Updated: 18 Nov. 1998

As the year 2000 approaches, and concern over Y2K bugs grows, we are beginning to hear rumblings from government officials about the possibility of imposing martial law or other drastic measures if the crisis becomes as severe as some have predicted. Aside from stripping us of our rights, such measures are likely to make things much worse; I would rank martial law right next to eating ground glass on my list of Things That Improve A Crisis Situation.

We cannot wait until the crisis is upon us to speak out against martial law, for by then it will be too late. We must begin now to turn public opinion against the idea of martial law -- and other drastic government interventions -- as a solution to possible Y2K disturbances. I intend for this page to be a clearinghouse for information about plans to impose martial law, and arguments against its imposition. But I'm just getting started at the moment, so there's still a lot missing.

How Bad is the Y2K Problem?

• The Year 2000 Problem and You. This article discusses the problem and why it is likely to cause serious disruptions in your life. Short version.

• Gary North's Y2K Links. North is an alarmist, but his links page is a treasure trove of articles relevant to Y2K.

• Y2Ktoday. Get the latest developments on the Y2K issue.

Martial Law: Coming Soon to Your Neighborhood?

The typical governmental response to a crisis is to ignore constitutional limits and seize more power. It's what Abraham Lincoln did during the Civil War, when he suspended the writ of habeas corpus and imposed an (at that time) unconstitutional income tax. It's what Franklin Roosevelt did during the Great Depression, when he threw Japanese-Americans into prison camps and seized control of manufacturing and agriculture. So we shouldn't be surprised at governmental power grabs in a crisis; they are to be expected.

• Government Officials Discuss Possibility of Martial Law.

• What Will the Government Really Do in a Y2K Crisis? Executive orders are already in place authorizing the federal government to seize all communications media, utilities, food supplies, farms, means of transportation, and housing, and to conscript U.S. citizens into federally-supervised labor camps, in the event of a national emergency.

• The FEMA plan to take over government. This quote from the Army War College's journal Parameters is of special interest, as it illustrates the government's attitude:

  "Strategic leaders can take solace in the lessons learned from military participation in domestic disaster relief, for the record indicates that legal niceties or strict construction of prohibited conduct will be a minor concern. The exigencies of the situation seem to overcome legal proscriptions arguably applicable to our soldiers' conduct. Pragmatism appears to prevail when American soldiers help their fellow citizens."

• Barr Exposes Department of Justice Power Grab. Among other things, the DoJ is lobbying for loosening of Posse Commitatus restrictions to allow more military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

• Liar's Poker. By all accounts, the Federal Government is woefully unprepared for the year 2000, and is in much worse shape than the private sector. This article reports how federal bureaucracies have been caught lying about their progress in fixing Y2K problems. It looks like the federal government will be in desperate straits come 2000. And desperate people often resort to extreme and violent measures...

• Gary North's martial law links.

Forceful Government Action: Containing the Crisis or Exacerbating It?

This is still in the works, but at present I have one article:

• There's Some Good in Gouging. How much should merchants charge for goods in desperately short supply during a crisis? All the market will bear.

How you can help. This project is too big for one person, part-time, to handle alone. Your help is greatly needed.

You can contact me at ksvhsoft@xmission.com.