What has been Done

The Year 2000 Problem.
(What Has Been Done)

At this point let us look at the situation and try to analyse what has already been done, or is being done about this problem. Certainly it has to be admitted that things are happening and action is being taken on an ongoing basis. For evidence of this we only need to look at a few areas to find examples of this action. Banks for instance are already deep into the process of ensuring that all their systems are year 2000 complient. This may not be true in 100% of cases but at least the problem is being tackled. Credit cards are being issued with an expiry date of year 2000 embedded in them. Loan accounts running into the year 2000 are up and running on their systems, to give just two examples. Supermarkets and their suppliers are a further example where action has started and would appear to be progressing well. Goods can be seen with an expiry date into the year 2000, which means that the Supermarkets stock control is accepting dates into the next century. What other things can be readily seen as having been made complient, or in the process of being made complient. ? Personal Computers or home computers and software, now being sold are, and should, all be complient. Buyers of new equipment or software in this area should beware and insist on a demonstration, or a written guarantee that what they are buying is complient. Holidays etc; are being booked into the year 2000 therefore travel agents and airlines systems are, to a certain extent at least, year 2000 complient.
There are obviously many 'hidden' things such as national telephone, electricity, and water supply systems that we cannot tell from everyday observance whether they have been made complient or not. It is these items and many more like them where we the general public need to be vigilant and if necessary ask questions of persons in authority in these areas. The sudden shut down or disruption of telephones and electricity and water supplies, on a national and/or international level, in the early days of the year 2000 is too horrific to contemplate, and we should not therefore be complacent and adopt the attitude "it will be alright", but ensure by asking questions that it will in fact be alright on the day. Ordinary questions to personnel within these industries will almost certainly receive a standard form of answer such as 'it is being dealt with and will be fully complient' but we should not be satisfied with such answers. All democratic countries have local and nationaly elected representatives who are responsible to their electors. Now is the time, if there ever was a time, to use the powers invested in these elected persons to ask all the right questions of Governments and local and national authorities. It is not a case of panic, but neither is it a case for lethargy, but a time for quiet but firm action.


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