Re: Request for suggestion

[DTu7266800@aol.com]

Bernie,
Nuclear power , coal fired power, oil fired power, and gas fired power are 
all owned by the same utilities who have powerful lobbyists in our capital.  
The utilities are primarily interested in making a profit.  California is an 
excellent example of deregulated electricity resulting in escalating prices, 
artificially produced brown outs and artificially escalated natural gas 
prices.  Is it any wonder that consumers don't trust utilities and/or our 
government to protect their interests?

Japan has a shortage of fossil fuels and consequently the government is 
actively pro nuclear, but the populace still expresses distrust.  Japan has 
made a tremendous effort to be candid with the populace, but most news there 
and here in the US is negative because it is more dramatic and eye catching 
to the reader or viewer. 

I am certain you are aware there was a concerted effort after the TMI 
accident to educate reporters which resulted in limited sucess.  Many 
reporters are not interested in presenting boring facts or positive news 
because they are not sensational enough for headlines.

As professional health physicists we are divided in our opinions over trivial 
arguements such as linear vs threshold theory.  We see an NRC inspector with 
35 mrem lifetime dose and a masters degree in health physics sue and get an 
enormous settlement from a utility, while the past president of the Health 
Physics society's testimony is ridiculed.

I have been in the nuclear business since 1965 and I have watched the rise 
and fall of popularity of nuclear power.  I don't like to pedict doom and 
gloom, but unless there is a national policy endorsing nuclear power and a 
limit to utility liability combined with a strong profit motive I don't 
predict a change in opinion.

Best of luck,

Doug Turner <DTu7266800@aol.com>
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