Woody Harrelson deserves an Oscar for his phenomenal performance as Charlie Frost in the lackluster apocalyptic film “2012,” not for his acting ability, but for the fact that he actually almost convinced a whole state that a doomsday epidemic is imminent. Yes, that’s right – a whole state.

Wyoming Republican State Rep. David Miller, in a pre-emptive, post-apocalyptic measure, proposed House Bill 85 (dubbed the “Wyoming Doomsday Bill”), which, if passed, demanded the state to establish its own task force, government, food resource, currency and the allocation of $16,000 to study various emergency measures in case the looming catastrophic event were to occur.

Thankfully, the bill was denied by the state legislature.

There were even some measures that were omitted from the bill to increase the chance of its approval. These included the implementation of a draft to raise a standing army, navy, marine corps, and an air force, alongside an aircraft and an aircraft carrier (which would be so useful in landlocked Wyoming).

It’s obvious that these measures are ridiculous, but that’s besides the point. Why waste time and money contemplating how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world when that time and money could be used to fix what’s currently wrong with the world?

Yes, it is interesting to talk about what to do in a “Mad Max” scenario, but all that talking is just that – talk. It’s what stoners do on a Friday night in their parents’ garages when they have nothing else better to do. No one really acts on these nonsensical banters.

Miller said, “This isn’t about doomsday. It is just planning. I don’t want people thinking that the federal government is going to be there every step of the way to solve all of their problems.”
True, it is important to think of security. The protection and well being of the people is crucial, after all. There should be an institution established that oversees and ensures the safety of the people–you know, something like the Department of Homeland Security.

State legislatures shouldn’t be dwelling on this trivial issue. They should be focusing on more pressing matters, such as bettering the ever-so-deteriorating educational system, providing affordable health care, and lowering the unemployment rate. They should be concentrating on how to prevent the world from going to oblivion rather than what to do afterwards.

Not only that, if there were to be a so-called apocalypse and if the bill was enacted, then that would have meant that the people of Wyoming would only fend for the people of Wyoming.

“I don’t represent people in Illinois or New Jersey. I represent people in Wyoming. And I want them to be protected from any catastrophic events that may beset the rest of the country,” Miller said.

That clearly exemplifies the “United” in United States. So in a cataclysmic event, Wyoming would regress to the “survival of the fittest” mentality and separate itself from the other states. That would just further any forthcoming apocalyptic chaos. But on the bright side, at least they had the decency to let the world know ahead of time that they’re going to support the other states.

But maybe society should take note after Wyoming and prepare for the end of the world. Better yet, society should take note after “Zombieland” and prepare for a zombie apocalypse. After all, Harrelson was far better in that movie as Tallahassee. So let’s “nut up or shut up” and always remember to double tap.