Industry Lackeys and Bad Legislation

[BLHamrick@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 03/21/2002 6:17:53 PM Pacific Standard Time, jmuckerheide@cnts.wpi.edu writes:



> But since our jobs are to "protect the public from radiation," we must continue to misrepresent the magnitude, and even the nature, of the hazard, to continue to extract our blood money from the gullible public that we are so committed to misinform. But it's a good-paying job.


This is one issue that often comes up.  If I am perceived as "pro-nuclear," I am automatically condemned as a lackey of the industry.  I have much more to gain, in terms of job security, by over-stating risk and lowering acceptable limits, especially because in my position, as a regulator, I have nothing whatsoever to gain from loosened standards, or turning a blind eye to violations.  


In addition to this nutty accusation that safety experts have some ulterior motive to undermine safety, I am aghast that in the area of radiation issues this leads the public to essentially seek only the advice of non-experts.  Their reasoning appears to be that if all experts are lackeys of industry, then one can only turn to non-experts for advice.  This seems to be verging on insanity.


If I have a brain tumor, do I preferentially seek advice from people who have never worked in oncology or neurosurgery?  Do I take a vote of my concerned neighbors to see what I should do?  Do I check with the current "policy" wonks, who don't appear to have any scientific education whatsoever?  No.  I go to a properly educated and experienced expert in the field, because they have the appropriate knowledge base to provide me with the kind of factual data I need to evaluate my options, but with radiation this is rarely the case when an issue reaches the political arena.


And, now, that I'm here on my soapbox, I'd like to take a moment to remind folks again (mostly those of you in California) that we still have four bills on the table - SB 1623 (Romero), SB 1444 (Kuehl), SB 2065 (Kuehl) and AB 2214 (Keeley), which, in my personal, but never humble, opinion, could make our earth flat again.  They are all available for review at:  www.leginfo.ca.gov, and I will be creating a webpage (I hope this weekend) with additional information, including the outrageous misrepresentations made by Senator Romero relative to the NRC's License Termination Rule, and California's implementation of it.  You may express your opposition or support for these bills by calling or writing:


Senator Sheila Kuehl

State Capitol, Room 4032

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 445-1353

Fax (916) 324-4823


and

 

10951 W Pico Blvd. #202

Los Angeles, CA 90064

(310) 441-9084

Fax (310) 441-0724


Senator Gloria Romero

StateCapitol, Room 4062

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 445-1418

Fax (916) 445-0485    


and


1000 San Gabriel Blvd.

Suite 201

Rosemead, CA 91770-4351

(626) 312-2800

Fax (626) 312-2801 


Assembly Member Fred Keeley

Speaker Pro Tem


State Capitol

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 319-2027 (tel)

(916) 319-2127 (fax)  

 

District Offices:

 

701 Ocean Street, 318-B

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 425-1503 (tel)

(831) 425-2570 (fax)

 

100Campus Center Building #58

CSUMB

Seaside, CA 93955

(831) 384-1980 (tel)

(831) 384-2913 (fax)


Theoretically, these offices have to tabulate the opposition and support they receive, and make that information publically available, so every call and letter counts.  It would really be a shame, in my opinion, to allow science in this area to be completely overrun by fear-mongers, seeking to generate votes and dollars, at the expense of a woefully uninformed public.


"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." – Edmund Burke


Barbara L. Hamrick