know they need a crisis situation to do it, and the millennium bug presents the ideal possibility. Never will they be able to insure greater cooperation from the general public. Never will the public be more ready to lay aside its objections and play along. Never will there be a better time to demonize those who will not go along and silence them. Those who do resist will be forced either to become outlaws and live a tenuous existence underground, or to flee from the country.” (Pg. 203-204)
He concludes, “Those who define the future will not be the slaves of man and money. They will be men and women who have higher ideals, the men and women who cannot, will not and do not live by bread alone. Such will be the builders of the world to come, and they will build that world on the ashes of a fallen civilization… This is our door of hope in a world gone crazy. Let us only be well prepared for the opportunity, lest we miss it, and lest we be counted unworthy to see that day.” (Pg. 205-206)
Of course, nothing ‘big’ happened on Y2K…. and a ‘cashless society’ has not come about, despite the Great Recession of 2007-2009, and the COVID shutdown.
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