Neither the World Nor the United States is Beyond Panic and Archy

If you believe the United States is above panicking remember the 1973 Toilet Paper shortage caused by Johnny Carson on his Tonight Show?

 

On December 19, 1973, the writers for the show had heard earlier the federal government was falling behind in getting bids to supply toilet paper and that it might be possible that in a few months the United States could face a shortage of toilet tissue. They took the words of the Wisconsin congressional representative and decided to add a joke for Carson for the evening show.

 

Carson used the joke in a monologue stating, "You know what's disappearing from the supermarket shelves? Toilet paper. There's an acute shortage of toilet paper in the United States."

 

20 million people that watched the Carson show that evening ran out in the morning and bought as much toilet paper as they could carry. By noon on December 20, 1973, practically every store in America was out of stock. Many of the stores tried to ration this valuable paper but they could not keep up with the demand no matter what they did.

 

A few nights later, Johnny Carson explained there was no shortage and he apologized to his viewers. However, this did not help with the scare. As soon as people noticed the empty shelves, they wanted this paper even more.

 

It took a total of three weeks to get the shelves stocked again and the shortage was over.

 

Now consider what could happen when the subject is oil, water, corn, etc. The problem is the world is running out of oil, the world is overusing the primary water sources, and between a lack of water and using corn for fuel we a shortage is in the future.