Re: Why nuclear is a "no-win" in the USA

[George Harder <gharder@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu>]

At 08:47 AM 9/4/1997 -0500, you wrote:
>>    But the
>>    public seems to be asking a different question:  "is there anybody
>>    out there recognizing and responding to my concern, and should I
>>    trust them?"
>
>They lost the trust of some members of the
>public; this is the essential performance expectation. This is a real
>challenge!
>

        The real challenge is even more refined than that.  As pessimistic
as it may sound, the majority of the public doesn't have the time or
inclination to research the entire facts on this subject (or on most
others).  Instead the "sound bites" from journalists set the foundations of
the public's opinions.  From there, heresay and conjecture build into a
mistrust of the nuclear industry.  
        In any noisy room it is always the loudest voice that is heard.  Try
as we might to inform the public, it will remain less than effective as long
as the prattle is louder.  The key is to educate the journalists (and a few
odd senators and congressmen).  A few good invite-a-journalist-to-lunch
sessions ought to help.  

- George Harder

Of all the things that I've lost, its my mind that I miss the most.