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

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

At 03:59 PM 9/4/97 -0500, you wrote:
>        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.  

This is so true. Think about it: what did you learn about radiation in high
school? Nothing, right? Ask your better-educated non-HP friends what they
learned about radiation in college - about as much as they did in high
school. With only very rare exceptions, Americans have learned what they
know about radiation from television, radio, and newspaper/magazines, where
the information is presented by people who didn't learn anything about
radiation in high school or college!

>...and a few odd senators and congressmen...

Isn't that redundant?


Bob Flood
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
(415) 926-3793     bflood@slac.stanford.edu
Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are mine alone.