Today’s edition of The Washington Post included several articles about the current “threat status” as determined by the office of Homeland Security. The one that I love pretty much sums it up: Vague Fears, Real Concerns: Residents and Businesses Prepare — but for What?.
As a native Washingtonian I’ve always known that I live at ground zero. Back when the Soviet Union was our worst nightmare it became a given that in the event of a nuclear war anyone in DC was pretty much dead. Hell, if they aimed for New York and hit Wheeling, WV we’d all be toast. This is why I don’t understand the fuss.
There are runs on supplies here. Bottled water, duct tape, and plastic sheeting are flying off the shelves like the stuff is going out of existence. This is the same 3M plastic sheeting designed to “winterize” your windows. You know the stuff…it doesn’t even keep cold air out.
People are panicking. There are thousands of people walking around with wads of cash in their pockets, following the recommendation of the geniuses at Homeland Security (is it just me, or does everyone have the sudden urge to put on jackboots and a brown shirt when ever someone says those two words together?).
I’m supposed to have liter of water per person per day on hand for how long? Ever?
OK…scared people, no supplies, big wads of cash…does this sound like a recipe for looting? Add media hype, stir, simmer for two days, and you’re done!
Friday is the last day of the hajj and the government believes this would be a prime opportunity for an attack on the U.S.
Just what Muslim holy day was September 11, 2001?
USA Today has told all its reporters and support staff to work from home on Friday. So…being in Fairfax or Alexandria or Gaithersburg is going to materially improve the chances of survival over being Arlington?
The DC area is a sardine can folks. If something is going to happen, it’s going to affect all of us. Spending thousands of dollars on unnecessary supplies is not going to save you because the reality is that if something does happen, there’s no way you will have been able to lay in enough supplies, or develop the survival skills you’ll need in a world without city water and grid power in the two days the Bush Administration has been having its jumped up, monkey suited excuse for thugs scare the shit out of everybody.
We’ve all got to die sometime. Let’s just have some fun before we get there.
In other news, I think we have proven that there is a God, or at least that someone out there has a very sharp, very twisted sense of humor.