Re: Fiscal responsibility (was Re: Scientific responsibility)

[BLHamrick@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 6/19/2003 6:39:51 AM Eastern Standard Time, liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM writes:



<<There are numerous specious arguments out there about misuse of funds, e.g., "If the money spent on alcohol, gambling, the space program, etc. were spent on education, world hunger, cancer research, etc., the world would be a better place.">>



I think the arguments go well beyond your "specious" examples.  The State of California currently has a $35 billion plus deficit, and while we may have the largest, we aren't alone.  State governments across the U.S. are in financial trouble.  The LNT, and not just from its use in radiological protection, has far-reaching, expensive consequences to businesses, to state government, and ultimately to every consumer and taxpayer in the state.  I think we all need to think very hard about spending multi-millions (and billions collectively) on a hypothetical increased risk that is 100 to 10,000 times below natural background risk levels, whether we are talking about radioactive materials, or naturally-occurring chemical contaminants.



Barbara

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