Re: Christie Brinkley on Fox News Network tonight

[Bob Flood <bflood@SLAC.Stanford.EDU>]

>don't swing at that pitch if it's in the dirt.

Your analogy would include the concept of an impartial umpire that would
make a fair ruling on the pitch in the dirt. In reality, there is no umpire,
and the pitcher will loudly proclaim every pitch a perfect strike and anyone
who disagrees to be a godless, baby-killer and part of the
industrial-government conspiracy.

Refusing to fight because the other side doesn't play fair means conceding
the fight. It means an industry that really does have benefits to offer
society compared to other forms of electrical generation will slowly move
from productivity to the endangered species list to extinction, with the
inevitable loss of those benefits to society. And all because a small number
of people just can't help but despise anything radioactive no matter what.
Doesn't sound like a good enough reason to let the benefits of nuclear power
fade away.

However, I understand the value in not getting into a shouting match with
activists and not losing one's cool in the face of wild accusations. Easier
said than done, to be sure.
============================
Bob Flood
Dosimetry Group Leader
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
bflood@slac.stanford.edu


************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html