(Fwd) Politics

["Dan Oldham - Elec. Systems" <dan-o@magadd2.nov.add.bnl.gov>]

I was asked to forward this to your list by a member from BNL, Edward 
Kaplan.  We must stand up against ignorance no matter how futile it may 
seem.  If you are moved to contact the politicians named below, _please_ 
do so.

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From:         dano@northeast.net
To:             BNL list
Date:          Wed, 3 Sep 1997 22:31:20 +0000
Subject:       Politics
Priority:       normal

Dear fellow Lab Employees and Friends,

        As you are most likely aware by now, Sens. D'Amato and Forbes
have announced plans to introduce legislation that will  have the HFBR
shut down permanently.  Their excuse is that they must do this for the
health and welfare of the Island.  This is, at best, unconvincing
since the HFBR already sits idle and will remain so indefinitely.  The
worst part of this debacle goes beyond just the HFBR.  Here we have
our elected leaders bending to "squeaky-wheel" fear-mongers.  There is
obviously some political maneuvering afoot here.   If the HFBR should
indeed be de-commissioned, it certainly hasn't been properly
determined yet.  The worst part of this is that ignorance is reigning
supreme. This is a knee-jerk, politically motivated response.  Born of
short-sighted ignorance, with absolutely no concept of the depths of
it's far-reaching future effects on the whole of BNL, it shows a
willingness to allow our future to be ransomed to those who would wish
to take science back to the days of alchemy and leeches.  If these
attitudes had prevailed in the Sixties we would never have gotten to
the moon, nor would we enjoy the lifestyles we have today because of
the technologies derived from those research endeavors which allowed
us to actually get to the moon.  Likewise, how can anyone assess what
the research of today at the HFBR will yield in our future? 

                        WE MUST RESPOND! 

         Call D'Amato at 212-947-7393 and call Forbes at 516-345-9000
and tell them they are making a rash, premature move.  There are over
3000 of us here at BNL.  If we all make these simple calls and
encourage spouses, family and friends to do the same, they will see
that there is a group that constitutes a huge voting block that
demands facts over fear.  The HFBR is only the first step for our
enemies, who wish to close the entire lab.  We truly can not afford
apathy.  This is our future!

        Once Again:

                Alphonse D'Amato - 212 947-7393 
             (email:  senator_al@damato.senate.gov)

                Michael Forbes - 516-345-9000


Thanks, 
Dan Oldham
Tech. Specialist
dano@northeast.net

P.S.  I am not sure how to group email everyone at BNL so you may get
this mail again as part of another mailing.  My apologies if this
occurs.